GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 622700
Super-L (Windows key) Press and Hold
Last modified: 2012-10-03 18:06:01 UTC
A minor feature suggestion: make press and hold for the super-l (Windows) key toggle the overlay. This would allow users to force the overlay to remain open irrespective of their other actions and would be useful as a way to launch multiple applications simultaneously. The latter is currently only possible by dragging application icons to a workspace. The advantage of my suggestion would be that it's quicker and - debatably - more discoverable.
The additional functionality I'm proposing is this: * When the overview is deactivated, press and hold should activate it, and the overview should not deactivate until the win key is released. * When the overview is activated, pressing and holding the win key should force it to remain active until the key is released. The existing keyboard activation/deactivation of the overview should stay as it is: a single press of the win key should activate/deactivate as it does now.
(In reply to comment #1) > The additional functionality I'm proposing is this: > * When the overview is deactivated, press and hold should activate it, and the > overview should not deactivate until the win key is released. This probably means that the super key can no longer be used in keyboard shortcuts by applications. (Not saying that this should keep us from trying the idea though)
Might clash with bug #648507.
The <super> key is also used as a WM modifier key for power users to quickly resize and move windows. It surely is a topic open for discussion, as I agree this is an elegant solution to the 'launch multiple apps' case. Related discussion in bug #644930 (overlay controls for windows using <super>).
super-l under Windows is 'lock screen'
(In reply to comment #5) > super-l under Windows is 'lock screen' I'm pretty sure Allan means "left super key", not "super + l"
super+key being used for other things is a big stumbling block for this. Besides, aren't there better more familiar ways of getting the multiple-app behavior? Obvious candidates in my mind: Middle-click: Pro: feels kind of like a web-browser where new tabs open in the background. Con: Already used for "Open-new-window-in-new-workspace". Ctrl-click: Pro: similar to above, con: already used for "Open new window in current workspace". Shift-click: Pro: Feels similar to file-manager behavior. You can select a bunch of things to work with, without having to return to the file-manager after every one. Con: Slight inconsistency in that each click does start an action. OTOH, this could be a pro since more loading work will have happened by the time the user has finished their selection. This also may make a lot of sense when we have files & documents in the overlay too. See also: multi-selection widgets.
*** Bug 650684 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
I've submitted a related enhancement (with patch) to enable this for shift+click: https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=649845
(In reply to comment #7) > super+key being used for other things is a big stumbling block for this. > Besides, aren't there better more familiar ways of getting the multiple-app > behavior? > > Obvious candidates in my mind: > > Middle-click: Pro: feels kind of like a web-browser where new tabs open in the > background. Con: Already used for "Open-new-window-in-new-workspace". > > Ctrl-click: Pro: similar to above, con: already used for "Open new window in > current workspace". > > Shift-click: Pro: Feels similar to file-manager behavior. You can select a > bunch of things to work with, without having to return to the file-manager > after every one. Con: Slight inconsistency in that each click does start an > action. OTOH, this could be a pro since more loading work will have happened by > the time the user has finished their selection. This also may make a lot of > sense when we have files & documents in the overlay too. See also: > multi-selection widgets. Another con for middle click is that it won't work on a laptop touchpad. IMO shift click makes the most sense.
*** Bug 633671 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
*** Bug 679667 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
We're using the super key as a modifier for system level actions now, so this suggestion doesn't make sense any more. Closing as wontfix.
We really still need a good way to open multiple applications at once, even if we don't use this particular suggestion... Currently if you want to open 3 apps in gnome-shell: Hit super key, click icon Hit super key, click icon Hit super key, click icon. This is incredibly inefficient for obvious reasons. Having something like the dash to dock extension by default would be another idea: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/307/dash-to-dock/ Should another (more general, not specifically suggesting holding super key) report be opened for this? All the similar (and some more general) reports have been marked as duplicates of this bug that is now closed.
You can drag'n'drop from the dash, but starting apps that aren't in the dash is pretty hard indeed.
Cool, I didn't know that, but drag and drop is also fairly annoying to do with a laptop touchpad.