[xmonad] Cntr-F not working in several apps and Chrome has no menubar

Discussion:

Gregory Propf

2017-03-30 04:05:18 UTC

I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't found
anything so far, much less a fix. The subject line sums up the problems.
Cntr-F isn't working in a few apps I use a lot. I think there are others
but the main ones are Google Chrome (Version 57.0.2987.98 (64-bit)) and the
Arduino IDE (v 1.8.0). I'm running a recent install of Arch Linux and
Xmonad 0.13-1 from the Arch repository. I don't have a complex xmonad.hs
but I'll post it here. There are a few other glitches like the fact that
the menus in the Arduino IDE appear off to the side from the menu labels
but I can live with that. Being able to search is kind of important though.
What I do right now in both Chrome and Arduino IDE is click on the file
menu and then select "Find" from the drop-down menu. It's workable but
quite cumbersome. My Haskell skills are actually pretty good BTW so I'm not
afraid of the code. I'd even be willing to contribute at some point.

import XMonad
import XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog
import XMonad.Hooks.ManageDocks
import XMonad.Util.Run(spawnPipe)
import XMonad.Util.EZConfig(additionalKeys)
import System.IO

main = do
xmproc <- spawnPipe "/usr/bin/xmobar -d /home/gregory/.xmobarrc"
xmonad $ docks defaultConfig
-- xmonad $ defaultConfig
{ manageHook = manageDocks <+> manageHook defaultConfig
, layoutHook = avoidStruts $ layoutHook defaultConfig
, logHook = dynamicLogWithPP xmobarPP
{ ppOutput = hPutStrLn xmproc
, ppTitle = xmobarColor "green" "" . shorten 50
}
, modMask = mod4Mask -- Rebind Mod to the Windows key
, terminal = "urxvt"
}

Brandon Allbery

2017-03-30 04:18:20 UTC

Permalink

You aren't binding control-F, so xmonad isn't the problem there. You might
try using xev to see what happens to it. Something else you are running may
have a passive grab on it, but xorg doesn't provide a way to inspect
passive grabs. :/

The Arduino stuff is likely Java; see
https://wiki.haskell.org/Xmonad/Frequently_asked_questions#Problems_with_Java_applications.2C_Applet_java_console

Chrome doesn't normally have a menubar; but it may register its dropdown
(look for three vertical dots at the end of the location bar, after any
extension icons) with Unity's panel to fake one. You can't use xmonad with
Unity, so if you require Unity's menu bar hack then you will need to run
Unity. Chrome will hide some other parts of its UI if you have "Use system
title bar and borders" checked in the Appearance section of the Settings
tab.

Post by Gregory Propf
I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't found
anything so far, much less a fix. The subject line sums up the problems.
Cntr-F isn't working in a few apps I use a lot. I think there are others
but the main ones are Google Chrome (Version 57.0.2987.98 (64-bit)) and the
Arduino IDE (v 1.8.0). I'm running a recent install of Arch Linux and
Xmonad 0.13-1 from the Arch repository. I don't have a complex xmonad.hs
but I'll post it here. There are a few other glitches like the fact that
the menus in the Arduino IDE appear off to the side from the menu labels
but I can live with that. Being able to search is kind of important though.
What I do right now in both Chrome and Arduino IDE is click on the file
menu and then select "Find" from the drop-down menu. It's workable but
quite cumbersome. My Haskell skills are actually pretty good BTW so I'm not
afraid of the code. I'd even be willing to contribute at some point.
import XMonad
import XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog
import XMonad.Hooks.ManageDocks
import XMonad.Util.Run(spawnPipe)
import XMonad.Util.EZConfig(additionalKeys)
import System.IO
main = do
xmproc <- spawnPipe "/usr/bin/xmobar -d /home/gregory/.xmobarrc"
xmonad $ docks defaultConfig
-- xmonad $ defaultConfig
{ manageHook = manageDocks <+> manageHook defaultConfig
, layoutHook = avoidStruts $ layoutHook defaultConfig
, logHook = dynamicLogWithPP xmobarPP
{ ppOutput = hPutStrLn xmproc
, ppTitle = xmobarColor "green" "" . shorten 50
}
, modMask = mod4Mask -- Rebind Mod to the Windows key
, terminal = "urxvt"
}
_______________________________________________
xmonad mailing list
http://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/xmonad

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
***@gmail.com ***@sinenomine.net
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad http://sinenomine.net

Gregory Propf

2017-03-30 09:17:33 UTC

Permalink

Well I looked at the Java link and tried using the environment variable fix
they recommend (_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1). It fixed the terrible
formatting I was seeing but so far still no Ctrl-f. Other hotkeys like
Ctrl-T (autoformatting) work fine though. Anyway that's definitely an
improvement. I know about the 3 dots on Chrome. That's how I get to the
"find" menu option. I just wish the hotkey worked. I think something is
really wrong with Ctrl-f for me. Running 'xbindkeys -k -v' and hitting
Ctrl-f in the window it pop up gives you:

m:0x4 + c:37
Control + Control_L

or with the right Ctrl key:

m:0x4 + c:105
Control + Control_R

Those are just the codes for the Ctrl keys alone though. It's like the F
isn't even being pressed. From other Ctrl keys I get correct codes. Here's
Ctrl-e for example.

m:0x4 + c:26
Control + e

The 'f' key works just fine though. It just won't do anything with the Ctrl
key. I just checked emacs and it doesn't work there either. It looks like
the Ctrl-f combo is just hosed for the entire desktop. I guess I could
start to suspect my keyboard but this problem started when I switched from
Ubuntu (Unity) to Arch (Xmonad). I also tried an ultra-minimal xmonad.hs to
rule out xmobar and some of the extensions I'm using and even tried taking
out the mod4Mask. Still no fix.

import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Desktop

baseConfig = desktopConfig

main = xmonad baseConfig
{ terminal = "urxvt"
, modMask = mod4Mask
}

Very strange.

Post by Brandon Allbery
You aren't binding control-F, so xmonad isn't the problem there. You

might try using xev to see what happens to it. Something else you are
running may have a passive grab on it, but xorg doesn't provide a way to
inspect passive grabs. :/

Post by Brandon Allbery
The Arduino stuff is likely Java; see

https://wiki.haskell.org/Xmonad/Frequently_asked_questions#Problems_with_Java_applications.2C_Applet_java_console

Post by Brandon Allbery
Chrome doesn't normally have a menubar; but it may register its dropdown

(look for three vertical dots at the end of the location bar, after any
extension icons) with Unity's panel to fake one. You can't use xmonad with
Unity, so if you require Unity's menu bar hack then you will need to run
Unity. Chrome will hide some other parts of its UI if you have "Use system
title bar and borders" checked in the Appearance section of the Settings
tab.

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't found

anything so far, much less a fix. The subject line sums up the problems.
Cntr-F isn't working in a few apps I use a lot. I think there are others
but the main ones are Google Chrome (Version 57.0.2987.98 (64-bit)) and the
Arduino IDE (v 1.8.0). I'm running a recent install of Arch Linux and
Xmonad 0.13-1 from the Arch repository. I don't have a complex xmonad.hs
but I'll post it here. There are a few other glitches like the fact that
the menus in the Arduino IDE appear off to the side from the menu labels
but I can live with that. Being able to search is kind of important though.
What I do right now in both Chrome and Arduino IDE is click on the file
menu and then select "Find" from the drop-down menu. It's workable but
quite cumbersome. My Haskell skills are actually pretty good BTW so I'm not
afraid of the code. I'd even be willing to contribute at some point.

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
import XMonad
import XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog
import XMonad.Hooks.ManageDocks
import XMonad.Util.Run(spawnPipe)
import XMonad.Util.EZConfig(additionalKeys)
import System.IO
main = do
xmproc <- spawnPipe "/usr/bin/xmobar -d /home/gregory/.xmobarrc"
xmonad $ docks defaultConfig
-- xmonad $ defaultConfig
{ manageHook = manageDocks <+> manageHook defaultConfig
, layoutHook = avoidStruts $ layoutHook defaultConfig
, logHook = dynamicLogWithPP xmobarPP
{ ppOutput = hPutStrLn xmproc
, ppTitle = xmobarColor "green" "" . shorten 50
}
, modMask = mod4Mask -- Rebind Mod to the Windows key
, terminal = "urxvt"
}
_______________________________________________
xmonad mailing list
http://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/xmonad

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad

http://sinenomine.net

Brandon Allbery

2017-03-30 17:37:30 UTC

Permalink

This is precisely how a passive key grab on (controlMask, xK_f) would
behave. But since your config doesn't show one, likely some other program
is grabbing it. Unfortunately there's no way to get xorg to say what keys
are grabbed by what clients; all I can suggest is looking over what
programs are running.

Post by Gregory Propf
Well I looked at the Java link and tried using the environment variable
fix they recommend (_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1). It fixed the terrible
formatting I was seeing but so far still no Ctrl-f. Other hotkeys like
Ctrl-T (autoformatting) work fine though. Anyway that's definitely an
improvement. I know about the 3 dots on Chrome. That's how I get to the
"find" menu option. I just wish the hotkey worked. I think something is
really wrong with Ctrl-f for me. Running 'xbindkeys -k -v' and hitting
m:0x4 + c:37
Control + Control_L
m:0x4 + c:105
Control + Control_R
Those are just the codes for the Ctrl keys alone though. It's like the F
isn't even being pressed. From other Ctrl keys I get correct codes. Here's
Ctrl-e for example.
m:0x4 + c:26
Control + e
The 'f' key works just fine though. It just won't do anything with the
Ctrl key. I just checked emacs and it doesn't work there either. It looks
like the Ctrl-f combo is just hosed for the entire desktop. I guess I could
start to suspect my keyboard but this problem started when I switched from
Ubuntu (Unity) to Arch (Xmonad). I also tried an ultra-minimal xmonad.hs to
rule out xmobar and some of the extensions I'm using and even tried taking
out the mod4Mask. Still no fix.
import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Desktop
baseConfig = desktopConfig
main = xmonad baseConfig
{ terminal = "urxvt"
, modMask = mod4Mask
}
Very strange.

Post by Brandon Allbery
You aren't binding control-F, so xmonad isn't the problem there. You

might try using xev to see what happens to it. Something else you are
running may have a passive grab on it, but xorg doesn't provide a way to
inspect passive grabs. :/

Post by Brandon Allbery
The Arduino stuff is likely Java; see https://wiki.haskell.org/

Xmonad/Frequently_asked_questions#Problems_with_Java_
applications.2C_Applet_java_console

Post by Brandon Allbery
Chrome doesn't normally have a menubar; but it may register its

dropdown (look for three vertical dots at the end of the location bar,
after any extension icons) with Unity's panel to fake one. You can't use
xmonad with Unity, so if you require Unity's menu bar hack then you will
need to run Unity. Chrome will hide some other parts of its UI if you have
"Use system title bar and borders" checked in the Appearance section of the
Settings tab.

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't

found anything so far, much less a fix. The subject line sums up the
problems. Cntr-F isn't working in a few apps I use a lot. I think there are
others but the main ones are Google Chrome (Version 57.0.2987.98 (64-bit))
and the Arduino IDE (v 1.8.0). I'm running a recent install of Arch Linux
and Xmonad 0.13-1 from the Arch repository. I don't have a complex
xmonad.hs but I'll post it here. There are a few other glitches like the
fact that the menus in the Arduino IDE appear off to the side from the menu
labels but I can live with that. Being able to search is kind of important
though. What I do right now in both Chrome and Arduino IDE is click on the
file menu and then select "Find" from the drop-down menu. It's workable but
quite cumbersome. My Haskell skills are actually pretty good BTW so I'm not
afraid of the code. I'd even be willing to contribute at some point.

Post by Brandon Allbery

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine

associates

Post by Brandon Allbery
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad

http://sinenomine.net

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
***@gmail.com ***@sinenomine.net
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad http://sinenomine.net

Gregory Propf

2017-03-30 19:08:14 UTC

Permalink

That's what I thought. I shut down everything but Chrome and then restarted
Chrome too. Still no Ctrl-f in anything. This is quite a nasty one. The
only thing that really remains to suspect is my display manager which is
lightdm. I suppose maybe that could be the issue though I'm not actually
sure that display managers are even still interacting with the session
after the WM takes over. My lightdm config is pretty much completely stock
from the Arch repos as well. So anyway I'm now reading up on passive and
active grabs. I can't wait for Wayland to be more mature. I'm supposing
things like this would be less likely or at least easier to track and fix.

Post by Brandon Allbery
This is precisely how a passive key grab on (controlMask, xK_f) would
behave. But since your config doesn't show one, likely some other program
is grabbing it. Unfortunately there's no way to get xorg to say what keys
are grabbed by what clients; all I can suggest is looking over what
programs are running.

Post by Gregory Propf
Well I looked at the Java link and tried using the environment variable
fix they recommend (_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1). It fixed the
terrible formatting I was seeing but so far still no Ctrl-f. Other hotkeys
like Ctrl-T (autoformatting) work fine though. Anyway that's definitely an
improvement. I know about the 3 dots on Chrome. That's how I get to the
"find" menu option. I just wish the hotkey worked. I think something is
really wrong with Ctrl-f for me. Running 'xbindkeys -k -v' and hitting
m:0x4 + c:37
Control + Control_L
m:0x4 + c:105
Control + Control_R
Those are just the codes for the Ctrl keys alone though. It's like the F
isn't even being pressed. From other Ctrl keys I get correct codes. Here's
Ctrl-e for example.
m:0x4 + c:26
Control + e
The 'f' key works just fine though. It just won't do anything with the
Ctrl key. I just checked emacs and it doesn't work there either. It looks
like the Ctrl-f combo is just hosed for the entire desktop. I guess I could
start to suspect my keyboard but this problem started when I switched from
Ubuntu (Unity) to Arch (Xmonad). I also tried an ultra-minimal xmonad.hs to
rule out xmobar and some of the extensions I'm using and even tried taking
out the mod4Mask. Still no fix.
import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Desktop
baseConfig = desktopConfig
main = xmonad baseConfig
{ terminal = "urxvt"
, modMask = mod4Mask
}
Very strange.

Post by Brandon Allbery
You aren't binding control-F, so xmonad isn't the problem there. You

might try using xev to see what happens to it. Something else you are
running may have a passive grab on it, but xorg doesn't provide a way to
inspect passive grabs. :/

Post by Brandon Allbery
The Arduino stuff is likely Java; see https://wiki.haskell.org/Xmona

d/Frequently_asked_questions#Problems_with_Java_application
s.2C_Applet_java_console

Post by Brandon Allbery
Chrome doesn't normally have a menubar; but it may register its

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't

Post by Brandon Allbery

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine

associates

Post by Brandon Allbery
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad

http://sinenomine.net

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad
http://sinenomine.net

Brandon Allbery

2017-03-30 19:37:59 UTC

Permalink

I'd work from a "ps" listing and make sure nothing else got started in the
background. Depending on how the display manager is configured, it can
start extra things (or occasionally leak them from the login session).

Post by Gregory Propf
That's what I thought. I shut down everything but Chrome and then
restarted Chrome too. Still no Ctrl-f in anything. This is quite a nasty
one. The only thing that really remains to suspect is my display manager
which is lightdm. I suppose maybe that could be the issue though I'm not
actually sure that display managers are even still interacting with the
session after the WM takes over. My lightdm config is pretty much
completely stock from the Arch repos as well. So anyway I'm now reading up
on passive and active grabs. I can't wait for Wayland to be more mature.
I'm supposing things like this would be less likely or at least easier to
track and fix.

Post by Gregory Propf
Well I looked at the Java link and tried using the environment variable
fix they recommend (_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1). It fixed the
terrible formatting I was seeing but so far still no Ctrl-f. Other hotkeys
like Ctrl-T (autoformatting) work fine though. Anyway that's definitely an
improvement. I know about the 3 dots on Chrome. That's how I get to the
"find" menu option. I just wish the hotkey worked. I think something is
really wrong with Ctrl-f for me. Running 'xbindkeys -k -v' and hitting
m:0x4 + c:37
Control + Control_L
m:0x4 + c:105
Control + Control_R
Those are just the codes for the Ctrl keys alone though. It's like the F
isn't even being pressed. From other Ctrl keys I get correct codes. Here's
Ctrl-e for example.
m:0x4 + c:26
Control + e
The 'f' key works just fine though. It just won't do anything with the
Ctrl key. I just checked emacs and it doesn't work there either. It looks
like the Ctrl-f combo is just hosed for the entire desktop. I guess I could
start to suspect my keyboard but this problem started when I switched from
Ubuntu (Unity) to Arch (Xmonad). I also tried an ultra-minimal xmonad.hs to
rule out xmobar and some of the extensions I'm using and even tried taking
out the mod4Mask. Still no fix.
import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Desktop
baseConfig = desktopConfig
main = xmonad baseConfig
{ terminal = "urxvt"
, modMask = mod4Mask
}
Very strange.

Post by Brandon Allbery
You aren't binding control-F, so xmonad isn't the problem there. You

might try using xev to see what happens to it. Something else you are
running may have a passive grab on it, but xorg doesn't provide a way to
inspect passive grabs. :/

Post by Brandon Allbery
The Arduino stuff is likely Java; see https://wiki.haskell.org/Xmona

d/Frequently_asked_questions#Problems_with_Java_applications
.2C_Applet_java_console

Post by Brandon Allbery
Chrome doesn't normally have a menubar; but it may register its

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
}
, modMask = mod4Mask -- Rebind Mod to the Windows key
, terminal = "urxvt"
}
_______________________________________________
xmonad mailing list
http://mail.haskell.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/xmonad

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine

associates

Post by Brandon Allbery
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad

http://sinenomine.net

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad
http://sinenomine.net

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
***@gmail.com ***@sinenomine.net
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad http://sinenomine.net

Gregory Propf

2017-03-30 21:55:32 UTC

Permalink

Well I now feel stupid. I did just that before reading your message and
looking over my .xbindkeysrc file. I had looked before and found something
that might have been a problem so I commented it out and re-ran xbindkeys
and restarted Xmonad. It didn't help. Just after installing xdotool so I
could list out passive grabs I decided to grep for xbindkeys processes. I
realized that the now days-old xbindkeys that had started the last time I
rebooted and logged in was still running. I had thought that xbindkeys was
just a thing that ran, changed some things in X and then died. The original
process must have initiated a passive grab on Ctrl-f and was holding on to
it. A simple 'killall xbindkeys' later and my beloved Ctrl-f is working
everywhere. I'm still glad I made the effort because the Arduino IDE is now
much easier to use in general and any other Java stuff should benefit as
well. I also learned of the existence of this "passive grab" nonsense in X.
Thanks for all your help on this Brandon.

Post by Brandon Allbery
I'd work from a "ps" listing and make sure nothing else got started in the
background. Depending on how the display manager is configured, it can
start extra things (or occasionally leak them from the login session).

Post by Gregory Propf
Well I looked at the Java link and tried using the environment variable
fix they recommend (_JAVA_AWT_WM_NONREPARENTING=1). It fixed the
terrible formatting I was seeing but so far still no Ctrl-f. Other hotkeys
like Ctrl-T (autoformatting) work fine though. Anyway that's definitely an
improvement. I know about the 3 dots on Chrome. That's how I get to the
"find" menu option. I just wish the hotkey worked. I think something is
really wrong with Ctrl-f for me. Running 'xbindkeys -k -v' and hitting
m:0x4 + c:37
Control + Control_L
m:0x4 + c:105
Control + Control_R
Those are just the codes for the Ctrl keys alone though. It's like the
F isn't even being pressed. From other Ctrl keys I get correct codes.
Here's Ctrl-e for example.
m:0x4 + c:26
Control + e
The 'f' key works just fine though. It just won't do anything with the
Ctrl key. I just checked emacs and it doesn't work there either. It looks
like the Ctrl-f combo is just hosed for the entire desktop. I guess I could
start to suspect my keyboard but this problem started when I switched from
Ubuntu (Unity) to Arch (Xmonad). I also tried an ultra-minimal xmonad.hs to
rule out xmobar and some of the extensions I'm using and even tried taking
out the mod4Mask. Still no fix.
import XMonad
import XMonad.Config.Desktop
baseConfig = desktopConfig
main = xmonad baseConfig
{ terminal = "urxvt"
, modMask = mod4Mask
}
Very strange.

Post by Brandon Allbery
You aren't binding control-F, so xmonad isn't the problem there. You

might try using xev to see what happens to it. Something else you are
running may have a passive grab on it, but xorg doesn't provide a way to
inspect passive grabs. :/

Post by Brandon Allbery
The Arduino stuff is likely Java; see https://wiki.haskell.org/Xmona

d/Frequently_asked_questions#Problems_with_Java_applications
.2C_Applet_java_console

Post by Brandon Allbery
Chrome doesn't normally have a menubar; but it may register its

Post by Brandon Allbery

Post by Gregory Propf
I've been looking around for others with these problem but haven't

Post by Brandon Allbery

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine

associates

Post by Brandon Allbery
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad

http://sinenomine.net

--
brandon s allbery kf8nh sine nomine associates
unix, openafs, kerberos, infrastructure, xmonad
http://sinenomine.net