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[Windows Terminal FR] Open alternate screen buffer in new tab #14935

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opened 2026-01-31 04:23:41 +00:00 by claunia · 1 comment
claunia commented 2026-01-31 04:23:41 +00:00
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Originally created by @subhav on GitHub (Aug 23, 2021).

Description of the new feature/enhancement

When an application sets alternate screen buffer mode (e.g. tput smcup), Windows Terminal saves and clears everything in the viewport, but still allows you to scroll up and view the rest of the scrollback buffer. This is a problem if you want to view something in recent history while using a full-screen application.

Some terminal emulators prevent you from accessing the scrollback buffer at all in the alternate screen mode, which is more intuitive but even less useful.

A better option might be to separate the two buffers: display the existing scrollback buffer and alternate screen buffer in different windows.

Proposed technical implementation details (optional)

When a terminal has the alternate screen buffer mode set, it would become split across two tabs: an inactive tab with the full, existing scrollback buffer, and an active tab with only the alternate screen buffer.

When alternate screen buffer is disabled/reset, the first tab would become active again and the second tab would be closed.

Originally created by @subhav on GitHub (Aug 23, 2021). <!-- 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 I ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PROCEEDING: 1. If I delete this entire template and go my own path, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 2. If I list multiple bugs/concerns in this one issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 3. If I write an issue that has many duplicates, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement (and without necessarily spending time to find the exact duplicate ID number). 4. If I leave the title incomplete when filing the issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 5. If I file something completely blank in the body, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. All good? Then proceed! --> # Description of the new feature/enhancement When an application sets alternate screen buffer mode (e.g. `tput smcup`), Windows Terminal saves and clears everything in the viewport, but still allows you to scroll up and view the _rest_ of the scrollback buffer. This is a problem if you want to view something in recent history while using a full-screen application. Some terminal emulators prevent you from accessing the scrollback buffer at all in the alternate screen mode, which is more intuitive but even less useful. A better option might be to separate the two buffers: display the existing scrollback buffer and alternate screen buffer in different windows. <!-- A clear and concise description of what the problem is that the new feature would solve. Describe why and how a user would use this new functionality (if applicable). --> # Proposed technical implementation details (optional) When a terminal has the alternate screen buffer mode set, it would become split across two tabs: an inactive tab with the full, existing scrollback buffer, and an active tab with _only_ the alternate screen buffer. When alternate screen buffer is disabled/reset, the first tab would become active again and the second tab would be closed. <!-- A clear and concise description of what you want to happen. -->
claunia added the Issue-FeatureProduct-TerminalArea-UserInterface labels 2026-01-31 04:23:41 +00:00
claunia commented 2026-01-31 04:23:42 +00:00
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Aug 23, 2021):

This is definitely a weird UX, but it's not totally unreasonable. I think the real trick with it will be clearly marking the two tabs as being related.

This is also closely related to #6451, and more fundamentally, we'll need #381 first 😄

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Aug 23, 2021): This is definitely a weird UX, but it's not totally unreasonable. I think the real trick with it will be clearly marking the two tabs as being related. This is also closely related to #6451, and more fundamentally, we'll need #381 first 😄
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Reference: starred/terminal#14935
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