Under Windows (guest), Alt-Tab is supposed to move the focus from one window to another.
In VirtualBox, the Alt-Tab seems to pass through the control of Windows and to be trapped by the underlying layer (Ubuntu).
What can we do to give back to Alt-Tab its previous functionality?
Best regards,
fni
Alt-Tab does not function
To be complete, I have to admit that VMware does not trap, for example, the "switch screen" keys. We have first to get out of its full capture mode, and then it's ok.
On the opposite, VirtualBox allows the easy switching of screens, but does not catch Alt-F4 or PrintScr. So, maybe, it's a trade-off.
In the case it is, I still prefer the VBox solution...
On the opposite, VirtualBox allows the easy switching of screens, but does not catch Alt-F4 or PrintScr. So, maybe, it's a trade-off.
In the case it is, I still prefer the VBox solution...
In full screen mode, there is no indication of keyboard capture. If alt-tab activates the task switcher of the host, just cancel it, press the host key, and press alt-tab again. Now you should see the guest's task switcher. (This is the behaviour I get with a Linux host and a Windows guest with guest addidions installed.)
I think it is annoying that the keyboard capture is not "all or nothing". Typing text in a guest application, and then having alt-tab sent to the host is not what I expect.
It is especially annoying because in full screen mode there is no indication of the keyboard grab status. A system tray icon would be nice (or a change in the guest addidions icon).
I agree with the OP that VMware handles keyboard capture better than VirtualBox...
I think it is annoying that the keyboard capture is not "all or nothing". Typing text in a guest application, and then having alt-tab sent to the host is not what I expect.
It is especially annoying because in full screen mode there is no indication of the keyboard grab status. A system tray icon would be nice (or a change in the guest addidions icon).
I agree with the OP that VMware handles keyboard capture better than VirtualBox...
> In full screen mode, there is no indication of keyboard capture. If
> alt-tab activates the task switcher of the host, just cancel it, press the
> host key, and press alt-tab again. Now you should see the guest's task
> switcher. (This is the behavior I get with a Linux host and a Windows
> guest with guest additions installed.)
This is what I now have, since 1.5.6: by default, the guest now captures
"everything" [1] (Alt-TAB, etc.). Excellent.
And, as you say, if you want to switch over to the host, you first have to
hit the "host key" (Right Ctrl, in my case).
> I think it is annoying that the keyboard capture is not "all or nothing".
> Typing text in a guest application, and then having alt-tab sent to the
> host is not what I expect.
Yes, you're right, in fact.
Though, this is more or less what happens on my Ubuntu system: if I click on
"Super-T", Ubuntu catches this and opens a terminal for me (personal
customization), even if Emacs if the currently open application.
If I click on "Super-R", for example, and I have nothing bound to it in
Ubuntu, then the key binding will go down to Emacs, which, at its turn, will
launch something (or nothing), depending on the known bindings...
So, that's an example or an application (Ubuntu OS) that catches some key
bindings, and lets go the unknown ones further down (or up, depends on how
you look).
But you're right that a "all-or-nothing" approach is good as well, if we can
easily change the capture status, like it is now.
> It is especially annoying because in full screen mode there is no
> indication of the keyboard grab status. A system tray icon would be nice
> (or a change in the guest additions icon).
It'd be a good addition...
> I agree with the OP that VMware handles keyboard capture better than
> VirtualBox...
Now, my problem is resolved since 1.5.6, as I said ...
[1] ... except for one key binding: "PrintScreen" is not trapped by the
guest, and goes down to the host!
This is a proof that, even now, it is not yet an "all-or-nothing" approach,
but it is good enough for me (since 1.5.6)!
> alt-tab activates the task switcher of the host, just cancel it, press the
> host key, and press alt-tab again. Now you should see the guest's task
> switcher. (This is the behavior I get with a Linux host and a Windows
> guest with guest additions installed.)
This is what I now have, since 1.5.6: by default, the guest now captures
"everything" [1] (Alt-TAB, etc.). Excellent.
And, as you say, if you want to switch over to the host, you first have to
hit the "host key" (Right Ctrl, in my case).
> I think it is annoying that the keyboard capture is not "all or nothing".
> Typing text in a guest application, and then having alt-tab sent to the
> host is not what I expect.
Yes, you're right, in fact.
Though, this is more or less what happens on my Ubuntu system: if I click on
"Super-T", Ubuntu catches this and opens a terminal for me (personal
customization), even if Emacs if the currently open application.
If I click on "Super-R", for example, and I have nothing bound to it in
Ubuntu, then the key binding will go down to Emacs, which, at its turn, will
launch something (or nothing), depending on the known bindings...
So, that's an example or an application (Ubuntu OS) that catches some key
bindings, and lets go the unknown ones further down (or up, depends on how
you look).
But you're right that a "all-or-nothing" approach is good as well, if we can
easily change the capture status, like it is now.
> It is especially annoying because in full screen mode there is no
> indication of the keyboard grab status. A system tray icon would be nice
> (or a change in the guest additions icon).
It'd be a good addition...
> I agree with the OP that VMware handles keyboard capture better than
> VirtualBox...
Now, my problem is resolved since 1.5.6, as I said ...
[1] ... except for one key binding: "PrintScreen" is not trapped by the
guest, and goes down to the host!
This is a proof that, even now, it is not yet an "all-or-nothing" approach,
but it is good enough for me (since 1.5.6)!