Bug 507398 - Search results are not shown when no favorite shortcuts are present
Summary: Search results are not shown when no favorite shortcuts are present
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: plasmashell
Classification: Plasma
Component: Application Menu (Kicker) widget (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.4.3
Platform: Other Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: 1.0
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-07-23 16:49 UTC by Antonino Scordino
Modified: 2025-08-14 16:14 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In: 6.4.5
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
Search results after removing all shortcuts from the side bar (11.75 KB, image/png)
2025-07-23 16:49 UTC, Antonino Scordino
Details

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Description Antonino Scordino 2025-07-23 16:49:01 UTC
Created attachment 183467 [details]
Search results after removing all shortcuts from the side bar

SUMMARY
When searching for anything with the 'Kicker' applet, without any favorite shortcut on the side bar, results are not shown.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Switch to the 'Kicker' applet 
2. Remove all favorite shortcuts (e.g. power or session-related, Firefox, Discover, ...)
3. Log off, and log back in
4. Ensure that no shortcuts are present on the applet's side bar
5. Try to search for anything

OBSERVED RESULT
Search results (that is, Command Line, Applications, System Settings and more) are not shown.

EXPECTED RESULT
Search results are shown as usual.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Fedora Linux 42 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.3
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.16.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This issue occurs after commit '09ac96239aa4fcbe48478d2b35e77db1baa2ba17' on 'plasma/plasma-desktop' (applets/kicker: fix and simplify representation size).
Comment 1 TraceyC 2025-07-25 00:30:55 UTC
I tested this on git-master and can reproduce
Note: "Kicker" refers to "Application Menu" in the alternatives
Comment 2 Antonino Scordino 2025-08-06 09:24:36 UTC
Issue persists even after upgrading to KDE Plasma 6.4.4.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Linux/KDE Plasma: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.16.0
Qt Version: 6.9.1
Comment 3 cwo 2025-08-09 15:35:11 UTC
A fix for this is included in an otherwise unrelated bugfix (https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/merge_requests/3148).

That one is a rather large change, so even if accepted I don't feel confident backporting it to 6.4. I'll see about a quick workaround for 6.4.5.
Comment 4 cwo 2025-08-13 22:10:40 UTC
Git commit 1712b9ac3260fadf0930972e6237bf38047b0724 by Christoph Wolk.
Committed on 13/08/2025 at 21:06.
Pushed by cwo into branch 'master'.

applets/kicker: properly handle opposite-edge applets

When kicker is placed on a right-edge panel in LtR or left-edge panel in
RtL, it flips its arrangement partially to be in the opposite order.
There are several good reasons for this, like keeping the search field
in a consistent position, or matching the fact the direction that
category popouts will open in. Kicker is not very good about rearranging
things though - there are all sorts of visual and UX issues, such as the
runner columns not being mirrored, so the search field is not actually
in the column where space for it is left, covering the contents and
leaving and empty space in a different column as well as not matching
the width of the column it is in, broken arrow key navigation,
inappropriate spacings and positions in some circumstances, and the
popout indicator arrow not matching the direction the popout or keyboard
navigation.

This change solves these issues by also adjusting the order of the
runner columns and fixing spacings, positioning, and arrow key
navigation. This in turn requires some rather invasive changes
throughout kicker, as the existing manual sizing calculations and
positioning/spacing heavily relying on anchors are already unwieldy and
error-prone when having a single layout direction – mixing layout
directions makes the problems several times worse. Instead, where
possible, we now use Layouts, automatic spacing, and implicit sizing
calculations in the relevant parts of Kicker, simplifying the code and
reducing the complexity of the internal dependencies. Along the way, we
do some minor cleanups, such as switching a case of imperative
assignment of signal handlers to a declarative one.

A positive side-effect of having a simpler structure is that it resolves
an unintended dependency between the visibility of the runner results
and the favorites sidebar, resolving an otherwise unrelated bug.

M  +2    -1    applets/kicker/ItemListDelegate.qml
M  +1    -0    applets/kicker/ItemListDialog.qml
M  +7    -5    applets/kicker/ItemListView.qml
M  +16   -11   applets/kicker/MenuRepresentation.qml
M  +70   -59   applets/kicker/RunnerResultsList.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/commit/1712b9ac3260fadf0930972e6237bf38047b0724
Comment 5 cwo 2025-08-14 14:08:12 UTC
Git commit 166f3f792c2bdf9fb19929be9b61d1fcf902bd0c by Christoph Wolk.
Committed on 14/08/2025 at 13:45.
Pushed by cwo into branch 'Plasma/6.4'.

applets/kicker: show runner results with no favorites

There is a complex dependency between the visibility of the runner
results and the favorites sidebar in kicker: if the sidebar is set to
invisible (due to having no contents), this is somehow propagated to the
runner search results, which also become invisible. I could not find
what exactly causes this dependency, but strongly suspect that the
complex anchoring layout and sizing is somehow involved, as a cleanup
that involves switching to less manual sizing and positioning resolves
the problem (!3148) as a positive side effect. But that is a more
invasive change that is not suitable for backporting and fixing the
issue in 6.4.

As a temporary workaround for the 6.4 branch only, we keep the sidebar
visible if empty while runner results are being displayed. It's still
at 0 width so only a very thin line is actually visible, and this
minor visual glitch seems preferable to having broken search
functionality when the user has no favorites. A separate MR (!3149) is
necessary or another glitched line will be displayed.

M  +1    -1    applets/kicker/package/contents/ui/MenuRepresentation.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/commit/166f3f792c2bdf9fb19929be9b61d1fcf902bd0c