closing windows from task bar [SOLVED]

[shimonl]

I am not really sure how to define this problem, but I will try.
Please feel free to tell me the correct terminology for the items
which I will call by incorrect names.

On the KDE desktop, there is a panel at the bottom of my screen,
similar to what W$ users call 'the task bar'. The widget (I guess)
in the middle of it ('task manager'?) shows currently running programs/windows.

When my mouse hovers over the icon/button of a particular program,
e.g. Firefox, I see popup mini-representations of the windows owned
by that program.

I hope you are still with me... :-)

Now to my question/problem. Until recently, those popup copies of
active windows each had a small 'X' button in the upper right-hand
corner, which I could click to just close that window. I did not need to
actually *activate* the window, by clicking on its representation, and THEN
close it, I could just close it from the popup.

This ability seems to have disappeared, and I find my desktop work slowed down.
I need to either click the window (possibly changing active desktop) and then
close it, and then return to the desktop I am busy in, OR, *click* the task
manager icon to get a different popup, a set of horizontal buttons representing
the different windows, and go through the same rigamarole to close a window.

So... Is there some configuration option somewhere which will return my ability to
quickly and easily close windows from the task manager popups?

Thanks,
Shimon

[gandy]

I don't remember seeing that X in the corner. There is a way to close a window or program. You can right-click the icon in the panel and choose "Close".

[CaptainSarcastic]

The X is still there for me, but I don't run virtual desktops.  I just tested it by opening an extra browser window, then closing it from the X in the corner of the pop-up thumbnail in the Task Manager.

Fully updated KDE desktop here.

[shimonl]

So at least there is confirmation that I am not imagining it ;-)

Now I am back to wondering what is different about my configuration.
In "Task Manager Settings" (right click on the task manager) / General
I have these options checked:
Show tooltips
Highlight windows
Max rows: 2
Group by: Program name
Only when taskbar full
Do not sort
Only tasks from current activity

Nothing checked OR unchecked seems to imply that it would affect
that X in the corner.

Is there any other place that a setting might cause this?

Thanks,
Shimon

[CaptainSarcastic]

The X to close the window only shows up if I mouse over the thumbnail itself.  If I hover the mouse over the icon in the Task Manager, the thumbnail shows up but not the X.  Try moving the cursor over the thumbnail image once it shows up.

[Bald Brick]

So at least there is confirmation that I am not imagining it ;-)

Now I am back to wondering what is different about my configuration.
In "Task Manager Settings" (right click on the task manager) / General
I have these options checked:
Show tooltips
Highlight windows
Max rows: 2
Group by: Program name
Only when taskbar full
Do not sort
Only tasks from current activity

Nothing checked OR unchecked seems to imply that it would affect
that X in the corner.

Is there any other place that a setting might cause this?

Thanks,
Shimon

You seem to be running the task manager widget that is called simply "Task Manager". Replace it with the "Smooth Tasks"  task manager, and you should get your "x" back.

[shimonl]

Yes! Thank you BaldBrick!

I recently deleted my .kde4 folder and set up my desktop anew,
based on whatever defaults I got when I first logged in.
That must be when I lost 'Smooth tasks' and got the basic
task manager.

And yes, as CaptainSarcastic mentioned, the X appears on mouse-over,
but in plain Task Manager even with the mouse on it there is no X.

Thank you again, it's great knowing that people here in the forums (fora?)
can help me out of problems.