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Applications opening on the wrong monitor

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tnt533
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I am currently running Linux Mint 10 with KDE 4.6 using a nVidia 8800 GTX with two LCD monitors. I have them defined with my main monitor on the left as absolute and my secondary display on the right as "right of". My primary display is also defined as primary by putting a check in the box which says "Make this the primary display for the X screen". I'm using twinview.

When I open up most applications they always default to opening on my secondary display instead of my main display. This isn't a game changer or deal killer but annoying just the same and I can't seem to figure out how to change the behaviour. I would really like applications to open on my primary display and then, if I so choose, drag them to the right to my secondary display. I end up dragging 90% of windows that open to the left and see that as a total waste of productivity.

Does anyone have any insight into how I could change the configuration to make the x server behave the way I desire?
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einar
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I've seen this bug, and I'm not sure there's a fix for it yet. I know however that substantial work is planned for multi-monitor fixes for the next release (4.8, although smaller fixes have found their way already for 4.7.1).


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tnt533
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einar wrote:I've seen this bug, and I'm not sure there's a fix for it yet. I know however that substantial work is planned for multi-monitor fixes for the next release (4.8, although smaller fixes have found their way already for 4.7.1).


I appreciate your response. I know that the lack of good multi-head support in KDE is one of the reasons why I decided on gnome years ago. I made the switch to KDE a few weeks ago because of the impending death of Gnome 2.x and I really can't stand Gnome3/Unity.

So far KDE 4.6 is rockin' my world but I notice little issues here and there that really don't make sense as to why they have not been addressed. The right click menu on the desktop for instance. I have to do it twice every time for it to come up. They are far enough into releases for KDE that the small usability stuff should have either been addressed already or should be on their hot-sheet.

I hope you're right about multi-head support being refined in 4.8.
tnt533
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I wonder if simply switching the physical outputs on the video adapter would make a difference.
PeteAsdf
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Hi, have you found a solution to this? I'm having the same problem with my setup (KDE 4.6 on nVidia 8800 GT). What is even more annoying on my setup is that my secondary screen is a TV that is usually switched off and some apps keep on opening there. Sometimes I need to switch the TV on just to be able to drag the windows to my monitor.

Thanks
wes33
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Sometimes I need to switch the TV on just to be able to drag the windows to my monitor.


this is a real pain which I suffer from - after unpluggin my projector,
kde still thinks the desktop is "double sized"

a pathetic workaround: using the pager you can drag the tiny
windows to put them on the visible part of the screen ...
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waldelf
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i think i solved this problem by switching primary output from dvi1 to dvi2 (and then back to dvi1).. first the taskbar moved to the right and all programs still opened on dvi2 instead of dvi1 (what would be correct because it's now the primary output device

but when i switched back to the previous configuration (set dvi-1 as primary) it suddenly worked as expected.. all programs now open on dvi-1 the primary output..

it would be really nice to be able to configure which program should open on which screen


Kubuntu 12.04 x64 | KDE SC 4.8
Nvidia 8800 GTS | Core2Duo E6600 | 4 GB RAM
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bcooksley
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Have you tried the "Active screen follows mouse" option in System Settings > Window Behaviour > Window Behaviour?


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waldelf
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ah.. no i didn't ... seems like a solution for now... thx..

but a better one is coming.. i just read that this bug https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=183996
is "fixed" in 4.10
http://techbase.kde.org/Schedules/KDE4/ ... ature_Plan


Kubuntu 12.04 x64 | KDE SC 4.8
Nvidia 8800 GTS | Core2Duo E6600 | 4 GB RAM
Ayhomaru
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I am sorry to resurrect this zombie but I still have the issue even with KDE Plasma 5.6 and even with Settings > Window management > Active screen follows mouse selected many apps still open on the laptop screen instead of the connected external display (which is set as Primary).

It seems that only native KDE apps respect this settings but apps like Firefox, Vivaldi browser, Double commander etc. always open on the secondary monitor. Any idea how to fix this behaviour?
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Mamarok
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You really mean Plasma 5.6 or is this a typo and should read 5.16.x? In the first case you would be using a considerably outdated version...


Running Kubuntu 22.10 with Plasma 5.26.3, Frameworks 5.100.0, Qt 5.15.6, kernel 5.19.0-23 on Ryzen 5 4600H, AMD Renoir, X11
FWIW: it's always useful to state the exact Plasma version (+ distribution) when asking questions, makes it easier to help ...
akiketolainen
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I took a look in my notes about this problem and the following should fix the problem of the windows opening on the wrong display:

1) $ kcmshell5 kwinrules

Click New.
Give this new rule a name in Description: box e.g. “On primary display”
Select Window types: Normal Window, Dialog Window and Utility Window.
Click Size & Position.
Select [x] Ignore requested geometry, select Apply Initially from the dropdown and select Yes.
Click OK and then OK again to close kcmshell5.

2) Go to

System Settings
Workspace
Window Management
Window Behavior
Focus/Multiscreen behaviour/[x] Active screen follows mouse
Advanced/Placement = Under Mouse
diegogiglio
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Simpletelly incredible! I ever wanted to do that.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! ;D

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josja
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Hello,

I have the same issue but non of the solutions proposed above seems to be even possible to try for me.

Configuration: I have a dell XPS 13 (7390) with ubuntu Ubuntu 19.10 connected to a iiyama ProLite XB3270QS 31.5" IPS monitor. This iiyama monitor is physically and virtually at the right side of my laptop and is set as the primary display (dock is appearing there etc.), the internal screen being the secondary screen (in practice I use this to leave open teams, skype tec.). Resolutions are set to 2560 x 1440 (16:9) at 100% scaling for both screens. Evince and Image Viewer always open on the small internal-screen, though even my mouse and the nautilus window from where I open pdf/png files are on the iiyama monitor.

Proposed solutions:

> "Have you tried the "Active screen follows mouse" option in System Settings > Window Behaviour > Window Behaviour?"
There is no 'window behavior tab' in 'settings' at this ubuntu version.

> "kcmshell5 kwinrules"
The 'kwinrules' option is not available either. Invoking 'kcmshell5 --list' displays
"
The following modules are available:
cache - Configure web cache settings
cookies - Configure the way cookies work
filetypes - Configure file associations
kcm_kdeconnect - Connect and sync your devices
kcm_ssl - SSL Versions and Certificates
netpref - Configure generic network preferences, like timeout values
proxy - Configure the proxy servers used
smb - Credentials used to access SMB shares
useragent - Configure the User Agent exposed by the HTTP kioslave
webshortcuts - Configure web shortcuts
"
When trying 'kcmshell5 kcm_kdeconnect', I end up in a window with an empty device list and 'no device selected'.

Any solutions/workarounds/... ?

Kind regards and thanks on beforehand,
Josja
koffeinfriedhof
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Hello!

Do you have Ubuntu with a self set-up Plasma or Kubuntu 19.10? Did you install updates and upgrades? There is a lot of stuff missing in your kcmshell-list.


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