Why pages from a previous session open in reverse tab order?

[zam...@gmail.com]

Hello,

I'm using the latest Chrome and Session Buddy versions. When I restore a session using Session Buddy, all tabs are opened in the reverse mirrored order compare to their original left-to-right sequence before Chrome window was closed. Is there a way to modify this behavior? I don't want to sort the tabs in any way before opening, just want to open them in their original order. Why Session Buddy does it like this?

Also, is it possible to select one or more tabs of a single or several sessions in Session Buddy window, and drag them to sort withing the same session or form a new session? Opera browser allows multiple selection and dragging in their Session Manager. This feature is quite useful, as Session Buddy default sort options aren't always preferable.

[zam...@gmail.com]

I'm honestly surprised that Hansifer doesn't want to comment on this obvious flow in Session Buddy that affects every user, whether they report it or not, including himself. I do appreciate his work on developing this program, especially valuable for those who regularly used Sessions in Opera for years. But... there is always a reason why people open Tabs in a particular sequence, or drag & sort them together based on their researched topics.

Since the program author offers support to its users in this thread linked from the extension page in Google Store, me as one of these users kindly ask to explain:

WHY SESSION BUDDY REVERSES TAB ORDER AT OPENING A SAVED OR CLOSED SESSION? HOW TO OPEN A SESSION WITH THE ORIGINAL TABS ORDER?

[Hans Meyer]

I haven't been able to reproduce this. Which Chrome version and OS are you using? Which of the 3 restore types does this happen with?

I don't have the bandwidth to immediately answer every question, so if it takes a few days just be patient.

Hans

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[zam...@gmail.com]

Chrome Version 32.0.1700.76 m

Session Buddy v3.2.5

OS Windows 7 64-bit

If under "Restore types" you mean "Restore set of windows; one window, this window", I choose default "Set of windows" to preserve original windows order

Option "Overwrite with current" is always greyed out in this version - why?

If you search the web, others also reported the same:

Pages opened from a previous session open in reverse order (using Chrome vertical tabs feature and Session Buddy)

I wonder, if it can also be affected by some Chrome settings?

[Hans Meyer]

On Sat, Jan 18, 2014 at 3:24 PM, <zam...@gmail.com> wrote:

Chrome Version 32.0.1700.76 m

Session Buddy v3.2.5

OS Windows 7 64-bit

I tested with the same setup and it's working fine for me. Is this reproducible consistently across every session? How about a session containing a single window with 2 tabs? Do the other restore types have the same problem?

 

If under "Restore types" you mean "Restore set of windows; one window, this window", I choose default "Set of windows" to preserve original windows order

Option "Overwrite with current" is always greyed out in this version - why?

Probably because you're looking at a current, previous, or merged session. That's always been the behavior.

 

If you search the web, others also reported the same:

Pages opened from a previous session open in reverse order (using Chrome vertical tabs feature and Session Buddy)

I wonder, if it can also be affected by some Chrome settings?

Possibly. Let me know if your experimentation yields any insight.

 

Also, are you planning to add Drag-to-Sort feature to Session Buddy? Every 2nd topic author on this forum suggested this feature, but you never replied to anyone on this particular question.

There is plenty of discussion about this in the forum if you dig a little deeper.

 

I do understand it may require a more serious rewrite compare to other features suggested, but its so critical for every user to have the ability to drag tabs btw different session windows, so it really associates with what a session manager is about. Especially for those using origonal Opera browser (before it was transferred to Chrome engine last year). :)

[zam...@gmail.com]

Option "Overwrite with current" is always greyed out for each session under "Previous Sessions" section regardless of how many are shown. Is visible for each session under Saved Sessions section.

I'll do more testing for you regarding Tabs order and post it here later.

[Hans Meyer]

I'm traveling next week so it will be a while before I can look into this, but I really appreciate you taking the time to do this. That really helps out a lot.

Thanks,

Hans

On Sun, Jan 19, 2014 at 6:24 PM, <zam...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Hansifer,

I tested it further as you asked, running the tests independently for each of the test sets: 

a) one window with 2 tabs;

b) 2 windows (one with 1 tabs, another with 1 tab for simplicity);

c) one window with 5 tabs.

The cumulative result is:

1. The bug is always reproducible consistently - each and every time;

2. Opening a session with windows (a) or (b) results in correct tab order (but keep reading...below), when using 1st two restore types. When using 3rd restore type (Restore to this window), it always results in reverse tab order of the extra tabs added to the same window;

3. Opening a session with window (c) results the 1st tab always open as 1st, but the remaining tabs are always open in reverse order, when using first two restore types. With 3rd restore type, the tab order is always reversed, including the 1st tab becomes the last one.

Hope it'll helps to fix the bug. :)

Just wanted to add, for someone used to Opera browser with its Sessions for years, your app is absolutely irreplaceable - thanks again!

[zam...@gmail.com]

Hi Hansifer,

I tested it further as you asked, running the tests independently for each of the test sets: 

a) one window with 2 tabs;

b) 2 windows (one with 2 tabs, another with 1 tab for simplicity);

c) one window with 5 tabs.

The cumulative result is:

1. The bug is always reproducible consistently - each and every time;

2. Opening a session with window sets (a) or (b) results in correct tab order (keep reading...below), when using 1st two restore types. When using 3rd restore type (Restore to this window), it always results in reverse tab order of the extra tabs added to the same window. Windows order is also reversed in 3rd case, i.e. tabs from the 2nd window are opened left of the 1st window tabs in the common restore window.

3. Opening a session with window set (c) results the 1st tab always open as 1st correctly, but the remaining tabs are always open in reverse order, when using first two restore types. With 3rd restore type, the tab order is always reversed, including the 1st tab becomes the last one.

[Hans Meyer]

Thanks again for the detailed test cases. Unfortunately, I have not been able to repro and there is nothing in the SB code that jumps out at me that would trigger this behavior. My current thinking is that there is a setting that's been engaged that is affecting the behavior of the Chrome API itself.

To pursue that line of thinking, can you answer the following questions and add any customizations/settings you can think of that may make your Chrome installation particularly unique:

- What is the Chrome language set to? (see "About" > "Technical Details" under SB gear menu)

- What is your Windows region set to? (see control panel)

- Have you enabled any Chrome experimental features? (chrome://flags/)

Thanks,

Hans

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[zam...@gmail.com]

Hans,

Sorry for some delay. After reinstalling Chrome, your Session Buddy behaviour normalized. It no longer opens sessions in reverse order. I think you're right, it was caused by either interference btw extensions, or setting some experimental features in Chrome altering its attitude. )

[Hans Meyer]

Good deal. 

Thanks for the follow up. I really appreciate it.

Cheers,

Hans

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[zam...@gmail.com]

I found the culprit extension that messed up with Session Buddy: its "Tab to the next". THis is very useful extension that opens a new page in a Tab next to the Tab from which it was open, instead of opening it as Chrome default farthest right, which is simply stupid and extremely inconvenient. Unfortunately, when the extension is active, it intercepts each tab of a session open with Session Buddy, and opens it next to the previous tab of the same session also open by Session Buddy. :)  This results in each session open in reverse tab order. Since both extensions are very useful, is it possible for a Session Buddy to get around it, or its more appropriate for "Tab to the next" to get around Session Buddy? Is it possible in principle for them to not interfere with each other?

On Thursday, January 16, 2014 12:29:17 PM UTC-5, zam...@gmail.com wrote:

[zam...@gmail.com]

As I think more about it, such interference is only possible because Session Buddy seems to open sessions from last tab to first. If Session Buddy will open sessions from 1st tab to last, it won't interfere with other extensions like "Tab to the next" - correct? Why such backwards order is required for Session Buddy, and can it be replaced by "straight" tab opening order?

On Thursday, January 16, 2014 12:29:17 PM UTC-5, zam...@gmail.com wrote:

[Hans Meyer]

"Session Buddy seems to open sessions from last tab to first"

I don't think so, but I'd have to double-check. I think this is happening because when SB is opening tabs during a restore, it isn't also selecting them. It only selects the tab that was selected when the session was saved. 

It's possible to get around the interference in this case by selecting as we open (and then selecting the desired tab when window restore is complete), but I need to understand the consequences of this and think about whether it's appropriate. If anything, I may end up making it an advanced setting.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Cheers,

Hans

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[zam...@gmail.com]

Hi Hans,

I replaced "Tab-to-the-next" extension with similar TabsPlus that has some more relevant features (returns to the last used tab after closing a current one in addition to opening a new tab next to current one). Unfortunately, SB exhibits the same incompatibility to this one as well.  I even opened a bug report on TabsPlus support page (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/support/nikomkkhhpfoeamojhhgpfkpkdlfhfii?hl=en-GB&gl=CA#bug), will see which extension is able to adapt and avoid such conflicts. :)

On Thursday, January 16, 2014 12:29:17 PM UTC-5, zam...@gmail.com wrote:

[dan.ma...@gmail.com]

well, if this is the cause, the extension writer had better make it so it doesn't reorder the tabs on startup!! god, it has driven me crazy for probably 2 years.

[Jim Hoyle]

For me, the Chrome extension Tab to the next is the only one that does not seem to have the mirroring problem. Tab Position Customizer 2 or Tab Position Options DO have the problem. So perhaps Tab to the next was updated meanwhile? I don't know. By the way, it is one of those "unknown source" extensions, so here's it's URL: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tab-to-the-next/mpahcojfojbnloiafagggcdimaklphij

[Damien Theophano]

i have this problem as well . is there a work around? I have tried closing the 'reversed' session and reopening it to try to get it back to original, but then it doesn't reverse again!

[Julian Noneofyourbusiness]

Same here, but more like there's no order at all. 95 open tabs and they're all scrambled, takes me 10 minutes to get them back in to order and the next time I reboot it happens again :(

[David Morris]

So glad I finally searched and found out this issue. It just happened to me again and has been maddening as I usually have a minimum of 40 tabs open and positioned how I want them. I can confirm that as of Jan 8, 2018 this behavior still occurs with Tab Position Options when used with SB. I'm trying Tab To The Next to see if it fixes this issue.

[Elisei Kulikovsky]

All the extensions changing tab opening order (Tab Position Options, Tab Position Customizer 2, SimpleTabOrder) affect SB the same way: if Position option is set to "position right of current tab" SB opens saved sessions in reversed order. Only Child Tab Next extension avoids this bug. But this extension changes the behaviour only for new tabs (but not for those opened via links). Tabs opened through links (via Ctrl-click) open the default way: next to the opener in reversed order, last opened is the farthest from the opener.

So the partial workaround is to combine these two extensions: Child Tab Next for new tabs next to current one and one of the advanced tabs order changers (Tab Position Options, Tab Position Customizer 2, SimpleTabOrder) for the other options, but with Position option set to default Chrome behaviour.

[Joe Bourguignon]

Hansifer, would it be possible to add an option in Session Buddy to "restore tabs in reverse order", so that people who have one of these tab opening extensions can just check that box, and SB will restore correctly for us?  Thanks so much for your amazing extension!  :)

Cheers,

-joe

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