window resize handle is now too far below window, windows become unresizable

Bug #1359350 reported by Ray Kiddy
18
This bug affects 4 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
Ubuntu theme
Triaged
Wishlist
Unassigned
Unity
Triaged
Low
Unassigned
unity (Ubuntu)
Triaged
Low
Unassigned

Bug Description

When I move my cursor to the bottom right corner of any window, the cursor changes to the "resizing handle" and I can resize the window.

But, between 14.02 LTS and 14.04 LTS, then indicator appears farther down. Now, the indicator changes a few pixels below the outside edge of the window.

What this means is that when I window's bottom edge is flush with the bottom of my screen, I am COMPLETELY UNABLE to resize the window. It is a bit annoying. :-)

The distance from the bottom corner to show the resize indicator used to be rather small. It can be frustratingly hard to hit. But now, with these windows, it is completely impossible.

This behavior has noticeably changed between 14.02 LTS and 14.04 LTS.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: unity 7.2.2+14.04.20140714-0ubuntu1.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-34.60-generic 3.13.11.4
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-34-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.3
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,vpswitch,snap,mousepoll,resize,place,move,wall,grid,regex,imgpng,session,gnomecompat,animation,fade,unitymtgrabhandles,workarounds,scale,expo,ezoom,unityshell]
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Wed Aug 20 11:51:12 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-01-31 (201 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20130820.1)
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2014-08-14 (6 days ago)

Revision history for this message
Ray Kiddy (ray-ganymede) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in unity (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Marco Trevisan (Treviño) (3v1n0) wrote :

This is due to the borderless windows in unity, you can change this by changing -UnityDecoration-extents in /usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-3.0/apps/unity.css

tags: added: new-decorations
Changed in unity:
status: New → Triaged
Changed in unity (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Triaged
Changed in ubuntu-themes:
status: New → Triaged
importance: Undecided → Low
Changed in unity:
importance: Undecided → Low
Changed in unity (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Low
Changed in ubuntu-themes:
importance: Low → Wishlist
Revision history for this message
Ray Kiddy (ray-ganymede) wrote :

I will have to see if the previous comment is a work-around. This is becoming increasingly obnoxious. Several of my applications now create new windows that are big enough that they are against the bottom of the screen and are therefore non-resizeable.

The only way to get most apps to give you a smaller window is to resize the window it gives you. Then the next window will be that size. But if you cannot resize the first window, you cannot affect the size of the next window the app gives you.

Sometimes I can lower the resolution of the screen, get a new window, and increase the resolution. The window then may stick at its created size, which means I can now grab the bottom of the window. But some apps are so helpful that they re-size an already created window to take up the same screen real estate no matter what the resolution. So amazingly helpful.

Revision history for this message
Ray Kiddy (ray-ganymede) wrote :

Wow. Well I changed the -UnityDecoration-extents value from '28px 0 0 0' to '28px 10px 10px 10px'. This is obviously too big.

On the other hand, it is _really_ nice to not have to hit that 10 micron thick region of the window that one needs to hit to get a resize handle. Even when I can navigate to the corner, in both 14.02 and 14.04, it has been difficult to get the mouse pointer to the incredibly miniscule region of the window that one needs to hit.

I think it is not the right call to put this at a low priority for several reasons.

First, it is easy to fix, so why not do it. I mean, do you need me to write a one-line pull-request against a repository somewhere? I would be glad to do it. Just let me know.

Second, I know the effect is a bit subtle but this is the kind of thing that makes people workflow difficult without them even knowing it. All they know is that it takes a long time to resize the window and their hand hurts. And if they realize what the problem is, how easy is it to find the vocabulary to describe the problem so that you all get what is being described? And how many average users know where to file the bug? So, how do you all know how many people this is a problem for? I would suggest you may understate the number of people it bothers and the extent of the bother that it causes them.

Revision history for this message
Nick Phillips (monsterlemon) wrote :

My windows are now completely unresizeable in 14.10 with Ambiance/Radiance, so I'm reluctantly switching to Adwaita.

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