Bug 510352 - Make settings easier to find
Summary: Make settings easier to find
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: plasmashell
Classification: Plasma
Component: Keyboard Indicator widget (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.4.5
Platform: Other Linux
: LO wishlist
Target Milestone: 1.0
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords: junior-jobs
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-10-07 18:15 UTC by Sanmay
Modified: 2025-10-09 10:46 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

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Description Sanmay 2025-10-07 18:15:38 UTC
SUMMARY
Enhancement request: Link to 'Lock Keys Status Settings' in System Settings for better discoverability of Num Lock status option

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Right-click on the applet in the system tray that appears when Caps Lock is active.
2. Observe that there is an option to show Num Lock status, but it is not easily discoverable.
3. Navigate to System Settings > Keyboard, noting that there is relevant functionality regarding Num Lock on startup.

OBSERVED RESULT
The option to show Num Lock status is hidden under a right-click menu on the Caps Lock applet (which appears only when Caps Lock is active), making it difficult for users to find.

EXPECTED RESULT
A direct link to 'Lock Keys Status Settings' may be included in System Settings > Keyboard, enhancing discoverability and user experience.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Fedora Linux 42
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.18.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2
Kernel Version: 6.16.9-200.fc42.x86_64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-10-07 20:51:23 UTC
Is it a problem that the setting is a bit hard to find, though? It's not exactly an important or commonly-used setting.

Linking to it from System Settings is a problem because the option isn't global, it's per-widget. We don't have anything else in System Settings that reaches out and touches individual widgets.

Maybe we could surface the options in the popup itself (which is otherwise 99% empty; kind of a waste of space if you ask me) and remove the config dialog entirely, as it's also kind of a waste of space with only two checkboxes in a giant window.
Comment 2 Sanmay 2025-10-08 05:37:36 UTC
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #1)
> Is it a problem that the setting is a bit hard to find, though? It's not
> exactly an important or commonly-used setting.
> 
> Linking to it from System Settings is a problem because the option isn't
> global, it's per-widget. We don't have anything else in System Settings that
> reaches out and touches individual widgets.

It's just that Num Lock on laptops often does't have a light to indicate whether it is on or off, and laptops often do not have the numpad. In these cases, it may be a handy for users if the status for Num Lock is indicated to them; hence the ability to easily change the settings.

> Maybe we could surface the options in the popup itself (which is otherwise
> 99% empty; kind of a waste of space if you ask me) and remove the config
> dialog entirely, as it's also kind of a waste of space with only two
> checkboxes in a giant window.

Agree. The only issue that would still remain is that you only see the Lock Key applet when the Caps Lock is active. This behavior is understandable but that makes the ability to turn on the Num Lock applet a bit difficult to find.
Comment 3 Nate Graham 2025-10-08 19:59:01 UTC
Another option is to have the widget show the Num Lock status by default, like it does for Caps Lock. The justification would be the same: your keyboard *might* not have an indicator light for it.

Would you like to give that a try? Basically, you need to append "Num Lock" to the string list here: https://invent.kde.org/plasma/kdeplasma-addons/-/blob/master/applets/keyboardindicator/main.xml?ref_type=heads#L10
Comment 4 Sanmay 2025-10-09 10:46:33 UTC
I'd love to. Here it is: https://invent.kde.org/plasma/kdeplasma-addons/-/merge_requests/926