(Possible Bug) Minimize Does Not Work in a Particular Button Chord Config

[mousetrap]

XMBC Version: 2.21 Beta 55
Installed or Portable version: Portable
Windows Version: 11 Pro
How long have you used XMBC?: Months
What language and keyboard layout do you use in Windows?: English US

Clear description of the problem - try and include as much information as possible, including what button and mappings you are having problems with (if applicable).:
I have been using a Right Button Chord where adding the Left Button (to complete the Chord) sends Ctrl-W (to close the window).

I'm adding a Left Button Chord where adding the Right Button (to complete the Chord) sends the Minimize Window command (I also have Unchecked "Block / Delay original button action" so that I don't lose my normal Left button behavior). But for some reason the Minimize Window command does not fire. I tried switching it to something like Show/Hide Desktop and that does work correctly, so it seems the Chord itself can work. I also have used Minimize Window in another Layer (requiring a Modifier Key), so it can work.

Also, I'd prefer to not just use Win+DownArrow because if a window is Maximized those keys will not immediately Minimize (it'll go first to a non-maximized state, then Minimized) -- ideally I want the Minimize Window command to work (with the above Chording) so that it will immediately Minimize, even if currently Maximized.

I'll PM you my Debug Log.

[phil]

Well that's a little odd...

I see in the log it correctly "thought" it performed the minimize window action...

Code: Select all

02-03-2026 13:12:05.455> Translating Right Button Down Key state 0x2: Action 128 (Button Chording) becomes Action 13 [Minimize Window]

and I tried it here and its working (although Im on the latest beta (2.21 Beta 59 - can you try that before I chase it any further)...
If its still not good on beta 59, then send me a copy of your profile (via PM) so I can see if there is a difference between how you and I have set it up

[mousetrap]

Well that's a little odd...

I see in the log it correctly "thought" it performed the minimize window action...

Code: Select all

02-03-2026 13:12:05.455> Translating Right Button Down Key state 0x2: Action 128 (Button Chording) becomes Action 13 [Minimize Window]

and I tried it here and its working (although Im on the latest beta (2.21 Beta 59 - can you try that before I chase it any further)...
If its still not good on beta 59, then send me a copy of your profile (via PM) so I can see if there is a difference between how you and I have set it up

Sounds good -- I'm all for saving you unnecessary work, so I'll try the latest beta and if I'm still having trouble I'll PM you my profile. Thanks for taking a look so fast!

I'm about to be packed for the rest of my day, so it may be a bit before I can report back either way.

[mousetrap]

Super-quick: Did some tests with the latest Beta. It works for some things (eg, minimizing XMBC settings window), but not others (eg, file explorer). Not sure what is going on, and whether there is some user-error on my part (though I've tried to quickly rule out Profile confounds). PM'd my settings file.

[phil]

It's probably not user error ... I'll have to take a look and see if I can figure out what is going on. Thanks for your settings, that should help.
But it won't be quite such a quick response this time though as Ive got a busy week at work and I'm away at the weekend so it might take a little longer!

EDIT: I'm not seeing the PM with the settings?!

[mousetrap]

It's probably not user error ... I'll have to take a look and see if I can figure out what is going on. Thanks for your settings, that should help.
But it won't be quite such a quick response this time though as Ive got a busy week at work and I'm away at the weekend so it might take a little longer!

EDIT: I'm not seeing the PM with the settings?!

Thanks much, and totally understand -- my week is pretty packed too! I will continue to monitor on my end and see if I can experiment here and there.

I attached the settings file in a follow-up PM to the original "Log for potential bug" which perhaps is confusing in hindsight.
Edit: I PM'd it to MYSELF, apparently! Will send again to YOU this time!

[phil]

Got it this time -thanks - Can't look at it right now, its 1am here and I need some sleep!
I'll get back to you when I can - in the meantime if you find any patterns of note, let me know!

[mousetrap]

YES, please sleep!

[phil]

OK I'm seeing the same problem.. When it worked for me, I have the chord on the right button, clicking the left button to minimize (with the right button held)... That's my first difference. I will have to dig deeper - but good that I'm also seeing the problem with your profile, it means I will be able to investigate easily when I get time!

EDIT: It seems to work if I have "Block/Delay original button until the chord is established" ticked, but that also seems to be causing no end of other trouble - with left buttons getting stuck. In fact it seems to be closing the window instead of minimizing it (if it does anything at all) - or is that my head getting messed up and doing right + left chord... maybe lol....

I also noticed there is a problem with CTRL+ALT+DEL, in that after doing that pressing ctrl or alt again seems to get the layers stuck... Oh god, this has left me a lot to investigate!!! There goes my ideas to release 2.21 soon (before I have to spend another €90 on certificates later this month lol)...

[mousetrap]

OK I'm seeing the same problem.. When it worked for me, I have the chord on the right button, clicking the left button to minimize (with the right button held)... That's my first difference. I will have to dig deeper - but good that I'm also seeing the problem with your profile, it means I will be able to investigate easily when I get time!

EDIT: It seems to work if I have "Block/Delay original button until the chord is established" ticked, but not at all well when it is un-ticked. In fact it seems to be closing the window instead of minimizing it (if it does anything at all) - or is that my head getting messed up and doing right + left chord... maybe lol....

Haha, yeah it is tricky, this combo I am aiming for (one chord minimizes and one chord closes). I've been using the window closing one for a good while and it is super-handy, but am finding that I'd really like to be able to minimize just as easily.

And of course I can't use "Block/Delay original button until the chord is established" on my Primary button because then I'll lose regular use of that (I think).

But I'm glad that you're seeing things on your end too -- I'll be very curious what you discover later on when you're able to really dig deeper.

Edit: Yeah, I occasionally have sticky key issues, but I haven't been sure if it is from XMBC or something else.

But glad I can "help" provide so many things to check out! Hopefully that will actually be helpful in the long run (and not just wild goose chases or my having configured something I shouldn't have )!

[phil]

Long story short, apart from the other issues I have found in a short period of time (lol)
I think, minimize does not work (in many cases) while the left button is held down...
So it will never work properly the way this has been setup. You *may* be able to do it with a simkey with a wait ms before it, but I'm not sure that will help much or be reliable. The problem is, you cant delay the chorded action until after the initial chord button (left button) is released.... Not sure what I can do about that, but I will ponder it for a while and see if I have any brain waves

[mousetrap]

Long story short, apart from the other issues I have found in a short period of time (lol)
I think, minimize does not work (in many cases) while the left button is held down...
So it will never work properly the way this has been setup. You *may* be able to do it with a simkey with a wait ms before it, but I'm not sure that will help much or be reliable. The problem is, you cant delay the chorded action until after the initial chord button (left button) is released.... Not sure what I can do about that, but I will ponder it for a while and see if I have any brain waves

Okay, that is helpful info (though curious as to why it is working that way). I am going to experiment with swapping the chord functionality (so that Primary button chord is for Window Closing, and Secondary button chord is for Minimizing). My initial testing seems like maybe this works! But I need to use it for a while to be sure there's no issues. I should be able to retrain my muscle memory to adjust to the new functions.

[phil]

It works that way because of how you have configured it (without ticking "block button until chord state is known") - so it does not block the left button... (but beware, blocking the left button can be dangerous as if things go wrong the left button stops working - esp. after the issues I found while trying that with your setup!!!!)

And as for it not minimizing if the left button is held down, that's a WIndows thing (or an individual app thing) - nothing to do with XMBC.
You can exit XMBC (or disable it) and still see that phenomena yourself if you hold the left button then press left win+down arrow keys (minimize)... So either Windows itself or something coded into the apps that are not working, although as its pretty much everything, I suspect Windows itself (maybe with specific window styles).

There may be another way of minimizing the window that works without simulating those keys. I havnt looked yet to see if that is how XMBC is executing the minimize command or not - that *may* offer a fix...

[mousetrap]

It works that way because of how you have configured it (without ticking "block button until chord state is known") - so it does not block the left button... (but beware, blocking the left button can be dangerous as if things go wrong the left button stops working - esp. after the issues I found while trying that with your setup!!!!)

And as for it not minimizing if the left button is held down, that's a WIndows thing (or an individual app thing) - nothing to do with XMBC.
You can exit XMBC (or disable it) and still see that phenomena yourself if you hold the left button then press left win+down arrow keys (minimize)... So either Windows itself or something coded into the apps that are not working, although as its pretty much everything, I suspect Windows itself (maybe with specific window styles).

There may be another way of minimizing the window that works without simulating those keys. I havnt looked yet to see if that is how XMBC is executing the minimize command or not - that *may* offer a fix...

That is helpful, hearing those global constraints (likely from the OS).

A side note: I don't think your Minimize code is just simulating Win+Down because your Minimize function is able to Minimize a Maximized window (while Win+Down will first Un-Maximize, rather than immediately Minimize it). But I believe you regarding there being some OS limitation on Minimize and Primary mouse button held down.

I'm not quite sure I understood your first paragraph, however, and am wondering if we're having a slight miscommunication, so I've PM'd you my current settings (where I've swapped the chords), which seems to be working for me at the moment (as Minimize is no longer tied to holding down the Primary button).

I know you have limited time/energy, so I'd say hold off on further work on this while I run my experiment, as it seems like it (swapping the chords like I've done) may be a viable solution for me. I'll also be away Thursday-Sunday, so I won't be testing during that time.

[mousetrap]

So far the swap I did is working well! I still occasionally forget which is which, but I'm slowly building new muscle memory, and have not run into any issues or bugs with these swapped chord assignments. And in some ways I'm finding the new assignments to make more sense in the context of various other configs I am using. So I'm overall happy, and unless I run into something this may be solved as far as I'm concerned.