Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

SenorSalad · 2015-07-06 18:42:10

By editing Window Manager Tweaks I have set windows that are inactive to be transparent. Unfortunately, Alt-Tabbing between windows does not seem to render unused windows transparent; I have to actively click between windows to see the effect.

Is there any way of fixing this?

Last edited by SenorSalad (2015-07-07 19:43:03)

ToZ · 2015-07-06 20:01:07

Welcome to the forums.

Lets see if I've got this straight:
- I go to Window Manager Tweaks, Compositor tab and I set the "Opacity of Inactive Windows" to 0 (furthest left setting).
- All of my inactive windows disappear.
- I then press Alt-Tab and cycle to another window.
- That window appears and the previously visible window disappears.
Now, in your case, the previous window remains on the screen and doesn't become transparent until you click on the new window? Is this correct?

What version of xfwm4 are you running?

xfwm4 -V

What are your current xfwm configuration settings:

xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -lv

SenorSalad · 2015-07-07 02:41:20

Hi ToZ,

Turns out that restarting my computer fixed the issue, oddly enough. I guess I should always try that before posting to forums.

Thanks for your help anyways.

SenorSalad · 2015-07-07 19:47:49

I am sorry for resurrecting this thread but the problem did not, in fact, go away!

The problem returns as soon as I switch workspaces. I'm not sure what the connection between workspaces and window transparency is...

The command xfwm4 -V outputs

This is xfwm4 version 4.11.1git.22344d9 (revision 22344d9) for Xfce 4.10
	Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
	Compiled against GTK+-2.24.25, using GTK+-2.24.25.

	Build configuration and supported features:
	- Startup notification support:                 Yes
	- XSync support:                                Yes
	- Render support:                               Yes
	- Xrandr support:                               Yes
	- Embedded compositor:                          Yes
	- KDE systray proxy (deprecated):               No

The command xfconf-query -c xfwm4 -lv outputs

/general/activate_action                 bring
/general/borderless_maximize             true
/general/box_move                        false
/general/box_resize                      false
/general/button_layout                   O|SHMC
/general/button_offset                   0
/general/button_spacing                  0
/general/click_to_focus                  true
/general/cycle_apps_only                 false
/general/cycle_draw_frame                true
/general/cycle_hidden                    true
/general/cycle_minimum                   true
/general/cycle_tabwin_mode               0
/general/cycle_workspaces                false
/general/double_click_action             maximize
/general/double_click_distance           5
/general/double_click_time               250
/general/easy_click                      Alt
/general/focus_delay                     244
/general/focus_hint                      true
/general/focus_new                       true
/general/frame_opacity                   100
/general/full_width_title                true
/general/inactive_opacity                85
/general/maximized_offset                0
/general/mousewheel_rollup               true
/general/move_opacity                    100
/general/placement_mode                  center
/general/placement_ratio                 63
/general/popup_opacity                   100
/general/prevent_focus_stealing          false
/general/raise_delay                     250
/general/raise_on_click                  true
/general/raise_on_focus                  false
/general/raise_with_any_button           true
/general/repeat_urgent_blink             false
/general/resize_opacity                  100
/general/restore_on_move                 true
/general/scroll_workspaces               true
/general/shadow_delta_height             0
/general/shadow_delta_width              0
/general/shadow_delta_x                  0
/general/shadow_delta_y                  -3
/general/shadow_opacity                  50
/general/show_app_icon                   false
/general/show_dock_shadow                true
/general/show_frame_shadow               false
/general/show_popup_shadow               false
/general/snap_resist                     false
/general/snap_to_border                  true
/general/snap_to_windows                 true
/general/snap_width                      10
/general/sync_to_vblank                  false
/general/theme                           Numix
/general/tile_on_move                    true
/general/title_alignment                 left
/general/title_font                      Sans 10
/general/title_horizontal_offset         0
/general/title_shadow_active             false
/general/title_shadow_inactive           false
/general/title_vertical_offset_active    0
/general/title_vertical_offset_inactive  0
/general/toggle_workspaces               false
/general/unredirect_overlays             true
/general/urgent_blink                    false
/general/use_compositing                 true
/general/workspace_count                 4
/general/workspace_names                 <<UNSUPPORTED>>
/general/wrap_cycle                      true
/general/wrap_layout                     true
/general/wrap_resistance                 10
/general/wrap_windows                    false
/general/wrap_workspaces                 false

Incidentally, I have another laptop with almost the same setup and I cannot reproduce the problem on that laptop.

Last edited by SenorSalad (2015-07-07 20:00:11)

SenorSalad · 2015-07-07 19:58:22

On my other laptop (where I do not encounter this problem), the output of xfwm4 -V is

This is xfwm4 version 4.10.1 (revision 3918e6b) for Xfce 4.10

The remaining output is the same.

A few weeks ago I made some changes to allow window tiling to corners, following this guide:http://www.reddit.com/r/xfce/comments/2 … a_quarter/. Perhaps this was responsible for my problem?

One final note: I am not making my inactive windows completely transparent, only translucent. I don't believe that makes a difference but I want to be thorough.

ToZ · 2015-07-08 00:29:08

SenorSalad wrote:

A few weeks ago I made some changes to allow window tiling to corners, following this guide:http://www.reddit.com/r/xfce/comments/2 … a_quarter/. Perhaps this was responsible for my problem?

Since you are no longer running the Xfce version of xfwm4, it will be hard for me to assist with troubleshooting. Given that this laptop is now problematic one, there is a good chance that the changes you made are somehow responsible (I cannot replicate your problems on my systems).

The only other thing that might cause a problem like this might be video driver anomalies.

SenorSalad · 2015-07-08 00:43:29

ToZ wrote:

Since you are no longer running the Xfce version of xfwm4, it will be hard for me to assist with troubleshooting.

I was afraid of as much. Thank you for your help anyway.

I will try to do a thorough comparison of my two systems; if I find any clues to what is causing this problem I will post in this thread.

Xfce Forum

Sub domains

#1 2015-07-06 18:42:10

Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

#2 2015-07-06 20:01:07

Re: Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

#3 2015-07-07 02:41:20

Re: Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

#4 2015-07-07 19:47:49

Re: Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

#5 2015-07-07 19:58:22

Re: Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

#6 2015-07-08 00:29:08

Re: Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

#7 2015-07-08 00:43:29

Re: Inactive windows are not transparent if I Alt-Tab from them.

Board footer