[Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

sifh · 2020-12-29 16:35:04

Xfce4-panel doesn't properly respond to left mouse button clicks, most of the time the context menu pops up.

Most of the time the context menu pops up when left clicked on a panel item (whisker menu, launcher, minimised window etc.) instead of responding properly (maximizing the minimised window etc.). I try right clicking and left clicking and even middle clicking (by pressing the scroll wheel). The best that happens is the context menu pops up.

The panel, however, functions flawlessly for some time right after startup or panel restart.

I have faced this problem in Kali live 2020.3, Kali (installed) 2020.4 and in MX Linux. So I assume it's something with my PC / mouse / hardware or something is wrong in xfce4-panel itself. The mouse works perfectly in Windows 7 on the same PC.

Xfce version: 4.14
Distribution: Kali GNU/Linux Rolling
Distribution version: 2020.4
Errors when running xfce4-panel from terminal:

** (wrapper-2.0:3739): WARNING **: 15:14:46.339: No outputs have backlight property

(wrapper-2.0:3742): GLib-GIO-CRITICAL **: 15:14:46.349: g_file_new_for_path: assertion 'path != NULL' failed

(wrapper-2.0:3742): GLib-GIO-CRITICAL **: 15:14:46.350: g_file_monitor_file: assertion 'G_IS_FILE (file)' failed

(wrapper-2.0:3742): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: 15:14:46.350: invalid (NULL) pointer instance

(wrapper-2.0:3742): GLib-GObject-CRITICAL **: 15:14:46.350: g_signal_connect_data: assertion 'G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE (instance)' failed

(wrapper-2.0:3742): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.350: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkToggleButton to a container of type XfcePanelPlugin, but the widget is already inside a container of type XfcePanelPlugin, please remove the widget from its existing container first.

(wrapper-2.0:3742): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.495: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkToggleButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3738): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.656: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner PulseaudioButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3739): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.834: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner PowerManagerButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.991: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.991: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

(wrapper-2.0:3743): Gtk-WARNING **: 15:14:46.992: Negative content width -1 (allocation 1, extents 1x1) while allocating gadget (node button, owner GtkButton)

I tried the following solutions ---

0. [Working] Use emulated mouse
Enable 'Mouse emulation' in accessibility settings. Whenever left click is not working, press '5' in numeric pad.

1.Restarting the panel
It work only for a few minutes. It is not possible to restart the every 5/10 minutes. Isn't it so irritating to do that?

2.Reinstalling
I have reinstalled kali-desktop-xfce. The problem remains.

3. Logging out and logging in again also seems to solve the problem temporarily.

4. Removed mouse driver in kernel and reinstated it. No help.

sudo modprobe -r psmouse
sudo modprobe psmouse proto=imps

Anymore solutions?

Last edited by sifh (2020-12-30 19:52:15)

ToZ · 2020-12-29 17:01:50

Maybe something wrong with the keyboard - specifically the Ctrl key?

Or do you have Sticky keys enabled (Settings Manager > Accessibility > Keyboard)?

sifh · 2020-12-30 09:06:42

1. 'Ctrl' Key seems fine. It doesn't cause any problem elsewhere.
2. Sticky key is turned off.

ToZ · 2020-12-30 12:53:55

When the problem is happening, can you confirm that the correct mouse button is registering (https://www.onlinemictest.com/mouse-test/ and check that your control key is working properly by running:

xinput test ID

...and pressing the control key to see if you get both a press and release event. Replace ID with the actual ID of your keyboard that you can get with "xinput list".

sifh · 2020-12-30 13:10:10

Thanks. There is nothing wrong with Xfce. Maybe it is the mouse. I enabled 'Mouse emulation' and was able to emulate left click by pressing '5' in numeric pad, Meaning Xfce is innocent. Should I mark the topic as solved?

ToZ · 2020-12-30 13:16:36

sifh wrote:

Should I mark the topic as solved?

Yes, thanks for confirming. Prepend "[SOLVED]" to the topic header of your original post.

sifh · 2023-05-09 12:20:23

ToZ wrote:

Maybe something wrong with the keyboard - specifically the Ctrl key?
Or do you have Sticky keys enabled (Settings Manager > Accessibility > Keyboard)?

You were right. It was the keyboard.

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#1 2020-12-29 16:35:04

[Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

#2 2020-12-29 17:01:50

Re: [Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

#3 2020-12-30 09:06:42

Re: [Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

#4 2020-12-30 12:53:55

Re: [Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

#5 2020-12-30 13:10:10

Re: [Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

#6 2020-12-30 13:16:36

Re: [Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

#7 2023-05-09 12:20:23

Re: [Solved] Xfce4-panel often misbehaves to left click.

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