http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=18448
--- Comment #10 from Igor Tarasov tarasov.igor@gmail.com 2009-05-16 04:36:13 --- (In reply to comment #9)
But isn't it what users using linux expect?
For a Linux native application - yes, a Windows application is a different animal, it behaves how Windows developers see it fits.
The problem is that what we are talking about is not something linux-only, or windows-only. We are talking about tool that let us transfer information from linux programs into windows and vice versa. And we can't just say "this shouldn't work, since it does not work in windows" because this tool is of two sides. Some kind of support is required on both ends. And there should be not great difference in how wine applications work in this area, since clipboard is something that is being used system-wide. Users should not meet any troubles using this tool.
Then, why do we break that seamless integration with selections?
IMHO this behaviour with selections is confusing even for Linux users.
Well, until you try to use that. For instance, you meet some inactive url on a page. How can you visit it? In one click! Select it and then click middle button. If you copy/paste something, if you use clipboard, using mouse only it takes: 1) select 2) right-click 3) click copy, and then in the application 4) right-click 5) click paste. With primary selection: select, and in target application click middle button.
This is VERY convenient. It's just not everyone is aware of it.
But we have an option to enable it for those who prefer it
...which does not work as it should.
(rare enough obviously, you are the first one to complain)
Funny thing is that I've reported this problem and started digging only after I've got several complains from users, who experienced troubles with StarDict. So, I am far from alone, many users just don't understand WHY their dictionary is not working with wine apps, but they notice that it does not work.
It's the Edit control in user32 which does it. Now let's imagine that a Windows application subclasses an Edit control and say displays a custom context menu on middle mouse button click, but Edit in Wine also goes ahead and does a paste text...
Well, isn't it what wine really does right now? I repeat it: you can't paste text into edit control with middle click in windows. But wine provides this functionality, but in incorrect way.
Currently wine behavior is not logical.
You see now how it's not logical to try running a Windows application under a not native platform :-) Now try to imagine a feeling of a Mac user running Wine with X11 under the hood...
Okay, that's funny. I stress it again: middle click should either not work, or it should paste PRIMARY selection, as it is with any other application. And the perfect solution is to make all selected texts go into PRIMARY selection, at least for standard controls.
BTW, there is no such thing as PRIMARY selection in winodows, which means that it support could be added quite transparently into wine applications. That is, windows applicaions won't even notice that something has changed.