Qubes OS GUI Tools should be tested on 1366x768 displays (or resolutions lower than FHD)

[alimirjamali]

How to file a helpful issue

Qubes OS release

N/A - All
Screenshots from R4.2.1

Brief summary

According to the statistics (1, 2, 3), over 30% of global desktop users are using monitors with a resolution of 1366x768 or lower than FHD. This figure might be higher in Qubes OS user base as many might be using old generation laptops due to easy Intel ME bypass. Some of the current Qubes OS certified laptops (Nitrokey T430 & X230) are shipped with such displays.

It would be better to test GUI Tools on a low resolution display and assure they work well on such machines.

Steps to reproduce

Open Qubes OS Updater on a display with a resolution of 1366x768. CANCEL & UPDATE buttons are off screen. This might be confusing without background knowledge. Fortunately you could maximize Updater window and get the buttons. Screenshot:

Open Qubes OS policy editor. The 3 buttons are off screen. You can not get them by resizing or maximizing policy editor window. User should use the menu or hot-keys. Screenshot:

Expected behavior

GUI Tools should appear well on both Half-HD and Full-HD displays.

Actual behavior

GUI Tools are optimized for Full-HD displays.

[alimirjamali]

Possibly related:
#9060

[unman]

The x230 has a 1366x768 display. Opening Qubes OS Updater produces a window with a scrollable list of templates, and the `CANCEL` & `UPDATE` buttons are ON screen. I've tested this in both KDE and Xfce. I dont know why you should see different. The policy editor is "off" in Xfce, I think. (in KDE the policy editor doesnt appear in the KDE menu under Qubes Tools - something off in the desktop file?)

[unman]

The policy editor is "off" in KDE. Hiding the panel from the bottom of the screen allows the Top portions of the buttons to be seen.

[alimirjamali]

I've tested this in both KDE and Xfce. I dont know why you should see different.

It would be probable because of the slightly resized XFCE panel bar (36 pixel). I believe most of other settings should be the default XFCE/Adwaita settings.
For better clarification, the tested qubes-desktop-linux-manager version is 4.2.23-1

[marmarek]

FWIW, most integration tests (which doesn't mean all the components...) runs with 1024x768 in openQA. And yes, we do notice issues this way from time to time. For example, the policy editor issue is at #9060, found exactly this way.

So, I guess the issue, as worded right now, is done already.

[marmarek]

This is the updater GUI at 1024x768: https://openqa.qubes-os.org/tests/102316#step/qui_widgets_update/10
It fits on the screen there just fine. Maybe it depends on some appearance settings (font size? theme?), or just number of templates?

[alimirjamali]

I did a sanity check and did qubes-dom0-update --action=reinstall qubes-desktop-linux-manager.

Then I made a quick side-by-side comparison in Krita. Higher number of templates might be the cause of this issue. Or it might be because of the custom labels project I have been working on (and discussing some issues with Marmarta).

It is not a serious issue as it is easy to maximize the Updater and have the CANCEL & UPDATE buttons. Also most users will not have so many templates. Maybe it is better to forget about this issue and focus on more important issues.

[github-actions]

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[alimirjamali]

Maybe it depends on some appearance settings (font size? theme?), or just number of templates?

I know this issue is closed. But I found the reason. It was because of number of long Qube name for two templates. And these two lines:

        width = self.intro_page.vm_list.get_preferred_width().natural_width
        self.main_window.resize(width + 50, int(width * 1.2))