Fixing .ipynb Scrolling Issues in PyCharm on Ubuntu 24.04

Problems with Scrolling and Displaying .ipynb Files in PyCharm on Ubuntu 24.04

Scrolling and display issues with .ipynb files in PyCharm on Ubuntu 24.04 are typically related to the peculiarities of Jupyter notebook rendering in this environment and can be resolved through several settings and optimizations.

Table of Contents

• Main Causes of the Problem
• PyCharm Settings for Improving Scrolling
• Performance Optimization
• Alternative Solutions
• Compatibility Checking

Main Causes of the Problem

On Ubuntu 24.04, scrolling issues with .ipynb files in PyCharm can occur for several reasons:

1. Smooth scrolling issues - As noted by users, the enabled “smooth scrolling” option can cause delays and unnatural scrolling behavior source

2. Missing file type associations - .ipynb files may not be properly associated with the Jupyter Notebook type in editor settings source

3. High system load - Large notebooks with numerous cells can cause serious performance issues source

4. Output display problems - Auto-scrolling of cell outputs can conflict with document scrolling source

5. Vim mode conflicts - Scrolloff settings in .ideavimrc can cause screen jumps when working with .ipynb files source

PyCharm Settings for Improving Scrolling

1. Disabling Smooth Scrolling

Go to PyCharm settings:

Settings (Preferences) → Editor → General → Editor Actions

Find the “Smooth Scrolling” option and disable it. This should eliminate delays and unnatural scrolling behavior.

2. Setting Up .ipynb File Associations

Ensure that .ipynb files are properly associated with Jupyter Notebook:

Settings → Editor → File Types

Verify that *.ipynb is associated with the “Jupyter Notebook” type.

3. Disabling Auto-scrolling Outputs

To manage output scrolling in cells:

Settings → Settings Editor → Jupyter Notebook

Uncheck the “Auto Scroll Outputs” option (for versions 7 and above) source.

4. Manual Scrolling Settings

If the issue persists, you can configure output scrolling through the menu:

Cell → All Outputs → Toggle Scrolling

This will return the output to non-scrolling mode source.

Performance Optimization

1. Working with Large Files

If your .ipynb file contains many cells (e.g., 400+ cells with 4000+ lines of code), this can cause serious performance issues. Consider the following solutions:

• Convert to .py file: Use the command jupyter nbconvert --to python to convert the notebook to a Python file. This way, all editing and scrolling functionality will work without issues source

• Split the file: Divide the large notebook into several smaller files

2. Environment Optimization

• Update PyCharm to the latest version
• Ensure you have the latest patches for Ubuntu 24.04
• Check for Java updates (PyCharm runs on JVM)

3. Vim Settings (if used)

If you use Vim mode in PyCharm, configure different scrolloff values for different file types:

Add to .ideavimrc:
set scrolloff=0

This will eliminate screen jumps when working with .ipynb files while maintaining normal behavior for other file types source.

Alternative Solutions

1. Using an External Jupyter Server

If the built-in Jupyter in PyCharm causes problems, set up a connection to an external Jupyter server:

Settings → Tools → Jupyter Notebook Server

Specify the path to your Jupyter installation and configure connection via SSH if needed.

2. Using JupyterLab

Consider installing and using JupyterLab as an alternative:

pip install jupyterlab

JupyterLab often performs better on Linux systems and provides smoother scrolling.

3. Temporarily Disabling Plugins

Try temporarily disabling PyCharm plugins that might conflict with Jupyter rendering:

• Python plugins
• Jupyter plugins
• Language support plugins

Compatibility Checking

1. Checking PyCharm Version

Ensure your PyCharm version supports Jupyter notebooks on Linux. Some versions have known rendering issues source.

2. Checking System Requirements

Verify that your system meets the minimum requirements for running PyCharm with Jupyter notebooks:

• Sufficient RAM (8GB+ recommended)
• Modern processor
• SSD drive for better performance

3. Testing in a Clean Environment

If the issue persists, try:

• Creating a new project from scratch
• Opening the .ipynb file in the new project
• Checking functionality in the new configuration

Sources

1. Smooth scrolling issues in PyCharm
2. Setting up .ipynb file associations
3. PyCharm performance with large .ipynb files
4. Disabling auto-scrolling outputs in Jupyter
5. Solving output scrolling issues
6. Screen jump problems when typing
7. Criticism of Jupyter support in PyCharm

Conclusion

Scrolling and display issues with .ipynb files in PyCharm on Ubuntu 24.04 are typically related to rendering peculiarities and performance optimization. The main solutions include:

1. Disabling smooth scrolling in editor settings
2. Properly configuring file type associations
3. Optimizing work with large .ipynb files through conversion or splitting
4. Configuring Vim mode for different file types
5. Considering alternative solutions like an external Jupyter server

Often, combining several approaches completely resolves the issue and ensures smooth operation with Jupyter notebooks in PyCharm on Linux systems.