Panels don't contain same tabs across different FF windows?

[davidleejy]

Hi fellow Sidebery users,

Sidebery version: 5.0.0
Firefox version: 117.0.1

I'm trying to use panels for the first time.

Previously I relied on separate FF windows to separate my tabs for different tasks. For example, I might have one FF window for my studies, another window for work-related tabs, and one other for personal finance tabs:

Wanting to have fewer FF windows opened, I decided to make the transition to using Sidebery panels instead to separate tabs concerning different tasks.

I created three panels named "studies", "work", and "finance" and moved my tabs into their respective panels. However, to my confusion, these panels would be empty in newly opened FF windows.

Hold up, I said to myself, shouldn't all the identically named panels contain the same tabs across all FF windows especially since these panels are visible in all FF windows? Is my intuition about how panels should be used somehow wrong?

My intuition:

FF window 1:
  Panel "studies": {tab1, tab2, tab3, tab4}
  Panel "work": {tab5, tab6, tab7}
  Panel "personal finance": {tab8, tab9, tab10, tab11}

FF window 2 (newly opened):
  Panel "studies": {tab1, tab2, tab3, tab4}
  Panel "work": {tab5, tab6, tab7}
  Panel "personal finance": {tab8, tab9, tab10, tab11}

My reality:

FF window 1:
  Panel "studies": {tab1, tab2, tab3, tab4}
  Panel "work": {tab5, tab6, tab7}
  Panel "personal finance": {tab8, tab9, tab10, tab11}

FF window 2 (newly opened):
  Panel "studies": {}
  Panel "work": {}
  Panel "personal finance": {}

[llc0930]

In fact, I personally think it is more like a label.
In addition, if you right-click a tab on the panel of window 1 and send it to another window, it will be sent to the same panel.

[davidleejy]

Ah ok I think I'm getting the idea.. If a panel is like a label, can it also function similarly to a tag? Like, can users conveniently assign a single tab to multiple panels, similar to how in general a single item can possess multiple tags?

[llc0930]

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to meet your requirements. I guess I should correct my statement. It seems to be a unique label.

[krafd]

I know this is a year old, but I just realized the same thing.
Can anyone please confirm if this is still the case, or, perhaps something has been added to the config?

If I have a secondary FF window open, and add a tab to a particular panel, do I basically lose it if I forget to send it over to main? Can be very frustrating if one doesn't notice at the time.

Thanks

Note: Using FF 131.0.2 - archlinux

[llc0930]

Yes, in my understanding, Sidebery has never managed the storage state, but only records the tree level. Sidebery's snapshot function is independent of Firefox's state management. Please remind me if my understanding is wrong.

[krafd]

thank you all for the replies.
I will just be more aware/careful when opening additional windows :)

[ChilledMoth]

thank you all for the replies. I will just be more aware/careful when opening additional windows :)

A new feature that moves all tabs from the active window to another one at once (while respecting their panel associations) might be useful. Ideally with the option to do so automatically on the closure of a window as long as there is at least one other window open. Consolidation of all windows into a single one on the push of a button would be only one step away.

[krafd]

thank you all for the replies. I will just be more aware/careful when opening additional windows :)

A new feature that moves all tabs from the active window to another one at once (while respecting their panel associations) might be useful. Ideally with the option to do so automatically on the closure of a window as long as there is at least one other window open. Consolidation of all windows into a single one on the push of a button would be only one step away.

You know what... I haven't done any proper coding in years.. but I think you just gave me an excuse to do a little side-project :)

I'll follow up on this thread if/when I get something implemented.

[llc0930]

Moving to a new window will move it into the first panel, and moving to another existing window will move it into the corresponding panel, so it should be very close, just one step away.

[rublev]

Any updates on this?

[llc0930]

Because Firefox's browsing state backup mechanism isn't perfect, a power outage while writing a backup often results in corrupted backup files and the loss of numerous tabs. Therefore, I enable scheduled automatic snapshot exports. These snapshots record all tabs in all windows, preventing tab loss. This also prevents accidental window closings, right?