New option to wherever put UIs on top of carla

Closes #348

resources/ui/carla_settings.ui

@@ -261,6 +261,71 @@
            </layout>
           </widget>
          </item>
+         <item>
+          <widget class="QGroupBox" name="group_main_misc">
+           <property name="title">
+            <string>Interface</string>
+           </property>
+           <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_4">
+            <item row="3" column="1">
+             <widget class="QSpinBox" name="sb_main_refresh_interval">
+              <property name="suffix">
+               <string> ms</string>
+              </property>
+              <property name="minimum">
+               <number>10</number>
+              </property>
+              <property name="maximum">
+               <number>1000</number>
+              </property>
+              <property name="value">
+               <number>250</number>
+              </property>
+             </widget>
+            </item>
+            <item row="3" column="2">
+             <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_12">
+              <property name="orientation">
+               <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+              </property>
+              <property name="sizeType">
+               <enum>QSizePolicy::Fixed</enum>
+              </property>
+              <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+               <size>
+                <width>130</width>
+                <height>10</height>
+               </size>
+              </property>
+             </spacer>
+            </item>
+            <item row="3" column="0">
+             <widget class="QLabel" name="label_main_refresh_interval">
+              <property name="text">
+               <string>Interface refresh interval:</string>
+              </property>
+              <property name="alignment">
+               <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
+              </property>
+             </widget>
+            </item>
+            <item row="1" column="0" colspan="3">
+             <widget class="QCheckBox" name="ch_main_manage_uis">
+              <property name="text">
+               <string>Make plugin UIs appear on top of Carla (needs restart)</string>
+              </property>
+             </widget>
+            </item>
+            <item row="2" column="0" colspan="3">
+             <widget class="QCheckBox" name="ch_main_use_custom_skins">
+              <property name="text">
+               <string>Use custom plugin slot skins</string>
+              </property>
+             </widget>
+            </item>
+           </layout>
+          </widget>
+         </item>
          <item>
           <widget class="QGroupBox" name="group_main_theme">
            <property name="title">
@@ -323,64 +388,6 @@
            </layout>
           </widget>
          </item>
-         <item>
-          <widget class="QGroupBox" name="group_main_misc">
-           <property name="title">
-            <string>Misc</string>
-           </property>
-           <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_4">
-            <item row="1" column="0">
-             <widget class="QLabel" name="label_main_refresh_interval">
-              <property name="text">
-               <string>GUI Refresh interval:</string>
-              </property>
-              <property name="alignment">
-               <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
-              </property>
-             </widget>
-            </item>
-            <item row="1" column="1">
-             <widget class="QSpinBox" name="sb_main_refresh_interval">
-              <property name="suffix">
-               <string> ms</string>
-              </property>
-              <property name="minimum">
-               <number>10</number>
-              </property>
-              <property name="maximum">
-               <number>1000</number>
-              </property>
-              <property name="value">
-               <number>250</number>
-              </property>
-             </widget>
-            </item>
-            <item row="1" column="2">
-             <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_12">
-              <property name="orientation">
-               <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
-              </property>
-              <property name="sizeType">
-               <enum>QSizePolicy::Fixed</enum>
-              </property>
-              <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
-               <size>
-                <width>130</width>
-                <height>10</height>
-               </size>
-              </property>
-             </spacer>
-            </item>
-            <item row="0" column="0" colspan="3">
-             <widget class="QCheckBox" name="cb_main_use_custom_skins">
-              <property name="text">
-               <string>Use custom plugin slot skins</string>
-              </property>
-             </widget>
-            </item>
-           </layout>
-          </widget>
-         </item>
          <item>
           <spacer name="verticalSpacer">
            <property name="orientation">

source/carla_backend.py

@@ -1216,6 +1216,7 @@ class CarlaHostMeta(object):
         self.preferPluginBridges = False
         self.preferUIBridges     = False
         self.preventBadBehaviour = False
+        self.manageUIs           = False
         self.uisAlwaysOnTop      = False
         self.maxParameters       = 0
         self.uiBridgesTimeout    = 0

source/carla_host.py

@@ -1842,7 +1842,7 @@ class HostWindow(QMainWindow):
         QMainWindow.showEvent(self, event)
 
         # set our gui as parent for all plugins UIs
-        if not (self.host.isControl or self.host.isPlugin):
+        if self.host.manageUIs and not (self.host.isControl or self.host.isPlugin):
             winIdStr = "%x" % self.winId()
             self.host.set_engine_option(ENGINE_OPTION_FRONTEND_WIN_ID, 0, winIdStr)
 
@@ -2241,6 +2241,16 @@ def loadHostSettings(host):
     settings = QSettings("falkTX", "Carla2")
 
     # bool values
+    try:
+        host.manageUIs = settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS, type=bool)
+    except:
+        host.manageUIs = CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS
+
+    try:
+        host.uisAlwaysOnTop = settings.value(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP, CARLA_DEFAULT_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP, type=bool)
+    except:
+        host.uisAlwaysOnTop = CARLA_DEFAULT_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP
+
     try:
         host.forceStereo = settings.value(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_FORCE_STEREO, CARLA_DEFAULT_FORCE_STEREO, type=bool)
     except:
@@ -2256,11 +2266,6 @@ def loadHostSettings(host):
     except:
         host.preferUIBridges = CARLA_DEFAULT_PREFER_UI_BRIDGES
 
-    try:
-        host.uisAlwaysOnTop = settings.value(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP, CARLA_DEFAULT_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP, type=bool)
-    except:
-        host.uisAlwaysOnTop = CARLA_DEFAULT_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP
-
     # int values
     try:
         host.maxParameters = settings.value(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_MAX_PARAMETERS, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAX_PARAMETERS, type=int)

source/carla_settings.py

@@ -238,6 +238,10 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
             self.ui.group_main_theme.setEnabled(False)
             self.ui.group_main_theme.setVisible(False)
 
+        if MACOS or WINDOWS:
+            self.ui.ch_main_manage_uis.setEnabled(False)
+            self.ui.ch_main_manage_uis.setVisible(False)
+
         if host.isControl:
             self.ui.lw_page.hideRow(self.TAB_INDEX_CANVAS)
             self.ui.lw_page.hideRow(self.TAB_INDEX_ENGINE)
@@ -320,11 +324,14 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
         # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         # Main
 
+        self.ui.ch_main_manage_uis.setChecked(self.host.manageUIs)
+        self.ui.ch_engine_uis_always_on_top.setChecked(self.host.uisAlwaysOnTop)
+
         self.ui.le_main_proj_folder.setText(settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_PROJECT_FOLDER, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_PROJECT_FOLDER, type=str))
         self.ui.ch_main_theme_pro.setChecked(settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_PRO_THEME, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_PRO_THEME, type=bool) and self.ui.group_main_theme.isEnabled())
         self.ui.cb_main_theme_color.setCurrentIndex(self.ui.cb_main_theme_color.findText(settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_PRO_THEME_COLOR, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_PRO_THEME_COLOR, type=str)))
         self.ui.sb_main_refresh_interval.setValue(settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_REFRESH_INTERVAL, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_REFRESH_INTERVAL, type=int))
-        self.ui.cb_main_use_custom_skins.setChecked(settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS, type=bool))
+        self.ui.ch_main_use_custom_skins.setChecked(settings.value(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS, CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS, type=bool))
 
         # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         # Canvas
@@ -374,7 +381,6 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
             self.ui.cb_engine_process_mode_other.setCurrentIndex(0)
 
         self.ui.sb_engine_max_params.setValue(self.host.maxParameters)
-        self.ui.ch_engine_uis_always_on_top.setChecked(self.host.uisAlwaysOnTop)
         self.ui.ch_engine_prefer_ui_bridges.setChecked(self.host.preferUIBridges)
         self.ui.sb_engine_ui_bridges_timeout.setValue(self.host.uiBridgesTimeout)
         self.ui.ch_engine_force_stereo.setChecked(self.host.forceStereo or not self.ui.ch_engine_force_stereo.isEnabled())
@@ -442,11 +448,17 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
         # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         # Main
 
+        self.host.manageUIs      = self.ui.ch_main_manage_uis.isChecked()
+        self.host.uisAlwaysOnTop = self.ui.ch_engine_uis_always_on_top.isChecked()
+
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_PROJECT_FOLDER,   self.ui.le_main_proj_folder.text())
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_PRO_THEME,    self.ui.ch_main_theme_pro.isChecked())
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_PRO_THEME_COLOR,  self.ui.cb_main_theme_color.currentText())
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_REFRESH_INTERVAL, self.ui.sb_main_refresh_interval.value())
-        settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS, self.ui.cb_main_use_custom_skins.isChecked())
+        settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS, self.ui.ch_main_use_custom_skins.isChecked())
+
+        settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS,          self.host.manageUIs)
+        settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP, self.host.uisAlwaysOnTop)
 
         # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         # Canvas
@@ -484,7 +496,6 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
         self.host.forceStereo         = self.ui.ch_engine_force_stereo.isChecked()
         self.host.preferPluginBridges = self.ui.ch_engine_prefer_plugin_bridges.isChecked()
         self.host.preferUIBridges     = self.ui.ch_engine_prefer_ui_bridges.isChecked()
-        self.host.uisAlwaysOnTop      = self.ui.ch_engine_uis_always_on_top.isChecked()
         self.host.maxParameters       = self.ui.sb_engine_max_params.value()
         self.host.uiBridgesTimeout    = self.ui.sb_engine_ui_bridges_timeout.value()
 
@@ -502,7 +513,6 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
 
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_PREFER_PLUGIN_BRIDGES, self.host.preferPluginBridges)
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_PREFER_UI_BRIDGES,     self.host.preferUIBridges)
-        settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_UIS_ALWAYS_ON_TOP,     self.host.uisAlwaysOnTop)
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_MAX_PARAMETERS,        self.host.maxParameters)
         settings.setValue(CARLA_KEY_ENGINE_UI_BRIDGES_TIMEOUT,    self.host.uiBridgesTimeout)
 
@@ -572,7 +582,8 @@ class CarlaSettingsW(QDialog):
             self.ui.ch_main_theme_pro.setChecked(CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_PRO_THEME and self.ui.group_main_theme.isEnabled())
             self.ui.cb_main_theme_color.setCurrentIndex(self.ui.cb_main_theme_color.findText(CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_PRO_THEME_COLOR))
             self.ui.sb_main_refresh_interval.setValue(CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_REFRESH_INTERVAL)
-            self.ui.cb_main_use_custom_skins.setChecked(CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS)
+            self.ui.ch_main_use_custom_skins.setChecked(CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS)
+            self.ui.ch_main_manage_uis.setChecked(CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS)
 
         # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         # Canvas

source/carla_shared.py

@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_PRO_THEME    = "Main/UseProTheme"     # bool
 CARLA_KEY_MAIN_PRO_THEME_COLOR  = "Main/ProThemeColor"   # str
 CARLA_KEY_MAIN_REFRESH_INTERVAL = "Main/RefreshInterval" # int
 CARLA_KEY_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS = "Main/UseCustomSkins"  # bool
+CARLA_KEY_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS       = "Main/ManageUIs"       # bool
 
 CARLA_KEY_CANVAS_THEME             = "Canvas/Theme"           # str
 CARLA_KEY_CANVAS_SIZE              = "Canvas/Size"            # str "NxN"
@@ -235,6 +236,7 @@ CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_PRO_THEME    = True
 CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_PRO_THEME_COLOR  = "Black"
 CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_REFRESH_INTERVAL = 20
 CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_USE_CUSTOM_SKINS = True
+CARLA_DEFAULT_MAIN_MANAGE_UIS       = True
 
 # Canvas
 CARLA_DEFAULT_CANVAS_THEME             = "Modern Dark"

source/native-plugins/resources/carla-plugin

@@ -533,8 +533,9 @@ class CarlaEmbedW(QEmbedWidget):
         QEmbedWidget.showEvent(self, event)
 
         # set our gui as parent for all plugins UIs
-        winIdStr = "%x" % self.fWinId
-        self.host.set_engine_option(ENGINE_OPTION_FRONTEND_WIN_ID, 0, winIdStr)
+        if self.host.manageUIs:
+            winIdStr = "%x" % self.fWinId
+            self.host.set_engine_option(ENGINE_OPTION_FRONTEND_WIN_ID, 0, winIdStr)
 
     def hideEvent(self, event):
         # disable parent