Ubuntu: Return to Renoise window when a dialog is open

Help, Support & Bugs
1

Hi!

I tried to save a module in Ubuntu 20.04 using File → Save As….
Then I switched to a third-party file manager to check the directory tree and its contents.

After that, I couldn’t switch back to Renoise.

All I saw was the black parent window of Renoise, and I was no longer able to tab back to the dialog window. I tried many things, searched this forum, even asked ChatGPT, but the only thing that worked was pressing Ctrl+S to save my current module under its previous name. This overwrote the old track (and I lost it), but at least the newly edited one was saved.

I also disabled system hotkeys like Super+` and Super+Tab, but Renoise doesn’t seem to support any way to switch between its own windows (or I couldn’t find it?). The parent window didn’t show any controls to bring the dialog back either.

If there is already a way to switch to an open dialog, I’d love to know it. If not, I’d like to suggest adding such a shortcut or option in the future.

2

It appears to work fine in Sway.

This seems to be an issue with your desktop environment or window manager (GNOME?). Xwayland support might not be working correctly. If you can reproduce the issue with the latest HEAD version of the relevant component after consulting on forums like Ubuntu’s, it would be worth reporting.

Environment:

  • OS: Arch Linux x86_64
  • sway-git 1.12.r7607.a7d9535-1
  • wlroots-git 0.20.0.r7600.462046ffd-1
  • mesa 1:25.2.2-2
  • linux 6.16.7.arch1-1
3

Thanks for response. It seems I need to update my Ubuntu? Could you please tell me how to clone the HEAD and report an issue? Just in case: it happened before, within at least 5 years on all Renoise demos on both clear Ubuntus 18.04 and 20.04 (x86_64) on different PCs, and now I have same behaviour on two latest paid versions of Renoise, this is just the first time when I lost a track, usually I just killed the process. The windows version doesn’t have this issue (when I use it in wine).

4

Please discuss these issues within the Ubuntu community.
We still don’t know whether the cause lies within GNOME.
My earlier mention of HEAD referred to general bug-reporting checks.
For instance, when reporting issues to upstream projects like GNOME, you must verify if the problem reproduces in the latest development version. Otherwise, the fix might already exist, leading to unnecessary duplication of effort.

5

It can be related to GNOME. Could you please check how many Renoise windows your system utilizes when the modal dialog box is open? Mine observes only one, this looks like the reason:

~$ sudo apt install wmctrl
~$ wmctrl -l | grep -i renoise
0x03600106 0 N/A exp20250917-3.xrns - Renoise (x86_64)
~$
# So we can switch only to the main window that doesn't work:
~$ wmctrl -a Renoise
6

I see. I have two in my environment. It seems to me that your guess is correct.

$ swaymsg -t get_tree | grep -i renoise | grep -i instance
                    "instance": "renoise",
                "instance": "renoise",
$
7

I believe such issues tend to occur in game-like applications that bypass major GUI toolkits like Renoise or REAPER (For example, GTK, Qt, wxWidgets. which have somewhat restrictive capabilities and can be difficult to maintain due to API changes in version updates) and instead access something like OpenGL, SDL directly (which has fewer restrictions and is thought to be easier to port to different operating systems, Platform, CPU architecture). Below is an issue I previously reported to sway and had fixed by the developers.

8

I disabled Keys → Override window manager shortcuts (in Edit → Preferences) and this fixed the problem. All the modal windows are always visible now. Hugs to everyone :slight_smile:

9

Excellent. Good find.

10

@Achenar GNOME has a relatively large user base, so it might be a good idea to include some form of explanation in the manual.
Sorry if you’re not the person in charge.

11

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