Playlist Return Path Doesn't Match Other Library Nodes

[mbone12368]

Bug report

Describe the bug

Here is a clear and concise description of what the problem is:

When navigating through the Kodi menu system, the return path for the "back" button is incorrect after viewing playlists.
It's easier to explain by abbreviating the menu structure as follows.

A. Home menu
B. Music nodes (Genre, Artists, Albums, Playlists, Files, etc)
C. Playlists (smart & m3u playlists)
D. Playlist content

The expected navigation paths depend on how a custom menu item is setup in skins that support menu editing. For this report,
Aeon Nox: Silvo is the skin, and a custom main menu item was added as a submenu to Music, pointing to Music Playlists. The change action for the Music Playlists item can be set with or without the return parameter, as in the following.

ActivateWindow(music,special://musicplaylists/,return)
OR
ActivateWindow(music,special://musicplaylists/)

With the return parameter set and moving on the forward path A -> C -> D, the return path using the "back" button is D -> B -> A, but it should follow D -> C -> A, which is the reverse order of the forward path. Kodi should remember the navigation stack and return along it when the return parameter is set.

Without the return parameter set, the behavior is correct. The forward path A -> C -> D provides the return path D -> C -> B -> A, so it correctly ignores the navigation stack, and follows back through the entire hierarchy.

This problem does not occur with library node objects other than Playlists. When going to Albums, for example, where C = Albums, and D = album contents, going from A -> C -> D takes the return path D -> C -> A, which is the correct behavior when the return parameter is set in the ActivateWindow() command. When the return parameter is not used for Albums, the return path also correctly goes D -> C -> B -> A.

So based on the above, it seems this issue is limited to Playlists, and not other library nodes, so the behavior for Playlists
should be changed to match other nodes.

The forum thread link below has further discussion about this issue, and a Team-Kodi Member says it occurs on two other skins that weren't named. Another poster states that this issue also happens for video playlists, not just music playlists.

** https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=364087

Expected Behavior

Here is a clear and concise description of what was expected to happen:

When the return parameter is set in the ActivateWindow() command and navigating forward through the path A -> C -> D, the return path should be D -> C -> A.

Actual Behavior

When the return parameter is set in the ActivateWindow() command and navigating forward through the path A -> C -> D, the return path is D -> C -> B -> A.

Possible Fix

N/A

To Reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Install Aeon Nox: Silvo or other skin that allows changing menus, and setup a main menu item that points to music playlists,
   and ensure the change action is set to ActivateWindow(music,special://musicplaylists/return).
2. Select the playlists item from the main menu.
3. Select a playlist to show the contents.
4. Hit the back button to return to the playlists screen.
5. Hit the back button to return to the music/video nodes.
6. Hit the back button to return to the main menu.

Debuglog

The debuglog can be found here:

kodi.log

Screenshots

Here are some links or screenshots to help explain the problem:

Additional context or screenshots (if appropriate)

Here is some additional context or explanation that might help:

Your Environment

Used Operating system:

• Android

• iOS

• tvOS

• Linux

• OSX

• Windows

• Windows UWP

• Operating system version/name: LibreELEC-RPi4.arm-9.97.1

• Kodi version: 19.1 Matrix

note: Once the issue is made we require you to update it with new information or Kodi versions should that be required.
Team Kodi will consider your problem report however, we will not make any promises the problem will be solved.

[kiboy6]

This unintuitive behaviour is still present in Nexus. Just wondering if there are any plans for a fix?
Thanks so much!

[kiboy6]

Any idea if this is being worked on? It's really weird to press back from Playlists view and find oneself at the root library view which one otherwise never normally sees.

Thanks so much

[kiboy6]

This behaviour still present in Omega.

Is there any way to get a fix back onto the agenda?

Thanks!