Workspace Display Odditiesd

[I’m adding images to clarify, I hope it displays approriately.]

On moving to DT 4.2 from 3.8.3, I’ve noted an issue. When I summon a workplace, I use my down cursor key to select listed items. Now, I’m surprised to find instead, a button is activated, seemingly as a default. It is highlighted in blue. Using my cursor key now opens its options instead:

Though it says “by name” in the highlighted button, you can see that name is not actually selected.

I usually pick up my mouse, select the intended content from the display layout, and continue on my way.

If I actually select a sort order, of “kind,” for example, “kind” gets no checkmark, and the list of items is not re-sorted. Only ascending and descending indicate a selection or provide any change in display items. Only the name will sort. If I select anything other than name, the highlighted box displays only the word “sort” until I select ascend or descend. [ I can do a video clip all this if you need to see it. ]

I have six workspaces assigned. Workspaces 1 and 6 have no issues. Workspaces 2, 3, and 5 have the highlighted button labeled “sort by name.” Number 4 has “date modified” but otherwise follows the same logic: can’t be changed, reflects no selected sort, ascending/descending functions, etc. I have deleted these workspaces and re-initiated them, with no effect.

More curiosities: If I open the sidebar (on workspaces 2-5), the next time I open that workspace, the activated (blue-highlighted) button changes to the “Navigation” button on the sidebar. Here, of course, neither cursor movement nor clicking the button affects the display. Clicking other side-bar options changes the display appropriately and shifts the highlighted button.

But if I close this sidebar, the blue highlight shifts to the toolbar’s “new document” button!

If I shift to another workspace and then return, it reverts to its initial behaviour highlighting the the sort order.

I don’t really care about all the highlighted areas, but every time I switch between workspaces, I have to pick up my mouse to reactivate the main display so I can cursor around in it.

What’s up with all this?

There are other issues, but this one has taken a long time to describe. It’s so confusing that it’s taken me two weeks to summon the energy to report it. It’s quite the nuisance and I hope there is something magic to fix it. I really came to *love* workspaces under v3.

-- Gerry

Your images are all missing so it’s impossible to assess the behavior you’re describing.

You could hold the Option key and select Help > Report Bug and include a screencast of the behavior for use to examine.

So sorry about that, now corrected. I hoped I had expressed it directly enough in text, and only went back later to add images.

I’ll prep a video this weekend, but have relayed a bug report. Thanks.

– Gerry

No worries!
Given the particulars of your setup are so specific, it’s best for us to see and assess the behavior accurately. We have no other such reports therefore no other data to go on.

Did you enable full keyboard access (see System Settings > Accessibility > Motor > Keyboard)? Or do you use any third-party utilities, e.g. Keyboard Maestro?

I do not have Full Keyboard Access toggled on, nor “Sticky,” nor “Slow,” nor “Accessibility Keyboard.”

I use several third-party utilities, including Keyboard Maestro.

– Gerry

Follow up. After consultation and deleting a preference file, nothing changed. I deleted the workspaces that had these dilemmas, refashioned them anew with the same names, locations and hotkeys. All is well.

Go figure…

– Gerry