[SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

DavidS · 2024-06-14 10:50:33

On both of my computers, when I click on a web link in an email a new tab is opened in my browser (which is what I want to happen). However, I want focus to remain in the email client I am using, and that is what used to happen

A few days ago though, the behaviour changed. Now, when I click on a link, the new tab opens, and focus changes to the browser (which is on a different workspace from the email client). This happens on both computers.

I normally use Evolution for email and Chrome for my browser; however I have tried temporarily switching to Thunderbird and Firefox, but the problem persists. So I'm pretty sure it must be something in the xfce settings that is causing this new unwanted behaviour.

It is true that I have changed a few settings lately (I'm still getting used to xfce), so it may be something I've done. But I can't seem to find anything in the xfce settings which corrects this problem.

I'm using xubuntu 24.04 on one computer and xubuntu 23.10 on the other.

How can I get clicking on a web link to open a tab but not to switch workspace or focus?

Last edited by DavidS (2024-06-14 11:40:51)

ToZ · 2024-06-14 11:03:35

Have a look at Settings Manager > Window Manager Tweaks > Focus tab. There are 3 options to select from when a window raises itself (in your case, the browser when a new tab is opened). Sounds like you might want this set to "Do nothing". See if this helps.

DavidS · 2024-06-14 11:43:45

Well that was simple, wasn't it?!!! Thank you for your suggestion, which immediately solved the problem. I don't understand why I didn't spot this as a probable solution before - I think it's because I didn't think of the opening of a new tab being a case of "a window raising itself".

Anyway, thanks again.

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 01:01:45

I'm having the same problem with Fedora 43 and Xfce4, fully updated. If I click on a link in an email in Thunderbird, it opens in Firefox, which I want, but Firefox moves to the same workspace as Thunderbird's in instead of moving to the appropriate workspace. I've looked in Settings Manager but there's no such thing there as Window Manager Tweaks.

ToZ · 2025-12-29 01:15:54

That's odd. It should be there. Try running:

xfwm4-tweaks-settings

...at a terminal window to see if that brings it up.

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 01:41:47

Not being a beginner, I tried that. (Hint: I was working as a "seeing eye person" to keep a blind programmer productive at JPL in the early 80's.) Not only isn't it installed, Fedora doesn't seem to have it available any longer Weird!

ToZ · 2025-12-29 01:52:52

Is xfwm4 installed and running?

What version of fedora are you running?

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 03:30:17

It's installed but not running. As I wrote above, I'm running a fresh install of Fedora 43, the latest version.

ToZ · 2025-12-29 11:21:39

If it's not running, what is managing your windows? Are you using another window manager?

Lets see if any xfwm4 files exist:

ls /usr/bin | grep xfwm4

"xfwm4-tweaks-settings" is part of the xfwm4 package - maybe try re-installing it?

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 17:46:26

Sorry for not mentioning it before, but I use Compiz. Tried re-installing xfwm4-tweaks-settings and running it from a terminal but was told "These settings cannot work with your current window manager (compiz)."

Last edited by Sideburns (2025-12-29 17:50:20)

ToZ · 2025-12-29 18:41:43

Okay, then this solution won't work for you. You'll need to look for a compiz-native solution to do this. Look through the compiz settings for anything related to focus or window rules.

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 18:52:50

How do I do that if I can't open the settings program?

ToZ · 2025-12-29 19:00:54

compiz should have its own settings program - I think its called compizconfig-settings-manager. Unfortunately, I have no experience with compiz.

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 19:26:08

ToZ wrote:

compiz should have its own settings program - I think its called compizconfig-settings-manager. Unfortunately, I have no experience with compiz.

That doesn't exist. Running xfce4-settings-manager in a terminal gets me this:

(xfce4-settings-manager:617552): xfce4-settings-manager-CRITICAL **: 12:23:29.448: Failed to connect to Xfconf daemon: Error receiving data: Connection reset by peer

ToZ · 2025-12-29 21:12:47

Sideburns wrote:

That doesn't exist.

Looks like its included in the ccsm package and the executable is just "ccsm".

(xfce4-settings-manager:617552): xfce4-settings-manager-CRITICAL **: 12:23:29.448: Failed to connect to Xfconf daemon: Error receiving data: Connection reset by peer

Are you trying to run xfce4-settings-manager as root? If so, its not meant to be run like that - run it as your local user. If not, the message is saying that xfconfd isn't running. How do you login to your computer? Display manager (like lightdm) or startx? Can you post back your ~/.xsession-errors file right after a fresh login?

Sideburns · 2025-12-29 22:04:35

No, I'm not running it as root but it's not what I need. And as far as ccsm goes, I have a bugzilla out on it because when I try to run it it crashes before bringing up a GUI.

Last edited by Sideburns (2025-12-29 22:31:05)

ToZ · 2025-12-29 22:09:47

Can you try creating a secondary test account on your computer and login there using the default xfwm4 and not compiz. See if that works properly.

Sideburns · 2025-12-31 06:37:14

I created a new account, logged in with it, made sure compiz wasn't running and ran ccsm in a terminal. Same results, which is exactly what I expected. Still, it's nice to know for sure. I have a bugzilla open on it and am hoping that it will bear fruit RSN.

CORRECTION: I didn't think to make sure that xfwm4 was running. I tried again today, making sure that it was and ccsm came up Just Fine when I ran it from a terminal. Will add a note about that to the Bugzilla.

Last edited by Sideburns (2025-12-31 19:21:45)

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#1 2024-06-14 10:50:33

[SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#2 2024-06-14 11:03:35

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#3 2024-06-14 11:43:45

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#4 2025-12-29 01:01:45

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#5 2025-12-29 01:15:54

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#6 2025-12-29 01:41:47

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#7 2025-12-29 01:52:52

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#8 2025-12-29 03:30:17

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#9 2025-12-29 11:21:39

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#10 2025-12-29 17:46:26

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#11 2025-12-29 18:41:43

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#12 2025-12-29 18:52:50

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#13 2025-12-29 19:00:54

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#14 2025-12-29 19:26:08

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#15 2025-12-29 21:12:47

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#16 2025-12-29 22:04:35

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#17 2025-12-29 22:09:47

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

#18 2025-12-31 06:37:14

Re: [SOLVED] Prevent links switching focus to browser

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