Problem with new windows (focus) and KDE4.3
 

Hello

I am having several problems with KDE4.3 and hopefully someone here can help me out.

When I open a new window in a program the new window goes to the "back" where it is not visible. I am having difficulty bringing the new window forward so I can work on it.

The problem is especially aggravating in Kontact 1.4.4 email. When I go to reply to a mail, or open a mail it goes directly to the back and I can't bring it forward. I addition I have lost the traditional minimize, maximize, close buttons in the upper right hand corner of the windows. Not on all apps just Kontact, Firefox, and some other.

Any help is much appreciated.

Best regards,

Dave

I went back to KDE3 so I can't get too specific, but I believe the setting you should look for is "focus stealing prevention". Try setting that to "low" and see how it goes. Use System Settings' search function and look for "focus". In KDE3 it's under Desktop-->Window Behavior-->Advanced tab. In KDE4 it should still be under Window Behavior someplace, and if changing the 'focus stealing prevention level' doesn't help, the option that will ought to be under that same section.

Lurko,

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried changing some of the configuration settings, including focus. Now my keyboard, on just my KDE account, doesn't work.

I have another account and it works fine. As a matter of fact I am typing this from my account with GNOME.

So, if anyone could suggest first how to get my keyboard functionality in one profile working. And then how to address the focus problem would be great.

Best regards,

Dave

I'm afraid I'm at a loss as to how changing the settings on the Window Behaviour page had any effect on your keyboard.

I suggest that you just delete your ~/.kde folder. If the keyboard works in GNOME, then clearly some KDE setting has been altered. If you knew which setting is the culprit for killing your keyboard, we could possibly determine the specific file the setting is stored in, and just delete that one file (though I suspect someone else would have to chime in with that info). I haven't the foggiest which file that would be, so unfortunately, deleting your ~/.kde folder and starting over from a fresh set of settings is my best suggestion.

edit: better actually to rename ~/.kde to ~/.kde_backup or somesuch. Then if that's not the problem, you can revert to the old settings, assuming you can figure out the keyboard issue.

Lurko,

Thanks for your help. I did delete (rename) the .kde and .kde4 folders and KDE came back and is working normally. I am in the process of reconfiguring my apps.

However, I still have the problem with the window focus. I will continue to dig to see if I can't figure it out.

Thanks again for your help.

Dave

Doesn't pressing [ALT][TAB] let you cycle between windows? How about moving the cursor to the top-left corner of the screen if you have the "Present Windows" effect? Does the top window have "keep above others" selected? I use KDE 4.1. ``Your mileage may vary''.

jschiwal,

I didn't have a keep above others option, but the windows did have "maximize" check. So I unchecked it and the condition of the top window persisting on top seems to have gone away.

<New info>

New emails now come forward. But when I try to use configure Kmail that window goes directly to the back. Not a show stopper but definitely an inconvenience.

Thanks for your help.

Dave

I was making some tweeks to my KDE desktop. I noticed a setting that might be your problem. Check that you don't have autoraise enabled. If the window is full screen, it will alway have the focus.

jschiwal,

Thanks for the help.

I went to Windows behavior and unchecked click raises active window. It appears to have helped.

Thanks again,

Dave

That's the opposite of what I thought, but I'm glad it is working better.