v2.12.0+: Multiple Windows feature always active

[izzytechie]

⚠️ This issue respects the following points: ⚠️

• This is a bug. Not a question or feature request.
• The topic is not already reported at Issues. (I've searched it).
• Markor is up to date. See Releases for the latest version. Updates are available from F-Droid and GitHub.
• The bug is still present in the latest development version (git master). (Please download and try the test version of Markor, named Marder. Don't worry; Markor and Marder appear as completely separate applications. You can install both side-by-side, and Markor settings are not touched. In case the issue is resolved there, you don't need to create a bug report. The change will be part of the next Markor update.)

Description

Deactivating the Settings -> General -> Features -> Multiple Windows feature has no effect. The Multiple Windows feature is always on.

Steps to reproduce

1. Deactivate the Settings -> General -> Features -> Multiple Windows feature.
2. Open a file within the Markor app.
3. Switch to Android's Recent Apps screen.
4. Observe that the Markor app is using multiple windows.

Information

Android version: 10
Device: Oukitel C21
App Version: 2.12.0

Source

Google Play

Format / File type

Not specific

Additional info / Log

-

[harshad1]

I can't reproduce this on master.

I'm on a pixel 7 pro with Android 14

[gsantner]

Have you unchecked the multi window option and closed/swiped out everything before try? On 2.12.1-fdroid at least it still is the case

[orionlee]

The issue persisted with v2.12.2, on Pixel 3a (Android 12), Galaxy Tab S6 (Android 12), and Moto E4 (Android 7.1.1).
The settings screen shows as a separate entry in recent apps as well. I don't know if it's a regression or not.

[xxxxme]

Also present for me in 2.12.1 and 2.12.2 on a Pixel 5a running crDroid 9.17 (A13) but does not happen with 2.11.1.

[c-s-n]

I can confirm the aforementioned findings: This is a regression that was introduced with 2.12.0, and did not exist in 2.11.1.

Have you unchecked the multi window option and closed/swiped out everything before try?

The option was unchecked and the issue started appearing after the app update. Anyhow, I tried re-activating the Multiple Windows feature, closing everything. Then deactivating it again, closing everything. The issue still persists.

Pixel 7a, CalyxOS, Android 14.

[gsantner]

merge requests are welcome. the activity multi window vs single window, restarting, rotating and sharing into is not a simple thing to resolve for all cases and in dynamic (non compiletime constant/flag) way.

It's known in latest versions.

[harshad1]

@c-s-n could you check if this is resolved on #2307

[hmmuaa]

I can confirm the aforementioned findings: This is a regression that was introduced with 2.12.0, and did not exist in 2.11.1.

Have you unchecked the multi window option and closed/swiped out everything before try?

The option was unchecked and the issue started appearing after the app update. Anyhow, I tried re-activating the Multiple Windows feature, closing everything. Then deactivating it again, closing everything. The issue still persists.

Pixel 7a, CalyxOS, Android 14.

me too all the same on Android 13

[min7-i]

could you check if this is resolved on 2307

@harshad1 I tested the latest artifact from your PR and the behavior is identical to 2.12.2. No matter if the multiple windows setting is enabled or disabled, multiple windows are still opened.

[T4petinae]

I have also encountered this issue on Xiaomi 13 (Android 14). It can be reproduced consistently and only appears in versions v2.12.0 (149) and later. This issue does not occur in v2.11.0 (147).

[tom22k]

I can also reproduce this bug on my Fairphone 5 (Stock Android 13) on version 2.12.2. Despite having the Multiple Windows feature disabled, it is functionally always on.

[min7-i]

I guess there is no need to add further comments that one can reproduce this on their device. gsantner already confirmed that this is a known issue.

[Asmageddon]

Any ETA for this getting fixed? Considering it used to work correctly, surely something can be done?

[gsantner]

No. Don't ask for ETA's in volunteer open source projects. Stuff gets done when a developer is both interested to give their time and has time.

Please stop screaming metoo and if you are interested in getting it fixed, start development, fix it, and make a merge request. Thank you.

I for myself rather don't see a big issue by this, and would rather drop the settings option then making a complicated fix that in turn makes everything else more complicated/buggy.

[harshad1]

@gsantner I am making some improvements to the intent / window launching system.

When we have multiple windows enabled each new DialogActivity is launched separately. Should this behavior be true even if the intent for a new file came from an existing DocumentActivity? i.e. if I open a link to another file from a document, should that new document open on the current stack or on a new stack. This is with multiple windows enabled.

[gsantner]

Thank you @harshad1 !

My view generally is this: You usually work with multiple tabs in Editors and IDEs on Desktop. Tabs don't work well on mobile. As alternative that works better we have switcher and windows...so it roughly translates to Tab=Window.

So regardless how you came to a file, it should be a own window. What would be good to have is that we don't have multiple windows for the same file - though I know that it is difficult the way Activities work. Multiple windows for same file might make issues with file management.

[harshad1]

it should be a own window

I tried doing this once with maintaining a Singleton map of which file was open in which activity, but it was super janky.

Imo the best workflow is

• open file from shortcut or file explorer: opens in new window
• follow link from file: open in same window

This is roughly the behavior we see from desktop text editors (neovim in my case)

Will test more. But as you know it is impossible to make everyone happy 😆

[Asmageddon]

@gsantner I am making some improvements to the intent / window launching system.

Hey, if you're working on this, could you fit in a side quest of making within-markor links work properly? E.g. if I have a collection of links in my Main.md, for example to TopicA/File1.md and TopicB/Overview.md, I'd like to be able to click those links, and then navigate back to the previous file, as opposed to back going back to the directory where I opened the first(Main.md) file.