Strange issue with KDE taskbar in "Autohide" mode and VMware

[rindi]

Hi,

I have installed Linux Mint KDE (the newest Ubuntu version plus also the Debian Version, where I added KDE through synaptic) on my Netbook. As this netbook has a limited resolution of 1024x600 I have set the KDE Taskbar to autohide itself, so I get more usable Desktop real estate. The Taskbar is at the usual position at the bottom of the screen.

Now I have installed VMware's VMware Player (downloaded from their site) and installed Windows XP as a Guest OS. This Guest OS is run in full-screen mode. Also inside this XP guest I have the taskbar at the bottom of the display and in autohide mode. When I move the mouse to the taskbar so it appears, and try clicking at one of it's buttons, nothing happens. If I make the taskbar double size, It takes clicks. If I move the taskbar to a side of the display, clicks work. I have also tried clicking on functions in other windows. If those buttons are at the bottom of the display, also those buttons won't accept clicks.

If on the Mint host I change the taskbar to always be visible, mouse-clicks work in the Guest! This doesn't matter if I use the debian based or ubuntu based of mint. I have also tried it with "Desktop Effects" turned off, and then I don't have the issue. On Mint I also tried this within Gnome with the taskbar setup the same as in KDE, and there I don't have the issue, But within Gnome Compiz doesn't seem to work properly.

[brazenhed]

For what it's worth, I can confirm this same behavior in KDE under Ubuntu 11.04, Natty Narwhal. I was running Gnome but with the upgrade, it seems that Kwin is running much better than it was, so I'm giving KDE a chance again. (It's either that or Unity. blech.)

I run my toolbar at the top of the screen on autohide. When VMWare is full screen (and this happens with both Quick View and normal full screen modes), the top band of the screen, where the menu would be, is unresponsive to clicks. It is unresponsive both with the Windows virtual machine (no window controls, no window menus) and the buttons to the VMWare menu that pops down when you mouse hover at the top of the screen.

With the toolbar set to "Windows can cover", "Windows go below" or "Always Visible", everything works (more or less) normally. I say "more or less" because there are some weird graphic glitches and stuff that I didn't used to see under Gnome. The point is that I can move and resize windows, and the VMWare menu is responsive now.

It's a work around but kinda lame.

B


*Edit* - Forgot to mention that I'm using the latest VMWorkstation and I've tried it under Compiz in KDE rather than KWin and I get the same results.

[rec9140]

I have installed Linux Mint KDE (the newest Ubuntu version plus also the Debian Version, where I added KDE through synaptic) on my Netbook. As this netbook has a limited resolution of 1024x600 I have set the KDE Taskbar to autohide itself, so I get more usable Desktop real estate. The Taskbar is at the usual position at the bottom of the screen.

I would report this as bug to VMWare so they can correct it.