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The current configuration of multiple screens is not very user friendly, mainly because it is very technicaland focuses on technical issues instead of usage.

When plugging in an extra monitor (maybe a projector), KDE presents you with a dialog to configure the new device. This dialog is very technically oriented, and it is not working very logical. It also insists on displaying yet another dialog when confirmed, even one that will provide a short timeout and requiring you to confirm that one, or your work in the first dialog is lost. If you did not set a monitor as the primary display, those dialogs and your other windows might jump back and forth during this stage.

Even worse, when you unplug the extra monitor, the same thing happens, dialogs that your have to deal with.

So I want to suggest a process that tries to help me getting to do what I want - namely use that monitor, in an easy and safe way.



Instead of being technical, ask the user what it is she wants to do with the monitor.

Profiles represents common usages - using projector screens in different ways, and having multiple monitors on your desk on either side, and the list can contain a item to "Create new..." presenting a dialog where the user can configure and name a way of ordering his displays. Profiles would be filtered by the situation, for example the number and - if it is possible to get to them - identities of devices.

The "options <<" button will hide the "resolution" and "primary monitor" combos.

The "Try..." button would allow a test, which sould be escaped without changing the configuration.

The "Ignore" button would cause the new device to be ignored (Hm, why would anyone want that??).

The "Allways use this configuration" button would mean that whenever an additional monitor is plugged in, this profile is selected without bugging the user at all.

Upon unplugging the monitor, the system should simply go back to the configuration as it was before the monitor was plugged in, without bugging the user.

Simple, efficient, just what I'm looking for : +1

The back-end and dialog would also need to handle a couple extra things not mentioned here, assuming we choose not to clone;

Monitor placement in relation to the current desktop. Is it to the left, right, top or bottom? Will we add the little diagram showing the desktops to drag them around, or a simple dropdown, or assume?

Compositing loss. If the user is using effects, it would need to check "Is there twinview or another method to keep compositing? Is there a way to keep compositing on one screen?"
If we can keep compositing, no problem, say nothing. If we can only keep it on one screen, it can assume it's going to be on your primary screen. If not, display the text "A new screen is attached, enabling the screen will result in special effects being disabled while in use."


Another question is the spaghetti ball of restarting X if you need to.

I would suggest to make possibility to bind a profile with an concrete activity. So for example different activity for laptop monitor and different for external monitor.

What should happen with desktops and windows when you switch to a profile that has fewer screens/monitors?

Maybe also check out this proposal: brainstorm.php#idea96923_page1 (still in awaiting validation)

b00rt00s wrote:I would suggest to make possibility to bind a profile with an concrete activity. So for example different activity for laptop monitor and different for external monitor.

I like this idea very much!

That way you could use a tablet in tablet mode with plasma-active, attach a keybord, use it with the plasma-netbook and if you plug in an external monitor with plasma-desktop.

I like this idea. We really need a solution more focused on "humans" and on usage than on tech.

Maybe a nice solution could be a diagram, where you can drag monitors to specify positions, and a checkbox on each monitor icon to make it primary.
With a drop down menu below each monitor icon you could choose its resolution.

Anyway, we really need more work on thins.