Program in another virtual desktop does not show in Nyrna program list

[ceedveed]

Describe the bug
Programs listed in Nyrna are only in the current desktop. A program in a second virtual desktop does not show in Nyrna

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Create 2nd desktop
2. Open program in 2nd desktop or move a current program to 2nd desktop
3. Start Nyrna
4. Program in 2nd desktop not showing.

Expected behavior
Expected to see all programs running

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Software (please complete the following information):

• OS: Win 10 20H2

Additional context
Add any other context about the problem here.

[Merrit]

Hey! Thanks for the issue.

Only listing the applications on the current virtual desktop was done as a purposeful design choice, to reduce the clutter of apps that appear in the list.

If you have a use case for such a thing, I might consider adding a setting to toggle this behaviour.. 🤔

[ceedveed]

Is it possible to provide an option to the user that wants all apps listed on all desktops, instead of just what is on the current desktop?

My use case: Some older fullscreen games I play (borderless or exclusive fullscreen) have an issue when I alt-tab (switch windows) to another application. So i play the game on one desktop and quickly switch (windows key + ctrl + left/right) to the other desktop for a browser or other application. I use Nyrna to suspend the game when I'm done. Unfortunately, I cannot alt-tab on the desktop running the game without graphical issues.

[Merrit]

I see what you mean, makes sense to me.

I haven't had much time for Nyrna lately, but I'll add this as a backlog to hopefully add a setting when I get a chance 😃

[Merrit]

I'm not sure this will be possible.. On Windows we rely on the EnumWindows() API to get the list of open applications, and it only processes applications from the active virtual desktop - I don't see any way to really process windows on a different desktop.

On the bright side at least moving to a different desktop to browse / suspend / etc is working for you..

Perhaps the "toggle active window" feature would be useful for your use case? Using that you wouldn't have to Alt + Tab.

If you'd like to give it a try, here is a dev build with the new improved functionality:
nyrna-windows-portable.zip

With this you just need to run the toggle_active_hotkey.exe, and it will put an icon in the system tray to listen for the hotkey (Pause). Pressing the hotkey will suspend the active application, pressing it again later will resume the same application.

[ceedveed]

I'm not sure this will be possible.. On Windows we rely on the EnumWindows() API to get the list of open applications, and it only processes applications from the active virtual desktop - I don't see any way to really process windows on a different desktop.

On the bright side at least moving to a different desktop to browse / suspend / etc is working for you..

Perhaps the "toggle active window" feature would be useful for your use case? Using that you wouldn't have to Alt + Tab.

If you'd like to give it a try, here is a dev build with the new improved functionality:
nyrna-windows-portable.zip

With this you just need to run the toggle_active_hotkey.exe, and it will put an icon in the system tray to listen for the hotkey (Pause). Pressing the hotkey will suspend the active application, pressing it again later will resume the same application.

I tried one game very briefly and it works well using the pause key!

However, I tried another game and it doesn't work. But that game also doesn't work with the regular release of Nyrna. Suspending using Resource Monitor of Windows 10 does work. It happens to be a game that I need to open up in another virtual desktop otherwise the game gets stuck on the screen or has graphical glitches when I suspend using Resource Monitor.

[Merrit]

Some games don't respond properly unless the calling program is admin, so you could try running Nyrna / the hotkey as admin and see if that makes any difference for this game.

[ceedveed]

Some games don't respond properly unless the calling program is admin, so you could try running Nyrna / the hotkey as admin and see if that makes any difference for this game.

Excellent! I tried the Nyrna dev build and the 2.1.0 release and it works great now. No need for clumsy Resource Monitor. As you've mentioned, running Nyrna as admin is the key.

[Merrit]

Wonderful, glad to hear that is working good for you now! 😄

Do you feel like this issue is resolved?

[ceedveed]

Considering that you've mentioned there is no way to get a list of programs in other virtual desktops, yes it is resolved as in no solution can be found.

But thanks for the hint on running Nyrna as admin. This may negate the need to even have a 2nd virtual desktop. Using Resource Monitor on only one virtual desktop results in graphical glitches, but using Nyrna in admin mode does not.

[Merrit]

Yes, getting Nyrna to work on Windows has been rather a challenge - not very friendly to the kinds of things Nyrna needs to do, unlike Linux.

Glad we could at least get it to work for you, even if not as originally envisioned 👍

[Merrit]

I may have actually found a way to show items on other desktops like you wished for..

Give it a try and let me know if it works for you!
nyrna.zip

[ceedveed]

I may have actually found a way to show items on other desktops like you wished for..

Give it a try and let me know if it works for you!
nyrna.zip

Yes, thank you! It looks like it works. It populates apps on other virtual desktops.

I tested with one game demo. 2nd virtual desktop has game app running. I open Nyrna on another virtual desktop and it lists the game app, which is not on the same virtual desktop. Once I click the game app to suspend in Nyrna, the app minimizes and suspends, and virtual desktops do not automatically switch, as expected. Once I re-click the game app to resume, it automatically switches to the virtual desktop of the game app and restores (un-minimizes) the game app window.

Haven't found any bugs so far with this new functionality, but I only tested for a short time. Otherwise, I can say this issue is resolved with a solution this time!

[Merrit]

Awesome, glad to hear it! 😁
Thanks for testing and letting me know 🥳

[UlyssesZh]

Where is the option for turning on showing windows in other virtual desktops? I cannot find it. I am using Linux.

[UlyssesZh]

Never mind. It is called "Show hidden windows". I didn't realize that it is the option I want at first glance.