[SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

Pacopag · 2013-03-15 13:29:13

Hi. I'm new to openbox (only been using it a few days), but like it so far. I'm having one small problem though...

I've got a keybind that launches lilyterm, and one that launches chromium. Here is the relevant part of rc.xml

<keybind key="W-t">
      <action name="Execute">
        <startupnotify>
          <enabled>true</enabled>
          <name>Terminal</name>
        </startupnotify>
        <command>lilyterm</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-w">
      <action name="Execute">
        <startupnotify>
          <enabled>true</enabled>
          <name>Browser</name>
        </startupnotify>
        <command>chromium</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

The thing is, if I launch lilyterm or chromium, their windows open BEHIND the currently focused window, unless the currently focused window is of the same type. For example, if a lilyterm instance is focused and I launch another lilyterm, then the new on opens on top. But if anything other than lilyterm is focused and I launch lilyterm, it will open behind.

However, if I change <command>lilyterm</command> to <command>xfce4-terminal</command>, the xfce4-terminal always opens properly on top. Likewise if I switch chromium with midori. Does anyone know why this is happening?

Googling this problem comes up with some stuff, but none of the fixes work for me. I noticed here that it's worth a try to remove the <startupnotify> part, but that didn't work either.

Any help?

Last edited by Pacopag (2013-03-17 12:46:56)

drcouzelis · 2013-03-15 15:50:50

I noticed this behaviour too with Firefox. If a Firefox window is already open but NOT the active window, then opening a new Firefox window will open it behind the active window. It's annoying.

I think it has to do with applications that open a "new" instance by connecting to the already running instance of the application.

Pacopag · 2013-03-15 15:55:05

Yes, you're right. If there is no chromium instance running, then the first one does always open on top. Subsequently opened instances of chromium open behind. Strange.

I'm guessing you don't know of a fix for this. Do you know if there is a bug report?

drcouzelis · 2013-03-15 17:47:38

I'm sorry, no, I don't know how to fix it. I've search the Internet and bug reports and haven't found anything.

I haven't tried openbox-git.

It might have to do with OpenBox preventing applications from "stealing focus". Maybe OpenBox thinks Firefox is trying to steal focus, whereas it actually me trying to open a new window.

I remember seeing someone post about it on the Arch Linux forms within the past three years, but never a solution.

Pacopag · 2013-03-15 18:03:44

I wonder if this is a bug (seems like it to me). It seems like it should be fixable, since other window managers/environments don't seem to have this problem, at least not xfce.

When I get some time to kill, I'll try running crunchbang, which uses openbox, to see if the problem persists there. Then maybe there's some clues in the crunchbang rc.xml file. I'll post back if I find anything.

drcouzelis · 2013-03-15 18:38:32

Good idea! I'll race you.

Pacopag · 2013-03-15 19:32:19

The same problem exists in crunchbang. To reproduce, just boot into a live cd, then press Super-t, Super-w, Super-t, Super-w, Super-e, Super-w, and so on. Every instance of iceweasel (i.e. Super-w) after the first one will open behind the focused window.

With all the crunchbang users out there I would think more stuff would come up about this when googling it (yet I'm admittedly a terrible googler compared to some). I guess it doesn't bother most people, but it's almost a show stopper for me.

drcouzelis · 2013-03-15 20:02:56

Can you find the rc.xml setting that changes how popups are treated? I could have sworn there was a setting that says "Never let an application steal my focus!", although I may be mistaking it with another window manager...

Pacopag wrote:

I'm admittedly a terrible googler

O_o

EDIT: It appears to be fixed in the openbox-git package.

Last edited by drcouzelis (2013-03-15 23:17:52)

Pacopag · 2013-03-16 01:02:20

Cool.

What exactly is the openbox-git package? The description in the aur is a bit vague. Is it just openbox, but pulled from the git "trunk" (i.e. current development release)? If so, does this mean that the problem will be fixed eventually in an upcoming release in the official arch repos?

drcouzelis · 2013-03-16 01:56:46

That's correct. This will eventually become the next release of OpenBox.

But I uninstalled the git version after trying it out. The developer changed the algorithm for "smart window placement". It's currently genius. The future method is stupidly dumb.

rfk1ll · 2013-03-16 04:44:04

Pacopag wrote:

The same problem exists in crunchbang. To reproduce, just boot into a live cd, then press Super-t, Super-w, Super-t, Super-w, Super-e, Super-w, and so on. Every instance of iceweasel (i.e. Super-w) after the first one will open behind the focused window.
With all the crunchbang users out there I would think more stuff would come up about this when googling it (yet I'm admittedly a terrible googler compared to some). I guess it doesn't bother most people, but it's almost a show stopper for me.

I have the same behavior in CrunchBang, but not in ArchBang (13.03.03).
In CrunchBang, W-t, W-w, W-t produces Term, IW, Term - but the next W-w opens under the Terminal.
ArchBang works as expected, opening each instance above the previous.
Maybe looking at the ArchBang rc.xml would yield some info, I gave it a quick glance but nothing really stood out.

Mr Green · 2013-03-16 09:38:00

ArchBang rc.xml code is basically the same as Pacopag, I do have the same problem on my desktop and have just put up with it.

Openbox:

http://openbox.org/wiki/Help:Actions#St … tification

In my case I do not use startupnotify so may not be source of problem.

Last edited by Mr Green (2013-03-16 09:38:38)

drcouzelis · 2013-03-16 20:06:06

Mr Green wrote:

ArchBang rc.xml code is basically the same as Pacopag, I do have the same problem on my desktop and have just put up with it.

I downloaded and tried out ArchBang. You're right, OpenBox there seems to behave correctly AND the rc.xml file looks pretty much the same as mine on Arch Linux.

Mr. Green, you don't have any idea of why this bug isn't seen in ArchBang? Is there another ArchBang developer that might have an idea?

Mr Green · 2013-03-16 20:29:12

Seems to be a common problem we do have:

<applications>
<application class="*">
<position>
<monitor>1</monitor>
</position>
<focus>yes</focus>
<maximized>no</maximized>
</application>

in rc.xml, but Arch forums is not the place to discuss ArchBang.

sonoran · 2013-03-17 01:22:54

In ObConf the first checkbox on the Windows tab, Focusing Windows, is "Focus new windows when they appear." Works here.

drcouzelis · 2013-03-17 02:45:37

sonoran wrote:

In ObConf the first checkbox on the Windows tab, Focusing Windows, is "Focus new windows when they appear." Works here.

I have had that option selected since I started using OpenBox.

Mr Green wrote:

Arch forums is not the place to discuss ArchBang.

No, it's OK! We're not discussing ArchBang, we're discussing an OpenBox bug. Besides, if I posted it to the ArchBang forums it would just be "ArchBang forums is not the place to discuss Arch".

EDIT: I'm getting closer to figuring it out! I copied the OpenBox configuration files from ArchBang to my Arch Linux installation. If I use ArchBang configs, every thing's perfect, switch back to my configs, the problem comes back. I'll go through each config setting one by one to see which one's the trouble maker.

Last edited by drcouzelis (2013-03-17 03:50:02)

drcouzelis · 2013-03-17 04:41:07

I got it! I think I solved it.

I compared the ArchBang configuration files and mine line by line until I got to the very end. Then I discovered that Mr. Green already told me the solution in this thread! But I didn't understand what you meant. (Also, you might not have known that this is the solution)

Mr Green wrote:

ArchBang does have:

<applications>
<application class="*">
<position>
<monitor>1</monitor>
</position>
<focus>yes</focus>
<maximized>no</maximized>
</application>

in rc.xml

Put this at the end of your "rc.xml" file, just before "</openbox_config>" (it's the same as above, just trimmed):

<applications>
  <application class="*">
    <focus>yes</focus>
  </application>
</applications>

Now that I know what I'm looking for, it's pretty obvious what these lines do.

I'll go ahead and put it in the Arch Linux wiki.

Pacopag · 2013-03-17 12:46:33

Kick a$$ and chew bubble gum! Thank you so much. It might seem like a small issue, but it makes a whole world of difference (at least to me).

Thank you so much for your effort and figuring this out.

nierro · 2013-04-08 12:45:31

I only wanted to thank you, drcouzelis! Finally solved this issue
Btw, someone said in openbox-git the issue is gone...because rc.xml in -git version has been upgraded with this trick, or it will work out of the box?
Btw, again, thanks!

drcouzelis · 2013-04-08 13:43:42

You're welcome.

I don't know if this problem is fixed in the code or in the rc.xml file in the development version of Openbox. You can read the latest development version of the rc.xml file here. It does not appear to have this trick in it, so I assume it's fixed in the code.

Arch Linux

#1 2013-03-15 13:29:13

[SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#2 2013-03-15 15:50:50

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#3 2013-03-15 15:55:05

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#4 2013-03-15 17:47:38

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#5 2013-03-15 18:03:44

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#6 2013-03-15 18:38:32

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#7 2013-03-15 19:32:19

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#8 2013-03-15 20:02:56

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#9 2013-03-16 01:02:20

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#10 2013-03-16 01:56:46

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#11 2013-03-16 04:44:04

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#12 2013-03-16 09:38:00

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#13 2013-03-16 20:06:06

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#14 2013-03-16 20:29:12

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#15 2013-03-17 01:22:54

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#16 2013-03-17 02:45:37

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#17 2013-03-17 04:41:07

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#18 2013-03-17 12:46:33

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#19 2013-04-08 12:45:31

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

#20 2013-04-08 13:43:42

Re: [SOLVED] Some apps don't open raised in openbox

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