Can`t windowactivate

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. Firefox window is opened
2. $ xdotool search "Firefox" windowactivate

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
I expect firefox to activate. What i see in terminal is: 
"Defaulting to search window name, class, and classname
XGetWindowProperty[_NET_WM_DESKTOP] failed (code=1)"

Firefox doesn`t activate.

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
Version of the xdotool: 1:2.20110530.1-3ubuntu1
Operating system: Linux Mint 12

Please provide any additional information below.
xdotool search "Firefox" windowkill  -  it works

Original issue reported on code.google.com by melniche...@gmail.com on 1 May 2012 at 7:46

[GoogleCodeExporter]

try $xdotool search "Firefox" windowactivate --sync

if not, try change the Firefox to the home website title?

Original comment by azrudi.a...@gmail.com on 31 Jan 2013 at 7:56

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I recently started having the same problem with chrome, exact same error with 
_NET_WM_DESKTOP. --sync doesn't help, just causes xdotool to hang indefinitely. 

Original comment by k04j...@gmail.com on 27 Oct 2014 at 6:56

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Same here, Kubuntu 14.04:

~/multi7: xdotool windowactivate 35655394
XGetWindowProperty[_NET_WM_DESKTOP] failed (code=1)

Original comment by kheyfbo...@gmail.com on 10 Dec 2014 at 8:03

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I have the same issue on Debian jessie, also with other program (calc, gvim,...)

xdotool version 3.20141006.1

Original comment by lapino on 26 Jan 2015 at 2:26

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I suspect this might have something to do with focus prevention. As it is, 
xdotool is useless.

Original comment by pogonys...@gmail.com on 8 Mar 2015 at 10:52

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Using
    xdotool search --desktop 0 "Firefox" windowactivate
seems to be a workaround (not valid for all cases):
    https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/xdotool-users/rMcSpm2f7_k
    http://wiki.yangleo.me/2013/11/09/xbindkeys-and-xdotool-the-AutoHotkey-in-Linux.html

Original comment by b3811...@uggsrock.com on 5 Jun 2015 at 5:21