Monitor Toggle, Open apps disappear

[AlmightyJojo]

Applet version/Build date

2.8

Cinnamon version

6.4.8

Distribution

Mint 22.1

Graphics hardware and driver used

5070 ti , 575.64.03

Applet name and maintainer

windowlist@cobinja.de @Cobinja

What happened?

Use windowlist with "Only shows windows on same monitor" + Titles. 3 Monitor workstation with applet on every monitor.

Testing VRR on new TV (which is cinnamon primary display)
I run script to temporarily disable two 60hz monitors and to only have TV.
I'm encountering issue were after disabling both monitors, the open apps disappear from panel. And won't reappear until cinnamon restart. ctrl-alt-esc. Even if I run script to turn back on other monitors windowlist won't show open apps.
When I want only TV as only display I cannot just reload cinnamon cause it references cinnamon-monitors.xml and then re-activates other monitors. Not aware of how I might just re-load window list by itself.

I have grouped window list temporarily added to TV taskbar panel and it doesn't experience this issue. Can see all open apps after turning off monitors. But I like and use Window list specifically for "Only shows windows on same monitor" which grouped window list doesn't support.

Issue happens with monitor toggle done either xrandr or nvidia-settings

xrandr --output DP-4 --off

Or the scripts I run

Disable monitors
nvidia-settings --assign CurrentMetaMode="DP-2: NULL, DP-4: NULL, HDMI-0: 3840x2160_144 +0+0 {AllowGSYNCCompatible=On}"

Activate Monitors
nvidia-settings --assign CurrentMetaMode="DP-2: nvidia-auto-select +0+720, DP-4: nvidia-auto-select +2560+720, HDMI-0: 3840x2160_144 +5120+0 {AllowGSYNCCompatible=On}"

Other information

No response

[Cobinja]

I need some more information.
On which monitor are the windows located that disappear from the applet? Were they already on the TV when disabling the other monitors? Or were they on a different monitor, are moved to the TV when disabling the other displays and are not shown by the applet?

[AlmightyJojo]

They disappear from all panels.
When nvidia commands I shared are ran any open windows on either of two monitors do get automatically moved to only TV display left active. So cinnamon is doing good job of moving windows that otherwise wouldn't be visible.

But any of the open apps that where open on TV prior disabling monitors + the windows that moved to TV do not display in window list applet. (But I can see all apps in separate group list applet, both apps that were on TV already + ones that moved)

One detail I didn't mention is that I do have few common apps pinned like brave, chrome, etc will multiple instances. The title of app remains pinned but clicking it will just launch a new instance. They do not have number with open instance counter and no way to open.

The moment I restart cinnamon all the panel pinned apps will have number of instances and return to normal. Also non pinned apps that were open yet hidden also re-appear.

[Cobinja]

So, to summarize: the applet that is set to only display windows from its own monitor does not show any open windows after disabling the other monitors. It does show which apps are pinned but those icons also pretend to not know of any open windows.
Is that correct?

[AlmightyJojo]

Yes that is all correct.
The applet is configured with "only show same monitor" for every monitor. But after monitors disable and cinnamon / muffin moves open apps to TV, every app open on PC should be visible on TV applet panel but none show. Regardless if app was on TV prior to monitor disable, or got moved to TV due to monitor disable.

[AlmightyJojo]

Additional info that may help.

If I disable monitors and issue happens as discussed. Then if I do not restart cinnamon and then re-activate monitors the window list applets on monitors are working correctly. Despite the app / window actually being on TV (because it moved with monitors off), the app is displayed on monitor panel. Upon clicking app on monitor panel it will automatically move window to that monitor and open.

However all apps that were on TV prior to monitors off and back on toggle will continue to be hidden until cinnamon reset.
Perhaps something with TV being set as the primary display?

Maybe useful? - Thanks for time.

[Cobinja]

Sorry for bugging you with question, but I can't really reproduce it on my system. I have a suspect that could be responsible. Does the issue also happen when you drag a window from one monitor to the other or is it only when disabling monitors?

About the other thing (when clicking the applet): is the window moved from one monitor to another or does it open a new window?

[AlmightyJojo]

Not buggin me. No worries - I'm the one asking for help.

Issue only happens with monitors being disabled. When all monitors active from a fresh boot no issues dragging windows between monitors. And the setting of "only show windows on same monitors" works great.

Believe your asking me to clarify my previous comment, that disabling and then re-activating monitors makes the 2nd / 3rd monitor panels work correctly without cinnamon restart. I click panel app and it opens on the 2nd/3rd monitor properly. Does not open a new instance of app but the one that was open like it should. However the TV primary monitor panel still remains broken after monitor re-enabled only showing pinned apps names without ability to access open apps. (Until cinnamon restart) If I click TV panel app when its in this state it will open a fresh instance of that app. So different behaviors of the primary monitor (TV) and the 2nd/3rd viewsonic monitors.

I made a short and small 20MB video of whats happening and have it on a google drive. But not too keen on sharing .mp4 here. Do you by chance have a public email you could share and I'll email you a google drive link?

[Cobinja]

I just pushed a new version. Can you check if that fixes the issue?

[AlmightyJojo]

Hi. Unfortunately no go.

I switched over to group list applet on each monitor after I discovered that it can do - only show single monitor, groups, title names and isn't experiencing my monitor toggle issue.

So I added cobi list back to both primary TV monitor + Secondary monitor to test. Both added to right of group list applet.
Then set cobi to full name + only show monitor windows for each panel.

Upon disabling monitors Cobi list panel disappears entirely from TV panel because I no longer have Cobi list pinned apps.
Upon enabling monitors Cobi list panel reappears on TV panel but is not showing app windows on TV but rather showing apps on on monitor (3). If I click TV panel cobi list apps from TV panel it will open apps on monitor(3).
Upon restarting cinnamon Cobi list panel will properly show all app windows again on TV and no longer incorrectly shows other monitor apps (correct because set to only display window this monitor)

Sorry Here's my Xscreen0 layout if that helps.

Monitor (3) - Monitor (2) - TV (1 Primary)
Running same scripts to toggle displays I shared in OP.

Perhaps its an odd glitch having my primary TV on far right side and then disabling two left side monitors.
I've had other troubles with X11 / Cinnamon / nvidia with this multi monitor setup and have discovered that Xscreen0 to finicky.

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=453019

[Cobinja]

I still cannot reproduce it here. Can you test if this also happens with CassiaWindowList (which is a fork of my applet)?

[AlmightyJojo]

CassiaWindowList giving identical issue and behavior.

Added to primary + secondary monitor in grouped mode + titles from wizard. Then set only display from this monitor on each. It had nemo + firefox pinned. Upon monitors disable - all disappeared except for pins. Re-enable monitors and primary TV panel shows open windows of Monitor (3) and not TV (1). Restart cinnamon and TV (1) panel showing all open apps on TV (1).

I must have a unique display layout along with my VRR desire and need to toggle off other monitors due to X11 limitation. Otherwise I wouldn't be an isolated case.

The group list applet is working for me without this issue and has my 3 main asks for a panel. Names + groups + only this monitor.

If you want to put issue on back burner - no problem. Or I'll be glad to run more tests. Also your welcome to that small video if you'd like to see the visual of issue and have a way I can send private Google drive link. (Annoying github removed DMs)

[Cobinja]

@klangman : I can't reproduce this issue here. Are you able to?

[klangman]

@klangman : I can't reproduce this issue here. Are you able to?

I'll give it a shot, after reading what the problem is.

[klangman]

So I only have a 2 monitor setup (an external monitor and a laptop screen) to test with. I setup a windowlist on both monitors and both windowlists are setup to only show windows on the same monitor as the windowlist.

Then I moved a couple of windows to the laptop screen, the windowlist entries (on both windowlists) changed correctly based on which monitor the windows were now on.

I then disabled the laptop screen and all the windows that were on the laptop screen automatically move to the external monitor, the windowlist entries also changed correctly to reflect the new set of windows on that monitor.

I then re-enabled the laptop screen, all the windows that were previously on the laptop screen moved back to the laptop screen and both windowlists were updated correctly to reflect the change in windows on each monitor.

Assuming these steps are a correct reflection of the steps reported in this issue (as close as possible given a 2 monitor setup rather than a 3 monitor setup) then I can't see the issue.

@AlmightyJojo Is there anything I am doing wrong in my recreate attempt?