Floating window behavior

[Tristan Croll]

The following bug report has been submitted:
Platform:        macOS-12.5.1-arm64-arm-64bit
ChimeraX Version: 1.5.dev202210060704 (2022-10-06 07:04:39 UTC)
Description
In the daily build on my Mac, floating tool windows no longer stay in front of the main window when the latter is in focus. Would definitely prefer the old behaviour.

OpenGL version: 4.1 Metal - 76.3
OpenGL renderer: Apple M1 Pro
OpenGL vendor: Apple

Python: 3.9.11
Locale: UTF-8
Qt version: PyQt6 6.3.1, Qt 6.3.1
Qt runtime version: 6.3.2
Qt platform: cocoa
Hardware:

    Hardware Overview:

      Model Name: MacBook Pro
      Model Identifier: MacBookPro18,1
      Chip: Apple M1 Pro
      Total Number of Cores: 10 (8 performance and 2 efficiency)
      Memory: 32 GB
      System Firmware Version: 7459.141.1
      OS Loader Version: 7459.141.1

Software:

    System Software Overview:

      System Version: macOS 12.5.1 (21G83)
      Kernel Version: Darwin 21.6.0
      Time since boot: 12 minutes

Graphics/Displays:

    Apple M1 Pro:

      Chipset Model: Apple M1 Pro
      Type: GPU
      Bus: Built-In
      Total Number of Cores: 16
      Vendor: Apple (0x106b)
      Metal Family: Supported, Metal GPUFamily Apple 7
      Displays:
        HP Z27k G3:
          Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (2160p/4K UHD 1 - Ultra High Definition)
          UI Looks like: 1920 x 1080 @ 60.00Hz
          Main Display: Yes
          Mirror: Off
          Online: Yes
          Rotation: Supported
        Color LCD:
          Display Type: Built-in Liquid Retina XDR Display
          Resolution: 3456 x 2234 Retina
          Mirror: Off
          Online: Yes
          Automatically Adjust Brightness: Yes
          Connection Type: Internal


Installed Packages:
    alabaster: 0.7.12
    appdirs: 1.4.4
    appnope: 0.1.3
    asttokens: 2.0.8
    Babel: 2.10.3
    backcall: 0.2.0
    blockdiag: 3.0.0
    build: 0.8.0
    certifi: 2021.10.8
    cftime: 1.6.2
    charset-normalizer: 2.1.1
    ChimeraX-AddCharge: 1.4
    ChimeraX-AddH: 2.2
    ChimeraX-AlignmentAlgorithms: 2.0
    ChimeraX-AlignmentHdrs: 3.2.1
    ChimeraX-AlignmentMatrices: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Alignments: 2.6
    ChimeraX-AlphaFold: 1.0
    ChimeraX-AltlocExplorer: 1.0.3
    ChimeraX-AmberInfo: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Arrays: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Atomic: 1.41.4
    ChimeraX-AtomicLibrary: 8.0.2
    ChimeraX-AtomSearch: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-AxesPlanes: 2.3
    ChimeraX-BasicActions: 1.1.2
    ChimeraX-BILD: 1.0
    ChimeraX-BlastProtein: 2.1.2
    ChimeraX-BondRot: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-BugReporter: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-BuildStructure: 2.7.1
    ChimeraX-Bumps: 1.0
    ChimeraX-BundleBuilder: 1.2
    ChimeraX-ButtonPanel: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-CageBuilder: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-CellPack: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Centroids: 1.3.1
    ChimeraX-ChangeChains: 1.0.2
    ChimeraX-CheckWaters: 1.3
    ChimeraX-ChemGroup: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Clashes: 2.2.4
    ChimeraX-Clipper: 0.19.0.dev0
    ChimeraX-ColorActions: 1.0.3
    ChimeraX-ColorGlobe: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ColorKey: 1.5.2
    ChimeraX-CommandLine: 1.2.4
    ChimeraX-ConnectStructure: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-Contacts: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Core: 1.5.dev202210060704
    ChimeraX-CoreFormats: 1.1
    ChimeraX-coulombic: 1.3.2
    ChimeraX-Crosslinks: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Crystal: 1.0
    ChimeraX-CrystalContacts: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-DataFormats: 1.2.2
    ChimeraX-Dicom: 1.1
    ChimeraX-DistMonitor: 1.3
    ChimeraX-DockPrep: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Dssp: 2.0
    ChimeraX-EMDB-SFF: 1.0
    ChimeraX-ExperimentalCommands: 1.0
    ChimeraX-FileHistory: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-FunctionKey: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Geometry: 1.2
    ChimeraX-gltf: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Graphics: 1.1
    ChimeraX-Hbonds: 2.4
    ChimeraX-Help: 1.2.1
    ChimeraX-HKCage: 1.3
    ChimeraX-IHM: 1.1
    ChimeraX-ImageFormats: 1.2
    ChimeraX-IMOD: 1.0
    ChimeraX-IO: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-ISOLDE: 1.5.dev0
    ChimeraX-ItemsInspection: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Label: 1.1.7
    ChimeraX-ListInfo: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-Log: 1.1.5
    ChimeraX-LookingGlass: 1.1
    ChimeraX-Maestro: 1.8.2
    ChimeraX-Map: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-MapData: 2.0
    ChimeraX-MapEraser: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-MapFilter: 2.0
    ChimeraX-MapFit: 2.0
    ChimeraX-MapSeries: 2.1.1
    ChimeraX-Markers: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Mask: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-MatchMaker: 2.0.9
    ChimeraX-MDcrds: 2.6
    ChimeraX-MedicalToolbar: 1.0.2
    ChimeraX-Meeting: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-MLP: 1.1
    ChimeraX-mmCIF: 2.8
    ChimeraX-MMTF: 2.2
    ChimeraX-Modeller: 1.5.6
    ChimeraX-ModelPanel: 1.3.6
    ChimeraX-ModelSeries: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Mol2: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Mole: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Morph: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-MouseModes: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-Movie: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Neuron: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Nucleotides: 2.0.3
    ChimeraX-OpenCommand: 1.9.1
    ChimeraX-PDB: 2.6.8
    ChimeraX-PDBBio: 1.0
    ChimeraX-PDBLibrary: 1.0.2
    ChimeraX-PDBMatrices: 1.0
    ChimeraX-PickBlobs: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Positions: 1.0
    ChimeraX-PresetMgr: 1.1
    ChimeraX-PubChem: 2.1
    ChimeraX-ReadPbonds: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Registration: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-RemoteControl: 1.0
    ChimeraX-RenumberResidues: 1.1
    ChimeraX-ResidueFit: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-RestServer: 1.1
    ChimeraX-RNALayout: 1.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibMgr: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibsDunbrack: 2.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibsDynameomics: 2.0
    ChimeraX-RotamerLibsRichardson: 2.0
    ChimeraX-SaveCommand: 1.5.1
    ChimeraX-SchemeMgr: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SDF: 2.0
    ChimeraX-Segger: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Segment: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SelInspector: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SeqView: 2.7.2
    ChimeraX-Shape: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Shell: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Shortcuts: 1.1.1
    ChimeraX-ShowSequences: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-SideView: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Smiles: 2.1
    ChimeraX-SmoothLines: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SpaceNavigator: 1.0
    ChimeraX-StdCommands: 1.10
    ChimeraX-STL: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Storm: 1.0
    ChimeraX-StructMeasure: 1.1
    ChimeraX-Struts: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-Surface: 1.0
    ChimeraX-SwapAA: 2.0.1
    ChimeraX-SwapRes: 2.1.3
    ChimeraX-TapeMeasure: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Test: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Toolbar: 1.1.2
    ChimeraX-ToolshedUtils: 1.2.1
    ChimeraX-Tug: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-UI: 1.24.2
    ChimeraX-uniprot: 2.2.1
    ChimeraX-UnitCell: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-ViewDockX: 1.1.3
    ChimeraX-VIPERdb: 1.0
    ChimeraX-Vive: 1.1
    ChimeraX-VolumeMenu: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-VTK: 1.0
    ChimeraX-WavefrontOBJ: 1.0
    ChimeraX-WebCam: 1.0.1
    ChimeraX-WebServices: 1.1.0
    ChimeraX-Zone: 1.0.1
    colorama: 0.4.5
    cxservices: 1.2
    cycler: 0.11.0
    Cython: 0.29.32
    debugpy: 1.6.3
    decorator: 5.1.1
    docutils: 0.19
    entrypoints: 0.4
    executing: 1.1.0
    filelock: 3.7.1
    fonttools: 4.37.4
    funcparserlib: 1.0.0
    grako: 3.16.5
    h5py: 3.7.0
    html2text: 2020.1.16
    idna: 3.4
    ihm: 0.33
    imagecodecs: 2022.2.22
    imagesize: 1.4.1
    importlib-metadata: 5.0.0
    ipykernel: 6.15.3
    ipython: 8.4.0
    ipython-genutils: 0.2.0
    jedi: 0.18.1
    Jinja2: 3.1.2
    jupyter-client: 7.3.4
    jupyter-core: 4.11.1
    kiwisolver: 1.4.4
    line-profiler: 3.5.1
    lxml: 4.9.1
    lz4: 4.0.2
    MarkupSafe: 2.1.1
    matplotlib: 3.5.2
    matplotlib-inline: 0.1.6
    msgpack: 1.0.4
    nest-asyncio: 1.5.6
    netCDF4: 1.6.0
    networkx: 2.8.5
    numexpr: 2.8.3
    numpy: 1.23.1
    openvr: 1.23.701
    packaging: 21.3
    ParmEd: 3.4.3
    parso: 0.8.3
    pep517: 0.13.0
    pexpect: 4.8.0
    pickleshare: 0.7.5
    Pillow: 9.2.0
    pip: 22.2.2
    pkginfo: 1.8.3
    prompt-toolkit: 3.0.31
    psutil: 5.9.1
    ptyprocess: 0.7.0
    pure-eval: 0.2.2
    pycollada: 0.7.2
    pydicom: 2.3.0
    Pygments: 2.12.0
    PyOpenGL: 3.1.5
    PyOpenGL-accelerate: 3.1.5
    pyparsing: 3.0.9
    PyQt6-commercial: 6.3.1
    PyQt6-Qt6: 6.3.2
    PyQt6-sip: 13.4.0
    PyQt6-WebEngine-commercial: 6.3.1
    PyQt6-WebEngine-Qt6: 6.3.2
    python-dateutil: 2.8.2
    pytz: 2022.4
    pyzmq: 24.0.1
    qtconsole: 5.3.1
    QtPy: 2.2.1
    RandomWords: 0.4.0
    requests: 2.28.1
    scipy: 1.9.0
    setuptools: 65.1.1
    setuptools-scm: 7.0.5
    sfftk-rw: 0.7.2
    six: 1.16.0
    snowballstemmer: 2.2.0
    sortedcontainers: 2.4.0
    Sphinx: 5.1.1
    sphinx-autodoc-typehints: 1.19.1
    sphinxcontrib-applehelp: 1.0.2
    sphinxcontrib-blockdiag: 3.0.0
    sphinxcontrib-devhelp: 1.0.2
    sphinxcontrib-htmlhelp: 2.0.0
    sphinxcontrib-jsmath: 1.0.1
    sphinxcontrib-qthelp: 1.0.3
    sphinxcontrib-serializinghtml: 1.1.5
    stack-data: 0.5.1
    tables: 3.7.0
    tifffile: 2022.7.31
    tinyarray: 1.2.4
    tomli: 2.0.1
    tornado: 6.2
    traitlets: 5.3.0
    typing-extensions: 4.3.0
    urllib3: 1.26.12
    wcwidth: 0.2.5
    webcolors: 1.12
    wheel: 0.37.1
    wheel-filename: 1.4.1
    zipp: 3.8.1

[Eric Pettersen]

Hi Tristan,

In Qt5, the only option for a floating tool was for it act like a "pane" -- always be in front of the main window and disappear when switching to a different app. With Qt6 we found we could instead have it act like a full-fledged window -- be in front of or behind any other window and not disappear when switching to another app. Near the end of August we switched to the latter behavior. It is a bit of a mixed bag. There are certainly occasions when it would be nice if the floating tool stayed in front of the main window, but there are some occasions when having the main window in front is needed, and the non-disappearance of the floating window when switching to another app is a definite win.
So we weren't 1000% happy with either "mode", but have stuck with the latter so far. So for you, keeping the floating tool in front is definitely more important than the tool disappearing when switching to another app? We could make the behavior a preference. The issues with that are: what's the default, and how do you make the fact that there is a preference discoverable?
Seems like this needs discussion.

--Eric

[Tristan Croll]

Well... I can live with it either way. But personally I'm used to having
ChimeraX maximised, and typically keep the shell in particular (when I'm
using it) floating rather than docked. So it was a bit of a jarring change
to have it suddenly start disappearing when I click in the main window. Is
it a global setting, or could it be switched on a tool-by-tool basis (e.g.
as an option on the right-click context menu?).

On Fri, Oct 7, 2022 at 5:25 PM ChimeraX <ChimeraX-bugs-admin@cgl.ucsf.edu>
wrote:

[Eric Pettersen]

It could be on a tool-by-tool basis, though I don't think it can be changed "on the fly" -- the change would apply to the next time the tool was floated.

[Eric Pettersen]

Another alternative is to make a command that controls the behavior (globally), so that knowledgable users that prefer always-on-top can put the command in their startup commands.