Active Window Control

Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): https://github.com/kotelnik/plasma-applet-active-window-control

Available as/for: -

Description:

Plasmoid which just show active window title and icon. Also allows to close active window with cross icon (its location can be configured) and some other actions (like present-windows effect etc).

This plasmoid is particularly useful when using BorderlessMaximizedWindows=true setting (in ~/.config/kwinrc under [Windows] section). This option can now be turned on/off directly from widget settings.

REQUIRED DEPENDENCIES
- qt5-graphicaleffects
- e.g. package for kubuntu users: libqt5qml-graphicaleffects

HOW TO INSTALL
- Add Widgets... -> Get new widgets -> Download new plasma widgets
- find this applet and install through the first item with .plasmoid extension

AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/plasma5-applets-active-window-control-git/

Last changelog:

1.7.3 3 years ago

Fixed Plasma 5.8 compatibility regression.

134 comments

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Comments/Ratings

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mobam
3 years ago

I do really like the plasmoid! 5/5 stars!! :)
Unfortunately it seems to have a problem since a couple of weeks. I think I recognized the problem after the 5.12 update (KDE Neon) for the first time: I use Active Window Control to max/min/close windows on a fading task bar. This worked fine so far, but now it the Addon seems to not recognize the active/focused window after switching it. I only have an empty space where the buttons ought to be. After 'refocusing the window' (via minimize/maximize it), the buttons reappear immediately. Does this only happen on my machine? What can I do to solve the problem? I already tried reinstalling and re-adding the addon.

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mobam
3 years ago

Hold on! I just pulled and built the current version from https://phabricator.kde.org/source/plasma-active-window-control/ and everything works like a charm! Very nice!

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pingui
2 years ago

mobam: hello also happens to me. you could tell me the steps and commands to download and compile the version of phabricator? https://phabricator.kde.org/source/plasma-active-window-control/
thank you
https://phabricator.kde.org/source/plasma-active-window-control/

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mobam
2 years ago

Hey! If you have already some experience with building software, it’s not a problem: Just use 'git' to clone the files to your desktop and then follow the instructions in the 'INSTALL' file. If you have not built any software yourself yet, you might want to search the web for 'compile software ubuntu' in order to get some information, background of software building, and How-To’s. I am not an expert on these matters, so I am hesitating to give you concrete instructions.

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pingui
2 years ago

I was able to download and compile from the specified path https://phabricator.kde.org/source/plasma-active-window-control/ but the problem continues.
There are other users commenting on https://github.com/kotelnik/plasma-applet-active-window-control/issues
always works for you on 5.12 plasma?

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mobam
2 years ago

Yes, it works like it did before/like it should.
I should add that I only use the quit/minimize buttons of the plasmoid and nothing of the other features, so I cannot say anything about these.

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krlosbolado
3 years ago

Very good Congratulations!
I would like to know how to use the path to mute the buttons. Would not it be possible to use the buttons of the theme in use?

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kolcho
3 years ago

Nice widget, but causing crashes of KDE Plasma 5.8.8 - Linux Mint 18.3

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poamber
3 years ago

Just registered to say thank you!
It's my most needed and useful widget.
Btw the other 3 I rely on are also yours (Redshift Control, Weather Widget, Thermal Monitor). Thank you very much for your awesome work!

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unc926
3 years ago

best widget for me thanks!

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michaldybczak
3 years ago

Don't use version from this site. It doesn't work fully so many options do nothing and that confuses people. Install AUR git version (on Arch/Manjaro) or directly from github. Only then you get full functionality, like on my desktop (with latte-dock, also on a panel):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ZyDuQhl-8

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adrint
3 years ago

Sorry to be a bother, but could someone explain to me how to use the application menu?
I try to enable it, but nothing happens.

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maxkaspar
3 years ago

No window text: Plasma Desktop option doesn't work. The text still appear when desktop is focused.

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cr4zsci
3 years ago

Hello. Current version does not work with plasma 5.8 (openSUSE Leap 42.2.). No control over the active window.

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clearmartin
3 years ago

sorry for the tripple comments, they appeared after a long time...

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clearmartin
3 years ago

@chimpsociety: Please wait a while. I think I fixed most issues but some compatibility bugs came even today so I wait a day or two and if the everything calms down (plasma-5.10-compatibility-wise) I release a new version here :). Of course you can always uninstall kde-store version of this plasmoid and compile it from source if you don't want to wait.

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chimpsociety
3 years ago

[Bug?!]Love the plasmoid, but since my move to KDE neon with Plasma 5.10 the applet crashes the entire plasmashell... first it recovers, but after another crash I cannot bring it back to life so hard reboot is the only option.

I saw that you updated for 5.10 compatibility on github, but I cannot figure out how to implement that on my desktop. Any help would be highly appreciated!

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clearmartin
3 years ago

Please wait a while. I think I fixed most issues but some compatibility bugs came even today so I wait a day or two and if the everything calms down (plasma-5.10-compatibility-wise) I release a new version here :). Of course you can always uninstall kde-store version of this plasmoid and compile it from source if you don't want to wait.

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stefat77
3 years ago

Hi, great work! :)
Would be great if the buttons have the same icon as the window decoration theme.
I'm using arc theme and the widget has the default breeze theme.
Thank you for this useful widget!

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clearmartin
3 years ago

This is partially implemented in latest git master. Next version will have support for this by entering path to aurorae decoration themes (like arc).

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pingui
3 years ago

Hi, excellent work!
A question, how does Application Menu work?
But I do not see any menu. What should I do?

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clearmartin
3 years ago

Sorry, but menu not available for kde-store version of this applet. You need to use a package of this applet if it is provided by your distribution. Or compile and install from source.

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Salmando
3 years ago

Love this, working great with Plasma 5.9 on Kubuntu 17.04.

I would like to pitch a request. Currently, the application icon is doing nothing (at least on mine). I like it showing, but i would love to be able to use as a button for a custom action (in my case, i would like it to replace show my start menu), but it would also be nice if it could do other tasks.

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clearmartin
3 years ago

I think this is a job for another widget. The another widget would be some kind of recycled kickoff menu but with active window's icon (instead of the static one). And in this AWC widget you would then hide the icon.

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obedlink
3 years ago

Is it possible to add an option?
Adjust the width of the plasmoid to the name of the application / window title.

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1.7.3 3 years ago

Fixed Plasma 5.8 compatibility regression.

1.7.2 3 years ago

Plasma 5.10 compatibility, multi-screen aware, aurorae window decoration support, various other fixes

1.7.1 4 years ago

- slight code refactoring (possibly fixed Kubuntu 16.10 compatibility)
- other global menu improvements (global menu is not available in kde.store version of this applet)

Version 1.6.0 4 years ago

- compatibility with Plasma 5.8
- pin to all desktops button
- popup settings and other minor fixes and improvements

5 years ago

1.5.9
- widget settings now allows to switch kwin option for showing/hiding titlebar for maximized windows

1.5.8
- dynamic width (regarding showing / hiding buttons) by Wuxiangdong from github

1.5.7
- text scaling option

1.5.6
- auto-fill width option
- automatic margin for no-window text
- wrapping & eliding text fix

1.5.5
- configurable "Plasma Desktop" text margin
- small fixes & cleanups

1.5.4
- fixed closing window even if control buttons are disabled

1.5.3
- basic context menu actions (close, minimise, maximise)
- configurable space between icon and window title
- button settings fixes

1.5.2
- breeze buttons (+ fixes)
- various additional button settings added (+ settings fixes)

1.4
- support for present-windows effect

1.3.3
- bugfix release
- settings more granular

1.3
- added maximize button
- additional appearance settings

1.2.2
- automatic window title row setting fixed

1.2.1
- word wrap fix

1.2
- configurable button size

1.1.1
- "No active window" changed to "Plasma Desktop" (thanks to sancio6 from github)
- small visual fix in settings

1.1
- customizable minimize button
- customizable maximize/minimize actions
- called by double-click/mouse wheel
- customizable width in horizontal panel
- AUR package

1.0
Initial import

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axel-huerta Sep 12 2020 10 the best

10 the best

ulliperk Sep 05 2020 7 good

Vala-panel appmenu, fcitx-Appmenu and mate appmenu are able to show some sort of menu bar while no program is active and only "Desktop" is shown. Is it possible to implement that feature into this widget or to design something similar?

piotrintes Aug 20 2020 10 the best

Seamingly simple but realy amazing when you play with it.

rijads Jul 22 2020 9 excellent

Maximize doesn't switch to restore button after window is maximized, it still shows maximize button.

harktu Apr 24 2020 10 the best

10 the best

m4xp1 Dec 04 2019 9 excellent

9 excellent (Why i can't set double click mouse by widget for close active window?) And for mouse wheel click for minimize/maximize)

hapi-txt Nov 21 2019 10 the best

Great customization tool!

rokre22 Aug 02 2019 10 the best

10 the best

maurodb Jun 21 2019 10 the best

Thank you! Really useful.

cybear Jun 18 2019 10 the best

A setting for making the title-bar of maximized windows disappear, and allows you to put the close/maximize-buttons in an auto-hiding panel instead. Preferably in the corner where you are used to have the buttons. Allows a lot of customization! The bad: I don't get the "App menu" to appear. It may be me missing something.

clyton May 20 2019 10 the best

10 the best! I wanted a mac like global menu with all dates and system tray in top panel. This plasma widget's the most detailed and featureful even though some of its features are not being developed. The feature I like the most is it automatically disables titlebars only for maximized windows which saves precious real estate. The app menu was not working so i used global menu widget besides it. I wanted to use this widget primarily for closing, minimizing my windows and that feature is still working. Please keep this widget up-to-date

Samhaa May 08 2019 9 excellent

gcjuan Feb 15 2019 3 bad

-It crashes my entire Plasma Desktop depending on the configuration (for example when filling the hidden text on hover). I prefer Plasma Active Application (https://store.kde.org/p/1269296) that is faster, smoother and adapts itself in combination with Global Menu.