Kate - 21.12.3 - Open Documents Tab Order

[Waqar Ahmed]

Hi,

Older packages might be available in your distro's or some other
distro's older repository.
That being said, perhaps you should try out the latest version of
Kate. We polished and
fixed a lot of stuff in 2021/2022 so things were a bit volatile at
that time. The latest version
even has the old simple quick open filtering and sorting.

You can find latest version here:
https://cdn.kde.org/ci-builds/utilities/kate/release-25.08/linux/
and last few releases here:
https://cdn.kde.org/ci-builds/utilities/kate/. Other download links
here: https://kate-editor.org/get-it/

In the end, if you really want to stick to the older version then the
best solution would be to
just build your own Kate.

Regards,
Waqar


On Mon, Jul 14, 2025 at 3:53 AM Ronald V. Popowich
<RonaldVPopowich at groupmte.com> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am not the best versed on Kate GUI terminology, please bear with me.
>
> Have been using Kate for years, last version 19.12.3, and have found the Quick Open List and Open Documents Tab Order to be critical to project development.
> Typical usage for my projects is 30+ documents open.
> The Quick Open List order and the Open Documents Tab Order were maintained in sync with the latest selected document being promoted to the top of the Quick Open List and the left most Open Documents Tab Order.
> I use this to keep the current documents under immediate development, usually 2 to 6 documents, promoted to the left most Open Documents Tab Order and thus visible on the tabs bar.
> This is a CRITICAL advantage when having to suspend development for a time.
> A simple Save Session very effectively captures the state of development and allows a simple restore to such.
> The above cements Kate as my editor of choice.
>
> UNFORTUNATELY!!!
> For version 21.12.3, the synchronization between Quick Open List order and the Open Documents Tab Order is NO LONGER maintained by default,
> with the Open Documents Tab Order NO LONGER matching the needed Quick Open List order.
> I have searched for an option to enable synchronization, but NOT have found such.
> I find myself having to drag the current document of interest tab to the left, the following is typical with 30+ documents open:
> Drag current document of interest tab to left edge of screen;
> Scroll tabs to right until current document of interest tab is at right edge of screen;
> Drag current document of interest tab to left edge of screen;
> Scroll tabs to right until current document of interest tab is at right edge of screen;
> Drag current document of interest tab to left edge of screen;
> Scroll tabs to right until current document of interest tab is at right edge of screen;
> Drag current document of interest tab to left edge of screen;
> Scroll tabs to right until current document of interest tab is at right edge of screen;
> Drag current document of interest tab to left edge of screen;
> Scroll tabs to right until current document of interest tab is at right edge of screen.
> Drag current document of interest tab to left edge of tabs BAR;
> Executing the above for 6 documents is error prone and arduous at best.
>
> Have I missed something?
> When can the synchronization be restored as an option? (I am sure there was a good reason to decouple)
>
> Using Ubuntu 22.04, upgraded from 20.04.
> Temporary solution to downgrade from 21.12.3 to 19.12.3?
> How to downgrade (tried but 19.12.3 is NOT in the repository)?
>
> Please advise.
>
> Thank you,
> Ronald V. Popowich
>
> P.S.  I do find the 21.12.3 simplification of dragging the document tabs left and right and excellent improvement.
>
> --
>
>
>        www.GroupMTE.com
>
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>
> "I want to make a difference, with people who want to make a difference, doing something that makes a difference."
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>
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>
>