Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-14 08:45:40

Hi,

IMHO the default XFCE file manager (Thunar) righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected:

- when the mouse right-click is used, the right-click menu appears

- and an entry (command) of that menu is already automatically selected by default

- this is very bad because if you inadvertedly press left-click or right-click again, that command is going to run

This has happened to me several times, some without serious consequences, and some more serious.

Also, the problem is more difficult to solve because the automatically selected menu entry changes when the right-click is done near the edges ot the screen, especially the bottom.

And it can be much worse if you are like me and have many Thunar custom-actions that make the right-click menu very big.

For example, I have a custom-action with a script that moves the selected file(s) or folder(s) to a specific folder.
When I right-clicked a Virtualbox VDI file to copy it, I inadvertedly pressed right-click again and it was being copied to that folder and I had to restart immediately my computer to stop it.
I know this was my fault, but it never would happen with another file manager because the second right-click would do nothing when pressed.
The same has happened multiple times to me, but with minor files or folders.

At first, I thought it was my fault for inadvertedly pressing left-click or right-click again.

But now I think it is really a problem of Thunar's design for the motive that this does doesn't happen with other file managers.

Also, I remember reading someone in another forum complaining about Thunar because of this precise situation, and that was when I started paying attention to this more seriously as a Thunar bad feature.

Today, before writing this post, I've tested various operative systems I have in various Virtualbox machines, and only Thunar has this dangerous behaviour:
- Debian 9 XFCE
- Debian 10 XFCE
- CentOS 7 (CentOS doesn't have a XFCE version, but I installed it)

This does NOT happen with:
- Linux with file manager PC Man FM
- Linux with MATE default file manager (can't remember the name, but I've tested it)
- Linux with Gnome Classic default file manager (can't remember the name, but I've tested it)
- Windows (all versions: Vista, 7, 10, etc) with file manager Explorer

Because this is so serious, I am goig to repeat it:
- this only happens in Thunar
- does doesn't happen with other file managers
- is everybody wrong, but Thunar?...

Lastly, I would like to know if someone knows how to change this in Thunar.

Last edited by jack_the_pirate (2020-01-14 08:47:25)

ToZ · 2020-01-14 11:39:07

Exactly what versions of Xfce and thunar are you running that this is happening with?

This is the second report in a week about this issue (see also: https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=13662). I can't replicate this on any of my systems (4.12 or 4.14 with numerous different versions of thunar), but given that multiple people are seeing the issue, I think its time to create a bug report and see what the developer can determine.

I'll give debian another run in a VM to see if I can replicate it there.

Edit: Which GTK (Appearance) and Window Manager themes are you using? Or:

xfconf-query -c xsettings -lv

Last edited by ToZ (2020-01-14 13:55:31)

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-15 09:56:51

Here is the info:

=============================================
Debian 9 XFCE
Thunar 1.6.11
Xfce 4.12

$ xfconf-query -c xsettings -lv
/Gtk/ButtonImages true
/Gtk/CanChangeAccels false
/Gtk/ColorPalette black:white:gray50:red:purple:blue:light blue:green:yellow:orange:lavender:brown:goldenrod4:dodger blue:pink:light green:gray10:gray30:gray75:gray90
/Gtk/CursorThemeName Classic-Flat-White
/Gtk/CursorThemeSize 0
/Gtk/DecorationLayout menu:minimize,maximize,close
/Gtk/FontName Sans 10
/Gtk/IconSizes
/Gtk/KeyThemeName
/Gtk/MenuBarAccel F10
/Gtk/MenuImages true
/Gtk/ToolbarIconSize 3
/Gtk/ToolbarStyle icons
/Net/CursorBlink true
/Net/CursorBlinkTime 1200
/Net/DndDragThreshold 8
/Net/DoubleClickDistance 5
/Net/DoubleClickTime 400
/Net/EnableEventSounds false
/Net/EnableInputFeedbackSounds false
/Net/IconThemeName Tango
/Net/SoundThemeName default
/Net/ThemeName Xfce-basic
/Xft/Antialias 1
/Xft/Hinting 1
/Xft/HintStyle hintslight
/Xft/RGBA none

=============================================
Debian 10 XFCE - DOES have the issue
Thunar 1.8.4
Xfce 4.12

$ xfconf-query -c xsettings -lv
/Gtk/ButtonImages true
/Gtk/CanChangeAccels false
/Gtk/ColorPalette black:white:gray50:red:purple:blue:light blue:green:yellow:orange:lavender:brown:goldenrod4:dodger blue:pink:light green:gray10:gray30:gray75:gray90
/Gtk/CursorThemeName
/Gtk/CursorThemeSize 0
/Gtk/DecorationLayout menu:minimize,maximize,close
/Gtk/FontName Sans 10
/Gtk/IconSizes
/Gtk/KeyThemeName
/Gtk/MenuBarAccel F10
/Gtk/MenuImages true
/Gtk/MonospaceFontName Monospace 10
/Gtk/ToolbarIconSize 3
/Gtk/ToolbarStyle icons
/Net/CursorBlink true
/Net/CursorBlinkTime 1200
/Net/DndDragThreshold 8
/Net/DoubleClickDistance 5
/Net/DoubleClickTime 400
/Net/EnableEventSounds false
/Net/EnableInputFeedbackSounds false
/Net/IconThemeName Tango
/Net/SoundThemeName default
/Net/ThemeName Xfce
/Xft/Antialias -1
/Xft/HintStyle hintnone
/Xft/Hinting -1
/Xft/RGBA none

=============================================
Debian 10 XFCE - does NOT have the issue after changing theme to Adwaita
Thunar 1.8.4
Xfce 4.12

$ xfconf-query -c xsettings -lv
/Gtk/ButtonImages true
/Gtk/CanChangeAccels false
/Gtk/ColorPalette black:white:gray50:red:purple:blue:light blue:green:yellow:orange:lavender:brown:goldenrod4:dodger blue:pink:light green:gray10:gray30:gray75:gray90
/Gtk/CursorThemeName
/Gtk/CursorThemeSize 0
/Gtk/DecorationLayout menu:minimize,maximize,close
/Gtk/FontName Sans 10
/Gtk/IconSizes
/Gtk/KeyThemeName
/Gtk/MenuBarAccel F10
/Gtk/MenuImages true
/Gtk/MonospaceFontName Monospace 10
/Gtk/ToolbarIconSize 3
/Gtk/ToolbarStyle icons
/Net/CursorBlink true
/Net/CursorBlinkTime 1200
/Net/DndDragThreshold 8
/Net/DoubleClickDistance 5
/Net/DoubleClickTime 400
/Net/EnableEventSounds false
/Net/EnableInputFeedbackSounds false
/Net/IconThemeName Tango
/Net/SoundThemeName default
/Net/ThemeName Adwaita
/Xft/Antialias -1
/Xft/HintStyle hintnone
/Xft/Hinting -1
/Xft/RGBA none

=============================================
CentOS 7
Thunar 1.6.16
Xfce 4.12

=============================================

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-15 09:58:29

Also, please take a look at this screenshots:

Last edited by jack_the_pirate (2020-01-15 09:58:57)

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-15 10:07:40

As you can see, in some screenshots, the Thunar right-click menu entry, which is nearer the mouse cursor, appears automatically selected (incorrect) and in other screenshots it doesn't (correct).

I think that the issue is solved in Thunar 1.8.4, which is the version that comes in Debian 10.
However, that version is buggy because the custom actions don't work in the Desktop folder (as you can see in the above screenshots) and that's why I have also posted right-click menu screenshots of Debian 10 inside a folder (/etc).

However, I don't like this Thunar version because the right-click menu (context menu) occupies too much vertical space.
I have created a topic about this a few months ago here:
https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=13239
Just compare these two screenshots and you can see that the Thunar custom actions on Debian 10 doesn't show all, but Debian 9 yes:
http://imgbox.com/uYKlxO4U - Debian 9
http://imgbox.com/3Sn2YX4R - Debian 10

Also, it would be great if this could be solved because Debian 9 LTS will still be active two and a half more years (06-2022) and CentOS 7 will also be active until 2024.
I use these distros stable versions (Debian 9 instead of Debian 10, and CentOS 7 instead of CentOS 8) very much in some work situations, and I prefer them because they are much more stable.
And having Thunar custom actions working right is a must because they save much time.

Last edited by jack_the_pirate (2020-01-15 10:18:12)

ToZ · 2020-01-15 11:47:00

jack_the_pirate wrote:

As you can see, in some screenshots, the Thunar right-click menu entry, which is nearer the mouse cursor, appears automatically selected (incorrect) and in other screenshots it doesn't (correct).

The Thunar 1.8.x series is built on GTK3 - which means it uses the GTK3 appearance settings. Themes like "Xfce" are a GTK2-only theme. If the issue is solved by using a theme like Adwaita, then you will need to find and use a GTK3-compatible theme.

I think that the issue is solved in Thunar 1.8.4, which is the version that comes in Debian 10.
However, that version is buggy because the custom actions don't work in the Desktop folder (as you can see in the above screenshots) and that's why I have also posted right-click menu screenshots of Debian 10 inside a folder (/etc).

This was an unfortunate packaging error. Thunar 1.8.x use the version 3 thunarx api and you need xfdesktop at least 4.13 development series. Since Debian won't package development releases, this will be an unfortunate issue for this debian version. You may wish to raise this as a bug in debian to see if they would be willing to cherry-pick some xfdesktop 4.13 commits to make it work.

However, I don't like this Thunar version because the right-click menu (context menu) occupies too much vertical space.
I have created a topic about this a few months ago here:
https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?id=13239
Just compare these two screenshots and you can see that the Thunar custom actions on Debian 10 doesn't show all, but Debian 9 yes:
http://imgbox.com/uYKlxO4U - Debian 9
http://imgbox.com/3Sn2YX4R - Debian 10

Also, it would be great if this could be solved because Debian 9 LTS will still be active two and a half more years (06-2022) and CentOS 7 will also be active until 2024.
I use these distros stable versions (Debian 9 instead of Debian 10, and CentOS 7 instead of CentOS 8) very much in some work situations, and I prefer them because they are much more stable.
And having Thunar custom actions working right is a must because they save much time.

With respect to the custom actions on the desktop, you will probably need to follow-up with the debian devs to see if they can address the issue. Feel free to also create a bug report against xfdesktop to see if they are willing to or if it is even possible to backport the version 3 thunarx api to the xfdesktop 4.12 branch to address this issue

With respect to auto-clicking of a menu item, you may need to use a GTK3-compatible theme like Adwaita (or Arc, or Greybird, or others).

alcornoqui · 2020-01-15 15:30:09

There's this Debian Stable bug: https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugrepo … bug=930520

Debian Bug report logs - #930520
xfdesktop4: regression : doesn't have the Thunar's custom actions
Package: xfdesktop4
Reported by: Johann <j.rios@laposte.net>
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:33:02 UTC
Severity: normal
Found in version xfdesktop4/4.12.4-2

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-15 18:11:10

Above, where it reads (incorrect):

jack_the_pirate wrote:

Just compare these two screenshots and you can see that the Thunar custom actions on Debian 10 doesn't show all, but Debian 9 yes:
http://imgbox.com/uYKlxO4U - Debian 9
http://imgbox.com/3Sn2YX4R - Debian 10

Read this instead (correct):
Just compare these two screenshots and you can see that the Thunar custom actions on Debian 10 doesn't show all, but Debian 9 yes:
http://imgbox.com/UTVBDzz7 - Debian 9
http://imgbox.com/F2ovH5Kw - Debian 10

Last edited by jack_the_pirate (2020-01-15 18:11:33)

kreemoweet · 2020-01-16 07:36:47

I'm another afflicted with this Thunar bug. Ubuntu 18.04, xfdesktop4 4.12.3-ubuntu2, Thunar 1.6.15.
Theme is a slightly modified Greybird.
The menu item erroneously executed is usually, but not always, the one immediately adjacent to the cursor position.
Quite frequently, but not always, right-clicking the same item again, after dismissing or undoing the unwanted results
of the first right-click, will bring up a normal context menu with no items selected (as should always be the case), or
with the adjacent item selected but not executed.

ToZ · 2020-01-16 08:53:05

Someone who is affected by this should create a bug report.

CwF · 2020-01-16 17:11:29

Maybe use an xinput test to show there are no extra clicks or any positional drift while clicking in thunar.

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-17 06:41:59

ToZ wrote:

Someone who is affected by this should create a bug report.

Ok, it it is:
https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16389

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-18 13:44:52

Please, ignore this link:

jack_the_pirate wrote:

ToZ wrote:
Someone who is affected by this should create a bug report.
Ok, it it is:
https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16389

And consider this link instead:
https://bugzilla.xfce.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16388

Last edited by jack_the_pirate (2020-01-18 13:46:00)

alcornoqui · 2020-01-18 15:07:45

Thanks for reporting!

jack_the_pirate · 2020-01-19 05:35:35

This is not a solution, but it may add an extra-step of caution to some custom actions:
- modify the script, so that is asks for confirmation in a small pop-up window with option "yes" and "no"

Credit:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/737035/ … g-a-script

For example, instead of using this script:
#!/bin/sh
mkdir $(date '+%Y%m%d')

use this one instead, adding the Zenity condition:
#!/bin/sh
if zenity --question --text "Are you sure"
then
mkdir $(date '+%Y%m%d')
else
exit 1
fi

pavloskiv · 2020-02-26 18:55:06

Ok guys, maybe I had started this thunar right click issue some time ago. Good News update to Xubuntu 18.04.4 and Thunar 1.8.11 SOLVED this problem. (Thunar uses GTK 3 now). Good luck, vladi

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#1 2020-01-14 08:45:40

Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#2 2020-01-14 11:39:07

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#3 2020-01-15 09:56:51

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#4 2020-01-15 09:58:29

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#5 2020-01-15 10:07:40

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#6 2020-01-15 11:47:00

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#7 2020-01-15 15:30:09

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#8 2020-01-15 18:11:10

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#9 2020-01-16 07:36:47

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#10 2020-01-16 08:53:05

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#11 2020-01-16 17:11:29

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#12 2020-01-17 06:41:59

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#13 2020-01-18 13:44:52

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#14 2020-01-18 15:07:45

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#15 2020-01-19 05:35:35

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

#16 2020-02-26 18:55:06

Re: Thunar righ-click menu has a serious drawback that must be corrected

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