Keepassxc: Perform autotype doesn't work in i3 window manager

[anlutro]

It seems like in i3, "perform autotype" doesn't work. This has been the case ever since I upgraded to Keepass2.

Expected Behavior

1. Press the perform autotype hotkey (Ctrl+V)
2. Keepass switches to previous active window and fills in username/password

Current Behavior

1. Press the perform autotype hotkey (Ctrl+V)
2. Keepass either does nothing, or tries filling in the username/password inside Keepass itself

Your Environment

Installed from the .deb file on github releases.

• KeePassXC version/commit used: 2.1.3, commit 76dcfb5ed0c874f6a835ef0347ddf6098b149e9b
• Qt version: 5.7.1
• Operating System and version: Debian 9/Stretch

[droidmonkey]

What is i3? This needs more information.

[anlutro]

Ah, my bad. i3 is a window manager for X11 in Linux, comparable to AwesomeWM or Openbox, and to some degree Gnome and KDE. https://i3wm.org/

[droidmonkey]

Interesting, they claim to use the xcb interface as well. This will have to be run through a debugger.

Have you tried using the global autotype shortcut feature?

[anlutro]

Global autotype works.

[anlutro]

This will have to be run through a debugger.

Is this something I can help with?

[droidmonkey]

Perhaps, but please wait for v2.2.0 coming out this weekend. This may be fixed.

[anlutro]

Upgraded to 2.2.0 and the problem still seems to be the same.

[rockihack]

In _global autotype_ the active window id is stored while pressing the hotkey.
Before the autotype sequence starts keepassx raises the window with that stored id.

In opposite _perform autotype_ just minimizes keepassx window and starts autotype.
https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc/blob/079e383319ffb95b804610525012c1d3e7f5ea0e/src/autotype/AutoType.cpp#L161

Probably hideWindow->showMinimized(); doesn't work as expected with i3.
This is also an issue with mac os.

[anlutro]

I'd still be interested to know if there's anything I can do to help with this issue.

[droidmonkey]

Besides running it through the debugger and fixing the code that's broken? Not much

[anlutro]

Is there information on how to run it through "the debugger" (not sure what this is referring to) somewhere?

[droidmonkey]

Not really, if you are not a programmer you won't be able to diagnose this issue without extensive assistance.

[anlutro]

I am a programmer, I just very rarely work with C. I don't really need extensive help, but some hints would be nice. I would at least want to try and give it a shot.

Should I be using gdb or something else? Do I need to compile with debug flags on, and if so, how? Should I be inserting breakpoints using gdb and step through what's happening that way or what do you think the best approach would be?

[droidmonkey]

Great! When you compile make sure you use "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug" flag to enable debugging. After it's compiled you'll want to: gdb src/keepassxc.exe which will begin the debug session. Set a breakpoint at the perform autotype function by typing b DatabaseWidget.cpp:532 then run the program with r. Once running issue the CTRL+V shortcut and you should break right before the autotype code is called then you can follow along with gdb commands to see where the breakdown occurs.

Note: these instructions are off-the-cuff and may not work (ie I didn't test them)

[anlutro]

Great, thanks! I will spend at least an hour or two this weekend trying this out.

[anlutro]

This took me way longer to get around to than I thought, sorry about that. I think I compiled with debug etc. correctly:

cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/opt/keepassxc -DWITH_GUI_TESTS=ON ..

But I think I'm missing something, as I'm not able to step into the hideMinimized function.

(gdb) b AutoType.cpp:156
Breakpoint 1 at 0x12537d: file /home/andreas/code/keepassxc/src/autotype/AutoType.cpp, line 156.
(gdb) r
Starting program: /home/andreas/code/keepassxc/build/src/keepassxc 
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
Using host libthread_db library "/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libthread_db.so.1".
[New Thread 0x7fffebd27700 (LWP 561)]
[New Thread 0x7fffeae3e700 (LWP 562)]
[New Thread 0x7fffe3fff700 (LWP 567)]

Thread 1 "keepassxc" hit Breakpoint 1, AutoType::performAutoType (this=0x555555b28d80, entry=0x555556393ab0, hideWindow=0x7fffffffe6b0, customSequence=..., window=0)
    at /home/andreas/code/keepassxc/src/autotype/AutoType.cpp:157
157     if (hideWindow) {
(gdb) s
161         hideWindow->showMinimized();
(gdb) s
165     Tools::wait(m_plugin->initialTimeout());
(gdb)

In the process of testing I did find out a few more interesting things, though. showMinimized does minimize the window, but only if I enable the system tray icon and enable the "close to tray when minimized" setting. I have to imagine this is because i3 does not really have a concept of minimizing things. Now, I am only confused as to why it worked in Keepassx version 1 (or 0, can't remember which it was), and if it's possible to replicate whatever that code did to switch window focus.

[sandwm]

I'm also using i3 (on Arch Linux). This way autotype seems to work (using Ctrl+V shortcut or context menu):

• set all three system tray options in Tools -> Settings -> Basic Settings ("Show a system tray icon" and "Hide window ...")
• at least once minimize to tray or quit KeePassXC