Re: Gnome-utils branched to gnome-2-14

[Shaun McCance <shaunm gnome org>]

On Mon, 2006-02-06 at 20:56 +0100, Wouter Bolsterlee wrote:
> P�on, Feb 06, 2006 at 11:41:16AM -0600, Shaun McCance skrev:
> > On Mon, 2006-02-06 at 10:26 +0100, Emmanuele Bassi wrote:
> > > Screenshot
> > > 	* heavy bugzilla love
> > > 	* remove the file name entry and use a filechooser button
> > 
> > I don't like this idea.  I mean, arguably, we have a file chooser
> > button for exactly this sort of thing.  But the fact that we have
> > a widget doesn't mean it's the best tool.
> 
> > [snip] I'm often taking a series of screenshots, and I love the fact that
> > the Screenshot tool remembers my last folder. [snip]
> 
> AFAICS, there are no plans to change that.

I didn't say there were such plans.  I was trying to do a nice,
positive email, where I compliment the current design and say what
I like about it.  I thought it would be a pleasant departure from
the hostile name-calling we've seen elsewhere lately.

> > With a file name entry and a folder chooser button, I can see
> > at a glance which folder I'm saving into, and I only have to
> > click the button when I want to change the folder.  (Numbers
> > taken directly from my ass indicate that's about 10% of the
> > time.)  I can easily rename the file without having to bring
> > up an extra dialog, which I want to do nearly 100% of the time.
> > 
> > For me, the current interface is nearly perfect.
> 
> The entry is really broken. See "Bug 325708 - Typing a path in the filename
> entry does not work" (http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=325708) for
> details about the issue.

Well, so, the entry is clearly labeled "Name".  So as far as
I'm concerned, the user is trying to put a slash in the file
name.  Technical limitations don't allow that, so we should
provide reasonable error dialogs or whatever.

Now, of course, what the user was really trying to do was
enter a complete path.  Why?  Oh, probably because he's an
old-skool *nix geek that likes typing paths.  I empathize
completely with him.  I sincerely doubt he'll be any happier
if you put everything behind a file chooser button.

> > So are we making this change because we really believe it's
> > better, or are we using widgets for the sake of using them?
> 
> A vertical layout would drastically reduce the screen space that is needed
> for the dialog. While compact != good, in this case it is, I think :)

I suppose.  The width of that dialog never bothered me.  In
fact, I thought it felt pretty natural.  I suppose I probably
take more single-window screenshots than entire-desktop ones,
making the screenshot preview narrower for most windows I keep
on my desktop.

I would be far more concerned with the user's interaction with
the dialog than with the small details of dimension.  And from
an interaction standpoint, I think you'll force more users to
open an extra dialog more of the time.  As it is, I rarely even
have to open the full file chooser dialog, because the folder
I want is in the drop-down.

--
Shaun