[MERGED] Reverse System Tray Layout on Panel - Shipping with 6.7

See the merge request here, give it a thumbs up if you want to see this implemented.

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nicely done.

since you were obviously in there looking at the code, do you have any sense for how difficult it would be to change the position of an individual icon?

being able to rearrange them has been a long standing feature request.

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I remember Nate saying the code there is very messy, therefore in the last changes they did they preferred not providing complete rearrangements capabilities.

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Interesting @Samuele, I never heard that. Nate actually personally triaged my feature request on the bug tracker; all I’ve done since then is take it from a concept to an implemented merge request on the main branch.

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This I’m not sure of, but I have absolutely seen people asking about it and it would definitely be a nice QOL improvement. I’m not sure if you can rearrange them on MacOS but I know Windows users transitioning would probably greatly appreciate it.

When I get a chance I will take a peek and see if I can figure anything out. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Can you elaborate on why someone would want to reverse the order? Since the order is somewhat arbitrary to begin with, what is the advantage here?

You just want to move the overflow to the left?

@dalto, the order isn’t arbitrary when you actually customize your panel layout. As discussed in the original feature request—which Nate already triaged and supported on the bug tracker—this is about fundamental UX and muscle memory.

When a system tray is placed on the left side of a panel, leaving the layout as-is means that every time a new icon spawns or an overflow menu opens, it forces all the existing icons to scoot over to the right to make room. This constantly shifts their positions and breaks muscle memory.

Reversing the layout fixes this by allowing the icons to anchor to the left and spawn cleanly into the empty space on their right, exactly the same way a standard right-aligned tray expands to the left. It’s an overdue QOL fix for left-aligned setups, which is exactly why there is active discussion supporting this being merged into the main branch.

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Update: another user commented on my merge request and pointed out that the UI is a little clunky, how do we feel about this?

@dalto @Samuele @skyfishgoo

To me, “flipped” is not understandable. The order is being reversed left to right. I don’t think that is what flipped implies.

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Thanks for the feedback, @dalto! It’s been noted on the merge request for further discussion. :slightly_smiling_face:

To clarify: the goal isn’t to set an absolute direction, but to reverse the default logical order. In RTL locales, the tray already starts in what an LTR user would consider a ‘reversed’ state. This option would switch that orientation to match the standard LTR flow (and vice versa), making it a true ‘reverse’ toggle rather than a fixed direction setting. :grin:

Agree, Maybe “Alignement” might sound better with the specifier direction is where the overflow is located (so the default is “Right”).

It also need to concider vertical panels to change the wording

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@the-entropyst :slightly_smiling_face:

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your muscle memory UX argument is still not going to be addressed by this change.

the reason is that the icons spawn in fixed positions within the tray and “show when relevant” icons spawn in their relative locations among the other icons which still pushes the other icons around.

your change will effectively place the foldout at the opposite end of the chain, but will not prevent the shifting based on what is or is not shown.

this is why being able to set their arrangement somehow is such an important feature request.. only then can you have control over where they fall within the tray.

for instance, i would like to have may “always shown” icons toward the foldout end so they are always in a fixed location, and then have my “show when relevant” icons at the “floaty” end of the tray so as they come and go it does not affect my “always shown” icons

that would be how to better address the muscle memory UX.

It will not prevent individual icons from being shifted over by new ones that appear between the existing ones, but it will prevent the arrow (the anchor point of the entire tray) from being shifted. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Plus, I did actually say I would look into individual icon placement when I get the chance. One thing at a time. Let’s not forget I’m volunteering just like everyone else. :slightly_smiling_face:

no criticism meant, sorry it came off that way…. i think this is a nice QOL improvement.

yes, the foldout menu will stay where you put it, that’s what this change accomplishes… it just does not affect the other icons in a way that helps with muscle memory.

if you find the time perhaps it might be an easier change if the icons could just be segregated by their display setting (much like how “hidden” puts them in the foldout menu).

if “always shown” icons were always attached to the foldout menu end of the tray and then “shown if relavant” were allowed to float at the opposite end of the tray.

much like how the icon only task manager works with pinned vs not pinned apps.

just food for thought.

thanks for doing this.

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@skyfishgoo, I think I see what you are saying. In essence, you want permanent tray items to appear how they normally would, and items set to Shown when relevant to appear at the very end of the tray in the same manner as third party background applications?

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No worries, I just woke up on my birthday and my back is killing me so I’m not in the best mood already; probably a bit of an overreaction. I felt just the tiniest bit dismissed by your “doesn’t solve muscle memory issue” remark, because it technically solves a muscle memory issue, just not the specific one you’re referring to. This is no place for emotion though, my intention was only to clear up any confusion in the discussion and I am sorry if that came across any other way. There are no worries at all on my end about anything you did. :slightly_smiling_face:

yes, that’s the idea… it would expand the muscle memory aspect to more than just what is in the foldout menu.

ugh, and backs are the worst… i keep throwing mine out, but it keeps coming back.