Indicators are disabled in MATE Tweak

[marfig]

Both the Enable Indicators and the Enable Advanced Menu in Mate Tweak under the Interface tab are disabled and I can’t set them on. Why is that and how can I activate these options back on?

[elcste]

I’ve found they get disabled after I save my own panel layout. When you switch back to one of the default layouts then those options are re-enabled, but you lose your customizations.

[wizd3m]

@marfig please state which version of Ubuntu MATE you are using and when you got this error.

[wolfman]

And are you logged in as “Guest” or normal user?.

[marfig]

You are right, I’m sorry.

I’m using Ubuntu MATE 16.04 64-bit with the default MATE 1.12.1
This happens regardless of the window manager I choose, if that makes a difference. Currently on Marco (Software), because the other two create problems of one sort or another.

@wolfman, It’s the standard sudoer account that I set up during the Ubuntu MATE installation process.

[wolfman]

All working fine here!, have you done a full system update?:

Ubuntu Mate Update Guide

These are my own setting preferences, use at your own risk!. AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LINUX BEGINNERS. WHEN YOU ARE IN RECOVERY MODE, THE KEYBOARD DEFAULTS TO US ENGLISH, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER LANGUAGE KEYBOARD OTHER THAN US ENGLISH, WHEN YOU TYPE "Y" (FOR "YES"), IT MIGHT SHOW UP AS A DIFFERENT LETTER, ON MY KEYBOARD I MUST PRESS THE "Z" KEY WHICH EQUATES TO "Y" AS I HAVE A GERMAN KEYBOARD, JUST PRESS "BACKSPACE" AND HIT A DIFFERENT KEY UNTIL YOU SEE THE "Y" SHOW UP!. Click on "Subscribe…

[marfig]

Thank you for that. I bookmarked the link and will get to it when I have a chance.

[ouroumov]

@abrowne

I've found they get disabled after I save my own panel layout.

I have noticed that as well.

[lepa22]

That happens to me too.

[lah7]

I think it’s intentional the option is greyed out.

Changing panel layouts (and toggling checkboxes) assume a stock “unmodified” panel and any change ends up replacing the existing layout for that stock panel with those desired options.

After saving a custom panel, it could have been radically customised that it’s no longer the “base panel” that was originally selected… so MATE Tweak doesn’t really know.

So instead, to properly disable/enable indicators, the panel needs replacing and that’ll destroy any customisation. I believe toggling the option makes changes in the background (for example, so that the correct sound applet/indicator appears)

[ouroumov]

I have no doubt this is the intended behavior. But IMHO this would be a good place to improve user feedback.
How about a tooltip that pops up and says “This option has been frozen in your customized panel layout” or something like that?
Cheers

[marfig]

Excellent @lah7. That explains it. Thank you

Like @ouroumov, I agree that user-feedback could improve here. But in any case, glad to know everything is working as intended.

[lah7]

I’ll pass on the suggestions to @Wimpy.