0.8.6c bug report: window position not remembered

[laklakararaki]

on my system (a macbook pro with an intel core duo chip under os x 10.4.9 with all software updates installed and no "haxies") the latest release of vlc 0.8.6c [for intel] does not save/remember the position or size of the main controller at all, under any circumstances. version 0.8.6b did this, as did 0.8.6a. any thoughts?

[MetalheadGautham]

I don't think it does it atall... but please ask more to conform this.

[laklakararaki]

I don't think it does it atall... but please ask more to conform this.

0.8.6b did indeed save window size and position for the main controller, at-least on my system. i edited my original post to be more specific though.

[MetalheadGautham]

well, either the old one or the new one has a bug

[laklakararaki]

well, either the old one or the new one has a bug

exactly. either-way, i am sticking with 0.8.6b until a dev can shed some light on the issue.

[MetalheadGautham]

and why do you want that feature? its one thing I really dont want

[laklakararaki]

and why do you want that feature? its one thing I really dont want

i do not understand why anyone would have a problem with the main controller's size or at-least position being remembered. there is a reason why most graphical applications on most operating systems remember window size and position. for an application's interface not to be in the same place as it was when you last used it, is quite counter-intuitive.

[MetalheadGautham]

but there are always more pressing issues than that... for instance, a compact mode will always be welcome. I can place vlc in a corner of the browser, playing videos, while I browse the web.

[laklakararaki]

but there are always more pressing issues than that... for instance, a compact mode will always be welcome. I can place vlc in a corner of the browser, playing videos, while I browse the web.

yes, but i am just reporting a bug. in 0.8.6c, a common feature that was present in both 0.8.6a and 0.8.6b is no longer present/functional. furthermore, window size or position being remembered does not prevent one from moving the main controller to any screen location they wish. but again, this is merely a bug report about the absence of a feature which was common to the two previous releases.

[MetalheadGautham]

well, if you want that feature, then use MPlayer or Xine

[laklakararaki]

well, if you want that feature, then use MPlayer or Xine :P

ah, but again... this is a bug report. this is not a discussion on which media player one prefers to use or the finer aspects of a consistent user-interface. furthermore, i clearly mentioned i posses an intel mac while the xine mac port is clearly not a universal binary. there is also no reason to run an alternative program through rosetta emulation when one could use the application they wish to use without emulation. and i have no interest in using mplayer, if i liked that app i would use it. but you are missing the point;

This is supposed to be a bug report for VLC under os x

not the thread for mentioning other nice media applications or what one expects in a user-interface.

[MetalheadGautham]

well, then enjoy yourself here:

http://wiki.videolan.org/VLC_report

[laklakararaki]

well, then enjoy yourself here:

http://wiki.videolan.org/VLC_report

for a final and further elaboration; rather than wishing to have an off-topic discussion, i posted about the bug in the forums for three reasons;

1. to notify the developers of the issue.

2. to seek feedback from the developers on the issue.

3. to seek feedback from other users who have noticed the issue.

that is all. and the vlc report page from the wiki clearly mentions that posting in the forums is a perfectly adequate means through which one can report a bug or anything of the sort. the fact of the matter is this;

the intel version of vlc 0.8.6c does not remember the approximate size or the position of the main controller as it did in the past two releases.

there is nothing else to it. i await input from a dev or others who have noticed this issue.

[MetalheadGautham]

most of the devs will be online only after 9 hours. enjoy thyself waiting

[laklakararaki]

most of the devs will be online only after 9 hours. enjoy thyself waiting :wink:

it is not like my life depends on it, so i dont mind waiting for a useful response because there are many other things one can do aside from sitting around waiting for useful responses. i will also be sticking with 0.8.6b until the issue is cleared up. if this was a horribly pressing matter i would have said;

"i require input from a dev or others who have noticed this issue, immediately."
instead of;
"i await input from a dev or others who have noticed this issue."

which most likely would not have made a difference anyway, but as implied, i am not in such dire straits.

;]

[laklakararaki]

perhaps i did not explain adequately? on the latest stable intel release vlc always starts up with the main controller near the left side and middle height of the screen, always. with the two previous versions if i dragged vlc's controller to a corner (i prefer upper left, right below the menu bar) it would always stay there. also, with the two previous versions if i expanded the playlist size a bit, the exact size would not be remembered but the playlist would always remain a bit larger than it was on first run. no one else has noticed that 0.8.6c no longer functions this way?

[serphium]

haleakalari, I'm new to VLC on OSX but I posted (to no reply) a bit ago about how my VLC wouldn't remember it's size. Drives me nuts. So I'm with you, it seems to be a bug and I too hope it gets fixed

[laklakararaki]

buddy, thanks a whole bunch for confirming.

[Emmanuel]

Hi,

Same problem with 0.8.6c on PPC (PowerBook).
File "org.videolan.vlc.plist" seems to be no longer created..

1. move 0.8.6c from Applications to desktop
2. download 0.8.6b and run it
3. save a window position
4. remove 0.8.6b and put 0.8.6c from desktop to Applications

Window position will be ok but if you change it after, it will not be saved..

[uberfu]

Same Problem here_

I have an Intel Core Duo 1.83Ghz and 0.8.6c is doing the same thing for me_ It will not remember the position and size of the Controller after I quit and then restart at a later time_

I thought it was becuase of the defaults of 0.8.6c at first and so I went thru Every Preference one at a time looking for a checkbox or something with no luck_

I have since - reverted back to 0.8.6 after I deleted out the Pref Files for 0.8.6c_

The only down side I see between the 2 versions [which I only really use VLC to playback movies that Quicktime won't] is the above problem with 0.8.6c_ Otherwise I don't get the frame-less interface option with 0.8.6_

I would rather have the functionality working over the look of the interface_

So I'll keep with 0.8.6 until the next update comes out -- 0.8.7 or 0.8.6d -- whatever_

On a lighter note -- I think VLC is a pretty damn swanky App_

Thanks _

[uberfu]

and why do you want that feature? its one thing I really dont want

So you either have no problem with leaving the default Controller position where it is with 0.8.6c OR if you do end up moving it or resizing it - you have no problem with have to do it every time you relaunch the App ?

Interesting_

[uberfu]

well, if you want that feature, then use MPlayer or Xine

So you are the Lead Developer and that is your Final word on the issue ?

yes, but i am just reporting a bug. in 0.8.6c, a common feature that was present in both 0.8.6a and 0.8.6b is no longer present/functional.

It was also present in 0.8.6 and 0.8.5 and 0.7x_

[WTq5k]

Seems like this bug is still present in the latest 0.8.6e release.

[WTq5k]

It appears as though the MacOS X VLC app is not following the Apple interface guidelines with respect to it's failure to remember window positions.

"If a user changes a window’s initial size or location, maintain the user’s choices the next time the associated file or window (in the case of a single-window application) opens. If a user opens, moves, and closes a document window without making any other changes, save the new window position but don’t modify the file’s date stamp."
http://developer.apple.com/documentatio ... ion_5.html

[laklakararaki]

although this is purely a functional-aesthetic issue which has no bearing on codec compatibility and security, it still really freaking bugs me. so much so, that with every new release of vlc for os x, i always end up reverting back to 0.8.6b (the most recent version which does not suffer from this bug). some applications, like small text editors or applications that are more functional when using the whole of one's screen, like logic... do not really need a set window position/size on start, because all user interaction and interaction between the application and os x/finder, is/can be performed, in an intuitive fashion, within the application interface itself [for the most part].

vlc on the other hand, is a media player which does not sport a "media library" or "file list", now, especially in regards to creating playlists for listening to music or watching short videos, files must be dragged and dropped from finder to vlc/the vlc playlist itself, unless you don't mind the time consuming routine of opening files with the "open file" dialog. also keep in mind that when the majority of users are listening to music with vlc and performing some other task on their system they would obviously prefer vlc to remain visually unobtrusive, meaning, no one wants to waste their time moving around and resizing the application interface every freaking time they start the program. achhh. the os x port of vlc should obviously save window size and position! i mean this is, within all reason and logic, a very basic & necessary feature that any media player should have (regardless of how many functions the media player can perform). end sloopy rant.