[Feature request] Support for openbox-multihead

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Openbox-multihead is a version of openbox that allows for changing workspaces 
on a per monitor basis in a multi monitor setup, like tiling window managers 
such as i3 allow. This is very practical, but tint2 doesn't support it.

Would it be possible to add this to tint2? It would greatly enhance 
multi-monitor setup productivity and workflow.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by nime1...@gmail.com on 22 Jan 2015 at 6:16

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The main sources of code/documentation are located here:

https://github.com/BurntSushi/openbox-multihead
https://github.com/BurntSushi/pager-multihead
https://github.com/BurntSushi/pytyle3
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=124331
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=124528

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 8:23

• Added labels: Type-Enhancement
• Removed labels: Type-Defect

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yes indeed.

I don't know if they are of any help, since it is a completely different 
project, but the i3 window manager allows per monitor desktops aswell.

Original comment by nime1...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 8:26

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if it is of any help**** (referring to i3, sorry for double post)

Original comment by nime1...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 8:26

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I tried it out and I don't understand what are the benefits of having a 
separate workspace on each monitor, compared to the panel_monitor = all option 
in tint2.

You can use this option with any EWMH-compliant window manager (e.g. vanilla 
openbox or xfwm). It gives you a separate instance of tint2 on each monitor. 
Each taskbar should display only the windows that are located on that monitor, 
based on their position. There will still be one workspace visible in all 
monitors, and you can still switch workspaces. As far as I can tell, this 
offers almost the same benefits as openbox-multihead plus the advantage of 
switching workspaces. The only drawback is that the Alt-TAB switcher still 
cycles through the windows from all monitors. But then, why not fix the 
switcher to list only the windows from the current monitor, based on the mouse 
position?

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 9:00

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I did not mean to sound negative. If it is also a tiling window manager, of 
course it has other benefits.

But if it does not follow EWMH, it might be difficult for us to handle it, 
because it require special treatment of each such window manager. As a side 
effect, the code could also break for other EWMH-compliant window managers.

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 9:17

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Once I get home from work I'll explain. Thanks

Original comment by nime1...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 9:17

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hi again

I didn't mean that you should support i3, I merely meant looking at the i3 
source code could perhaps be a help.

Anyway

Separate monitor desktops are really important to me. I often work with two 
monitors, with the primary monitor being the "main" monitor, on which I do my 
work, and the side monitor being a "support" monitor, on which I have stuff 
like documentation, a web browser etc. on different workspaces. Per monitor 
desktops allow me to switch what's being displayed on the "support monitor" 
without disturbing the workflow on the "main" monitor.

Hope that made sense.

But of course, I don't know how hard this would be to implement. I'm not a 
programmmer, sadly. Not yet anyway.

Original comment by nime1...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 12:31

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I think I understand your workflow, but I still don't see the difference 
between using openbox-multihead vs. normal openbox + tint2 in panel_monitor = 
all.

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 4:05

[GoogleCodeExporter]

If I use normal Openbox I can't switch desktops on one monitor only. I can only 
do it on both monitors at the same time, so my workflow gets disrupted.

If I use openbox-multihead + tint2 with panel_monitor = all I get this (I made 
a webm recording):
http://webmshare.com/done/34Gnq (sorry for bad quality, might want to use 
fullscreen)

As you can see, tint2 will only show windows on the monitor where the mouse is. 
I can't see all the window titles.

Hope I made sense

Original comment by nime1...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 4:43

[GoogleCodeExporter]

openbox-multihead + tint2 with panel_monitor = all will not work.

Normal openbox + tint2 with panel_monitor = all should work. Attaching a video 
of what it does. Isn't this the same thing that openbox-multihead tries to 
accomplish?

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 5:24

Attachments:

• regular-openbox.webm

[GoogleCodeExporter]

In any case, modifying tint2 for openbox-multihead is not trivial, and at the 
moment I am not sure anyone has time to do it :(

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 5:31

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Fair enough, thanks for listening anyways!

Original comment by nime1...@gmail.com on 23 Jan 2015 at 5:35

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Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 1 Feb 2015 at 5:59

• Changed state: Wishlist
• Added labels: Priority-Low
• Removed labels: Priority-Medium

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 1 Feb 2015 at 11:57

• Added labels: Component-Taskbar

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Project moved to GitLab.

You can find this issue at: https://gitlab.com/o9000/tint2/issues/456

Original comment by mrovi9...@gmail.com on 25 Apr 2015 at 11:25

• Added labels: GitLab