Hello list, I use KDE in the sense of the software-bundle.
Abstract
--------
In KDE4 times, there was a QT bug messing up shortcuts when a non-standard
(russian, neo, etc.) keyboard layout or variant was set as the default layout
either via xorg.conf or in the System Setting of KDE4. This is documented in
the KDE as well as in the QT bug tracker [1,2], and was fixed at some point
for QT4 and KDE4. According to [1], the issue reappeared for Plasma5 .
My observation on Plasma5 is, than not only the shortcuts are affected, but
also mouse clicks fall through, at least for Java applications using the
Abstract Window Toolkit [3]. The Java application in question is Matlab
(R2015a), and since it is closed source (sorry, not my choice), I rely on
information from the java console (jconsole).
Setup and configuration
-----------------------
I experience the issue running Plasma 5 a MacBook Pro using the Intel
Integrated Graphics Controller of its i7 cpu. My graphics setup is
20-intel.conf
--------------
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection
So I am using the standard open source "intel" driver.
My keyboard setup on X11 level is
20-keyboard.conf
----------------
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "system-keyboard"
MatchIsKeyboard "on"
Option "XkbLayout" "de"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
EndSection
I use the German keyboard layout "de" here. I would love to configure neo
[4,5], but unfortunately, this kills shortcuts and clicks.
In the System Setting of Plasma 5 under "Input Devices" I configure two
layouts. Both are German, the first in the default variant "de", the second in
the variant "neo". I leave the System Setting of KDE 4 alone.
The situation
-------------
To make the naming of shortcuts clear I prepend the active variant "de" or
"neo" to the shortcut. This is de[Strg+c] is copy in the sense of the "de"
variant, and the actual keys pressed coincide with the labeling on the
physical keyboard. In contrary neo:[Strg+c] refers to copy in the frame of the
neo variant, but the actual keys pressed with respect to the physical keyboard
are Strg+r.
The setup described above leads to the following situation.
--- Keyboard shortcuts
---- ------------------
------ KF5 based applications
In KF5 based applications like KWrite, keyboard shortcuts follow the layout
variant. This is, neo[Strg+x] cuts out text, and de[Strg+x] also cuts out text
when the respective layout is activated.
Interestingly, if "neo" is active, and I hit neo[Strg+รถ] which is de[Strg+x],
text is also cut out. So, the shortcut is interpreted as if "de" would be
active. However, if I hit neo[Strg+p] which is de[Strg+v], text is not
inserted as you might expect, but the print dialog opens. This is because
neo[Strg+p] is the shortcut for print. So, a shortcut configured in the frame
of the currently active variant "neo" takes precedence over whatever is
configured in the frame of an inactive variant.
This is already strange by itself, and I would considered it a bug.
------ KDE 4 applications
In applications still based on KDE4 such as Dolphin, only the shortcuts in the
frame of the "de" variant work. This makes perfect sense, since X11 only know
about "de" and the System Setting of KDE 4 are not changed. Here, I would love
so see, that KDE 4 applications follow whatever is configured for Plasma5 to
avoid inconsistencies. The usual user simply does not care which libraries an
application uses, and hence does not want to configure the same things twice
for different applications.
--- Mouse clicks
----------------
As already mentioned in the Abstract, I use Matlab which is a Java
application. The situation is a little fuzzy in detail, but the general
picture is, that if there are more than two Matlab windows open, e.g. the
editor and two windows for plots, the clicks fall through the window which is
clicked. This only happens, if the non-standard keyboard layout variant "neo"
is active. To this end, it is not important if it is the primary or the non-
primary variant. If I configure "neo" as the only variant on X11 level,
keyboard and clicks are broken. If I configure "de" as the only variant in X11
and "de" as primary and "neo" as secondary variant in the Plasma5 System
Setting, clicks are broken as soon as "neo" is active, and work all right is
"de" is active.
Information I can provide
-------------------------
I would be glad to help the situation by providing further information. I
would categorize myself as an advanced user. So you can ask me for all
information I can gather on the command line, system logs, java console, etc.
I fear, however, that I can not offer to compile e.g. kwin in order to test
patches; therefore, I am simply lacking the time.
I run Arch Linux, and as far is I know, they strip their binaries. Debugging
information is therefore of limited use. If there is really the need,
irrespective of what I just say, you can ask me to compile, and I see what I
can do.
Best,
Wolfgang
References
----------
[1] https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=320423
[2] https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-32908
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Window_Toolkit
[4] http://www.neo-layout.org/
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout#Neo
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