Workspaces don't do anything the way you'd want?

leocg

leocg Moderator Volunteer @MarqM

@marqm Workspaces should include windows and tabs. I always had the impression that it used to work that way, maybe something has changed. Or maybe I misunderstood it since the beginning.

A Former User @leocg

@leocg said:

had the impression that it used to work that way, maybe something has changed.

Have you heard of a browser called Opera?

Perhaps you could test the functionality we are talking about.

MarqM

MarqM @leocg

@leocg I have been using workspaces since they were introduced in Opera, when their number was limited to 5 (I think it was). They are and have always been very much the same as the multiple desktop feature in Windows. This was my impression at least and I always used them that way. Just rename "Desktop" to "workspace" and "app" to "tab" and apply it to a browser.

leocg

leocg Moderator Volunteer @MarqM

@marqm Makes sense

MarqM

MarqM @leocg

@leocg according to my experience, the functionality of workspaces has not changed since they were introduced, therefore I would have never expected to open anything other than tabs inside them. Even in the workspace description here https://forums.opera.com/topic/61763/workspaces/1 no windows are mentioned: "Workspaces are a feature in Opera that lets you organize your tabs into different groups in a dedicated tab strip, like rooms in a house. Each workspace is like a different room, and you can customize them based on your browsing habits."
I really wonder where this phrase "Workspaces contain windows and tabs" may come from.

A Former User @MarqM

#gettingmypopcorn

@leocg said in:

@because0789 It's not an useless phrase, it's the reality, it's how things work. If you don't understand that, workspace probably will never work for you.

MarqM

MarqM

Sorry @leocg , my intention was for sure not to provide the source for the post above.

Markus443

Markus443 @Because0789

@because0789 said in Workspaces don't do anything the way you'd want?:

unlike the lie of having a workspace exist in 2 different windows and share absolutely nothing.

they share the same Workspace-names but not the content (tabs). And that's totally confusing. If a workspace is named "test"...ok..thats generic. But if I use "Trip to New York on 02.05.2024" it doesn't make any sense in different windows.

First time I organized 250 tabs on multiple workspaces and expected to switch between them in different windows (5k screen so one browser window is nonsense). After loosing everything an hour later because of this behavior I was ...not that happy.

MarqM

MarqM @Markus443

@markus443 I do not exactly understand your confusion. Every app I worked with provides the option to open a new page/tab/window/sheet... whatever as a base for a completely new document/project/drawing/model... Nobody would expect that a new page in MSWord would be filled with text when you open it. But when opening a new browser window in Opera some people obviously expect that it automatically shares content from somewhere or is automatically filled with tabs. Why? So in case you would want to start from scratch you would have to delete the shared content first?

However, I agree that the workspace concept has plenty of room for improvement.
My suggestions for additional workspace and windows features would be as a start:

the option to "open a duplicate window" - containing all tabs from the source window (workspaces are included already anyway)
"workspace synchronization": sharing all tabs from a workspace of a source window with the same workspace in the target window(s)
"option to "share single tabs" of the same workspace between different windows (e.g. dropdown menu at the tab with checkboxes for the open windows - tab should be shared with windows 2 and 5 e.g.)

Because0789

Because0789 @MarqM

@marqm There already exists something that you can open that doesn't have content already in it, it is a tab or new window. Why would we need another thing that accomplishes the same thing while poorly communicating what exactly it is for? Even after being explained what it is for I still think it is superfluous. Like why would I make a workspace with all that stuff for a specific search if it isn't something I could continue working on elsewhere? At that point I'd have to save the whole workspace on that specific computer as a bookmarks folder, what does the Workspace add to that?

Markus443

Markus443 @MarqM

@marqm said in Workspaces don't do anything the way you'd want?:

But when opening a new browser window in Opera some people obviously expect that it automatically shares content from somewhere or is automatically filled with tabs. Why?

because there is an existing workspace with that specific name in a new window (like New York trip e.g.).
Why should a new window preserve the workspace (name and icon) from another window but not the content of it? It would be obvious if a new window does not show any existing workspace at all.

@marqm said in Workspaces don't do anything the way you'd want?:

So in case you would want to start from scratch you would have to delete the shared content first?

yes. If you need a clean one just create a new workspace and delete the old one.
Or just go with fixed workspaces like it`s with pinned tabs. If a workspace is marked as pinned it will be shared between multiple windows. If not it just belongs to this specific window and do not show up in others.