Making programs have focus once selected

[DoYouKubuntu]

I know I'm just missing a setting somewhere, but I swear I've *LOOKED* and I'm not seeing it!

When I select something, whether it's "Application update notifier" or starting up copying files in Dolphin, the program or modal doesn't have focus--I have to select it somehow, like in my panel or by [alt][tab]bing through running apps. Why? I don't recall this ever happening before, and like I said I really have looked through everything I could think of having to do with window-related settings, but without luck.

[Snowhog]

Are you expecting/wanting to have 'focus' by just putting your mouse cursor over the window/application?

[DoYouKubuntu]

No. I want the program I've executed to have focus as soon as I execute it. So, for example, if "Application update notifier" appears in my panel [as I have it set to], once I click on it I want it to have focus. But it doesn't. Like right now, I'm typing this on SeaMonkey; I clicked "Application update notifier" and it opened, it's running, but it's down in my panel. To see it, I have to either click on it in my panel or [alt][tab] to it, etc.

[kubicle]

What are your settings in the "window behavior>focus" system settings module (see Snowhogs screenshot).

[DoYouKubuntu]

What are your settings in the "window behavior>focus" system settings module (see Snowhogs screenshot).

Exactly the same as on all my other computers. But this isn't what I'm talking about. At least I don't think it is. When I execute a program I want it to have focus. That has nothing to do with where my pointer is.

[jlittle]

I had a problem like yours a few years ago, but it was only gtk apps started from an xterm. Quite by chance I stumbled on the cause, an environment variable called DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID; it's part of the open desktop standards and it's meant to be unset before apps are run. xterm was not, and it was confusing things. I wonder if you've got this variable set?

[DoYouKubuntu]

I had a problem like yours a few years ago, but it was only gtk apps started from an xterm. Quite by chance I stumbled on the cause, an environment variable called DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID; it's part of the open desktop standards and it's meant to be unset before apps are run. xterm was not, and it was confusing things. I wonder if you've got this variable set?

Nope. I just checked. Interesting, though!

[kubicle]

But this isn't what I'm talking about. At least I don't think it is. When I execute a program I want it to have focus. That has nothing to do with where my pointer is.

Well..."Focus stealing prevention" setting is quite relevant. On higher levels, it'll prevent newly started apps from "stealing" focus. Yours is set to low, though, so it's not that.

[DoYouKubuntu]

So it seems there's *NO* rhyme or reason to it.

Noticing that "Application update notifier" had appeared, I clicked on it just now. And, guess what? Its window opened RIGHT ON TOP of SeaMonkey--as it should! as I expect! as I want!

But not yesterday when I did exactly the same thing with exactly the same programs running. (konsole, SeaMonkey, Dolphin)

[DoYouKubuntu]

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. I'm in Dolphin, I select a directory to copy to an external drive, and after answering its prompts (like 'write into') and starting up the process, the 'copying' window is hidden behind other, open apps. To bring it to the front I either have to click it in my panel or [alt][tab] through my apps:



And this is how it SHOULD appear without any intervention on my part...as windows have for eons of using Kubuntu...



Again, I don't see how this has anything to do with settings like 'click' or 'hover' in window behavior because when you start up a program you expect it to be visible. At least *I* do. This isn't about hovering or clicking on apps that were already running--we're talking about RIGHT NOW, starting up a program and wanting it to have focus. And, no, absolutely NONE of the other running apps has its settings to 'keep above others.'

[kubicle]

Again, I don't see how this has anything to do with settings like 'click' or 'hover' in window behavior because when you start up a program you expect it to be visible.

Perhaps, but it is configurable (with the focus stealing prevention setting, for example), yet it doesn't seem to work for you for some reason.

Just to make sure, what's the output of:
"grep Focus ~/.kde/share/config/kwinrc"

[DoYouKubuntu]

Perhaps, but it is configurable (with the focus stealing prevention setting, for example), yet it doesn't seem to work for you for some reason.

Please note that SOMETIMES it does work, as noted in one of my posts above. And there's just no rhyme or reason to it!

Just to make sure, what's the output of:
"grep Focus ~/.kde/share/config/kwinrc"

$ grep Focus ~/.kde/share/config/kwinrc
DelayFocusInterval=300
FocusPolicy=ClickToFocus
FocusStealingPreventionLevel=1
NextFocusPrefersMouse=false
SeparateScreenFocus=false

[kubicle]

Please note that SOMETIMES it does work, as noted in one of my posts above. And there's just no rhyme or reason to it!

Inconsistent issues are usually the most frustrating to solve, I hear you.

$ grep Focus ~/.kde/share/config/kwinrc
DelayFocusInterval=300
FocusPolicy=ClickToFocus
FocusStealingPreventionLevel=1
NextFocusPrefersMouse=false
SeparateScreenFocus=false

Nothing out of the ordinary there, have you tried creating a new user for a test run
(This should decide whether it's a user config issue or system wide)

[DoYouKubuntu]

Inconsistent issues are usually the most frustrating to solve, I hear you.

I know. It's hard to troubleshoot when, flip a coin! sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and NOTHING has changed.

Nothing out of the ordinary there, have you tried creating a new user for a test run
(This should decide whether it's a user config issue or system wide)

Yes. I don't know if you're aware of it, but that's actually my favorite, down and dirty QUICK way of troubleshooting something like this. I recommend it a lot.

[kubicle]

Yes. I don't know if you're aware of it

Well I am now

And what were the results? (System wide or user contained issue)