https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=520726
Bug ID: 520726
Summary: Add option to reuse existing instance when opening new
images (single instance mode)
Classification: Applications
Product: gwenview
Version First 26.04.1
Reported In:
Platform: Arch Linux
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: wishlist
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Target Milestone: ---
# Rationale / Use Case
Currently, double-clicking an image in Dolphin (or launching an image from an
external application) always opens a brand-new window/instance of Gwenview.
When reviewing multiple images over time, this quickly leads to window clutter
and high memory usage.
Allowing Gwenview to reuse an already-running instance would streamline the
workflow for users who prefer a single, dedicated viewing window.
# Proposed Behavior
Add a configuration option to "Reuse existing window when opening files":
- When Disabled (Default): Current behavior persists (every image opens in a
new window).
- When Enabled: Opening a new image from the file manager intercepts the
existing Gwenview process and loads the image into that window.
# Smart Handling (View Mode vs. Browse Mode)
To prevent breaking user workflows, the "reuse" logic should ideally
distinguish between Gwenview's two primary states:
- If the existing instance is in View Mode: Reuse the window and replace the
current image with the newly opened one.
- If the existing instance is in Browse Mode: Do not override the user's folder
browsing session. Instead, launch a new instance for the specific image (or
switch the existing instance's focus, depending on what is technically cleaner,
though a new instance is preferred to protect the active browsing state).
--
You are receiving this mail because:
You are watching all bug changes.
