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Bug 652601 - Changing workspace when I "open" an application is surprising
Changing workspace when I "open" an application is surprising
Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 650030
Product: gnome-shell
Classification: Core
Component: general
unspecified
Other Linux
: Normal normal
: ---
Assigned To: gnome-shell-maint
gnome-shell-maint
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
 
Reported: 2011-06-14 21:38 UTC by Dave Neary
Modified: 2011-06-15 08:05 UTC
See Also:
GNOME target: ---
GNOME version: ---



Description Dave Neary 2011-06-14 21:38:45 UTC
I had 2 workspaces: one with a browser and email, another with a terminal and another browser window.

In the first workspace, I was editing a wiki page in the brower when I felt the need to have a terminal, so I did "Activities->Terminal", and got switched to workspace 2 (since there was a terminal already open). But what I really wanted was a new terminal in workspace 1. It took me a few seconds to realise I'd changed workspace. By coincidence, the wiki page I was editing in Workspace 1 was open in Workspace 2 for reading. So there were a few seconds when I was wondering where my unsaved work had gone. Not nice!

If there were some visual indicator in the dash that an application is already open, and/or if clicking on an application opened a new window in instances where that makes sense, rather than switching to the existing one, that would address this particular hart-beat skip :)

Thanks,
Dave..
Comment 1 Florian Müllner 2011-06-14 21:58:51 UTC
(In reply to comment #0)
> If there were some visual indicator in the dash that an application is already
> open,

There is - icons of running applications are marked with a spotlight-like effect (similar to the highlight of active items in the top bar). Too  subtle?


> and/or if clicking on an application opened a new window in instances
> where that makes sense,

I guess it's hard to come up with a good definition of "making sense" - are you suggesting something like bug 650030?
Comment 2 Dave Neary 2011-06-15 08:05:27 UTC
(In reply to comment #1)
> (In reply to comment #0)
> > If there were some visual indicator in the dash that an application is already
> > open,
> 
> There is - icons of running applications are marked with a spotlight-like
> effect (similar to the highlight of active items in the top bar). Too  subtle?

Since I'm discovering it now, I would say yes :)

> > and/or if clicking on an application opened a new window in instances
> > where that makes sense,
> 
> I guess it's hard to come up with a good definition of "making sense" - are you
> suggesting something like bug 650030?

It definitely is hard. I would say for a terminal or browser, new window makes the most sense, for something that is more logical as a single instance app (the GIMP, Rhythmbox, etc) switch to workspace makes more sense.

And yes, bug #650030 is raising exactly the same issue. So I guess this counts as a duplicate.

Thanks,
Dave.

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 650030 ***