JabRef opens on full screen and toolbar doesn't work

[RPadial]

JabRef version

5.15 (latest release)

Operating system

GNU / Linux

Details on version and operating system

Ubuntu 20.04 and Linux Mint 21.3 (Ubuntu 22.04)

Checked with the latest development build (copy version output from About dialog)

• [X] I made a backup of my libraries before testing the latest development version.
• [X] I have tested the latest development version and the problem persists

Steps to reproduce the behaviour

1. Intall Jabref
2. Have 2 screens connected and switched on
3. Open Jabref
4. Check Jabref opens on full screen and toolbar doesn't work I think it is related with having 2 screens. I have disabled one on them and now Jabref is working. Tested with snap, flatpak and native installation

Appendix

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Log File

Paste an excerpt of your log file here

[wujastyk]

see #10731

[RPadial]

Working on Linux Mint 21.3. I opened Jabref once with only one screen connected, and afterwards, it always works with two screens. Different behavior in Ubuntu 20.04. After open Jabref with only one screen connected, it open correctly once but it turns to the initial behavior instead.

[Siedlerchr]

Thank you for reporting this issue. We think, that is already fixed in our development version and consequently the change will be included in the next release.

We would like to ask you to use a development build from https://builds.jabref.org/main and report back if it works for you. Please remember to make a backup of your library before trying-out this version.

[RPadial]

It seem jabref_5.16_amd64.deb fixes the issue on Linux Mint 21.3 but not tested on Ubuntu 20.04. purged 5.15 version with apt remove --purge jabref and apt autoremove in order to remove configuration files because previous jabref version was working with the workarund previously described.

[Siedlerchr]

Have you tried resetting the preferences in JabRef? Can you share a screenshot? Or is this about the 2 screens?

[RPadial]

I have just reset preferences and issue is still present

The bar to close(minimize the window is not present.

Now the workaround I found doesn't work.

[koppor]

With one screen it works. I used https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/tree/main/scripts/vms/linux-mint-cinnamon and run from source.

~~I am struggling to get two monitors working in Virtual Box - https://superuser.com/a/207291/138868. This is my blocker to check the issue.~~

[koppor]

@RPadial Do you have a special window manager or "just" the plain Cinnamon?

[RPadial]

Yes, it works with only one monitor. Just cinnamon but note that issue is also present on Ubuntu desktop with gnome with slightly different behaviour.

[koppor]

Your screenshot shows the second monitor, I assume.

On your first monitor, what does the context menu of the JabRef app icon say?

[koppor]

Alt and "left mouse down" and then move with the mouse seems to be the shortcuts to move a window. Can you move it?

[RPadial]

@koppor Yes, that the second monitor. Jabref opens in monitor n. 1 that is the second monitor. Monitor n.2 i set as the main monitor

This is the screenshot with both monitors:

Note that if I change main monitor to the n.1, it is working even if I reset the preferences, The issue cold be related with cinnamon/gnome launching windows on monitor n.1 instead of in the main one.

I tried to:

1. Reset the preferences.
2. Set monitor n.1 as main monitor.
3. Launch Jabreb. It is working well on monitor n.1. I do not move it to the monitor n.2 (my main monitor)
4. Change preferences to set monitor n.2 to be the main one,
5. Launch again Jabref without resetting preferences. It starts on monitor n.1 with the issue.

In the workaround I moved Jabref window to monitor n.2, so I performed another test:

1. Reset preferences.
2. Set monitor n.2 as the main one (this is my worksetup)
3. Launch Jabref. Window appears on monitor n.1 with the issue.
4. Change preferences to set monitor n.1 to be the main one and launch Jabreb. It is working.
5. Move Jabref window to the monitor n.2
6. Set monitor n.2 to be main one and restart Jabref. It works.
7. Move again Jabref window to monitor n.1 and restart Jabref. The issue comes again

The the issue is present, there is no way of moving the Jabref window with "Alt + left clic" neither with "Cmd + any arrow key". It only can be minimized or closed with the context menu on the app icon.

All these screeshot and test are performed Jabref 5.15. The workaround doesn't work on Jabref 5.16 because it always launches on monitor n.1 and it doesn't save the previous window's position.

Could you help you to check the differences between the default preferences file and the file after the workaround or any logfile? Which file would you need?

[koppor]

What would be nice, if you tried "--debug" (https://docs.jabref.org/advanced/commandline#debug-mode-debug). JabRef should write out Screen information and which decision it took.

I am going to try for myself; but currently on holiday with less time for JabRef.

[RPadial]

@koppor When the issue is present, mainStages.SIZE_Y changes to 1114.0. My resolution is 1920:1080 in both monitors. Please, find attached the logs files. Note that the issue comes when jabref launches in the monitor is not set to main. I set in the filename in which monitor it launches and which monitor is set to main. log_2024-08-12_08-58-34_launch_2_main_2.txt log_2024-08-12_08-59-28_launch_2_main_1.txt log_2024-08-12_09-01-06_launch_1_main_2.txt log_2024-08-12_09-01-53_launch_1_main_1.txt

[koppor]

I am asking myself if JabRef should do any window management on non-Windows systems. I think, Linux does a very good job on Window management - and JabRef should not do anything regarding remembering screen positions, window size, and maximization state. Thoughts on this?

[koppor]

I spend nearly the whole day to replicate the display settings described at https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/11530#issuecomment-2275004250. Not working. Details at https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=2513417#p2513417.

[wujastyk]

I am asking myself if JabRef should do any window management on non-Windows systems. I think, Linux does a very good job on Window management - and JabRef should not do anything regarding remembering screen positions, window size, and maximization state. Thoughts on this?

JabRef 5.16--2024-08-20--6b8c5a3 Linux 6.8.0-40-generic amd64 Java 21.0.2 JavaFX 22.0.2+4

System: Kernel: 6.8.0-40-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.2.0 clocksource: tsc Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.2.9 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: Muffin v: 6.2.0 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 22 Wilma base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble

Two monitors.

I think this would be okay for Linux Mint + Cinnamon. Other apps seem to leave window management to Cinnamon. It means that JR will always start in the same location, and may always need to be dragged to the preferred location, I think, but that's not too troublesome.

I am a bit surprised that this issue is still present for other users. It went away completely for me two weeks ago, after the removal of "fullscreen" mode from the JR code.

[RPadial]

Hello, The problem with the dev version is that jabref always launches on screen number 1 in full screen mode, which is not the main one in my setup. If I get to change to the main screen, it comes back to screen number one after restarting jabref, so it is always unsable.

I have experience exactly the same behaviour in ubuntu 20.04.

[koppor]

I have experience exactly the same behaviour in ubuntu 20.04.

Also Cinnamon or another window manager?

[wujastyk]

JabRef 6.0--2024-10-13--4644e8d Linux 6.8.0-45-generic amd64 Java 21.0.2 JavaFX 23+29

Cinnamon v: 6.2.9 Distro: Linux Mint 22 Wilma

Today's JR launched just fine under Linux and Cinnamon. Non-maximized window and with working toolbar.

Good!

[RPadial]

Same problem with JabRef 6.0

[Siedlerchr]

when I reset my prefs under mac, jabref would be set to setMaximized = true, however, on exit the stage still reported maximized = true, although I resized the window. This could be the same here... @RPadial Try to export your preferences -> edit <entry key="windowMaximised" value="true"/> to false and re-import the preferences.

[wujastyk]

JabRef 6.0-alpha.1--2024-12-23--4b7ac10 Linux 6.8.0-51-generic amd64 Java 23.0.1 JavaFX 23.0.1+4

After months of peace, I'm having this full-screen problem again, on my Linux Mint Thinkpad T580.

I might have triggered it myself. In preferences, I selected "memory stick mode". Then I started having the problem. Then I turned off "memory stick mode" but the full-screen problem continued.

I tried my old trick of launching with the program argument "-p my-private-preferences.xml.txt" but that did not cure the problem as it used to. :-( Those preferences do include <entry key="windowMaximised" value="false"/>.

[tpaniaki]

Has anyone got a working solution for this? Just switch to Qtile and jabref is unusable.

[koppor]

Maybe JavaFX 24 is better? --> https://builds.jabref.org/jdk-ea/ (this is even more alpha ^^

[wujastyk]

JabRef 6.0-alpha2.77--2025-05-10--ec396a8 Linux 6.8.0-59-generic amd64 , Linux Mint 22.1 Cinnamon Java 24.0.1 JavaFX 24+29

We've got this again :-( The full-screen problem appeared again only following today's update.

[wujastyk]

JabRef 6.0-alpha2.77--2025-05-10--ec396a8 Linux 6.8.0-59-generic amd64 , Linux Mint 22.1 Cinnamon Java 24.0.1 JavaFX 24+29

I remembered from a previous discussion here that the Linux Mint Cinnamon keyboard binding Alt+F12 "Toggle fullscreen state" might help. It does. It makes JabRef into a windowed application again (phew!). On closing and restarting JabRef, it remains windowed.

The menu-access problem is still partially present. Alt+F does not bring up the File menu, etc., mutatis mutandis. Once a menu is opened by mouse, the cursor keys do permit movement between items.

[koppor]

Alt+F does not bring up the File menu, etc

This happens since 10 years or so. I thought, I was the only one wondering. "Acceleration keys missing". Need to search the issue...

[wujastyk]

JabRef 6.0-alpha2.92--2025-05-12--1616797 Linux 6.8.0-59-generic amd64 Java 24.0.1 JavaFX 24+29

Now a report about a Dell desktop, same Linux setup as all my machines. (Reports of two days ago were from a Thinkpad T590.) This morning, JabRef 6 from about three weeks ago was working fine (6.0.15391). I updated to today's release (above) and got the full screen problem again. This time, though, it's not resolved by the ctrl+F12 full screen toggle solution. I can't get rid of the full screen JabRef by any means.

[koppor]

Just by chance - another related issue was fixed recently: https://github.com/JabRef/jabref/issues/10731#issuecomment-3124557438 (mainly due to a JavaFX update). Maybe, this one is fixed as well?