RE: File selection dialog changes

["Fox, Kevin M" <kmfox bhi010 bhi-erc com>]

The only thing I would like to see is the ability to create a directory
through the save dialog.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	John R Sheets [SMTP:dusk@smsi-roman.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, December 15, 1998 11:27 AM
> To:	gnome-list@gnome.org
> Subject:	Re: File selection dialog changes
> 
> Erik Andersen wrote:
> > 
> > Hmm.  I had to pull an all nighter at work last night, so maybe I can
> > get off work early today and code something up.  Mostly I like how under
> > NT, the CFileDialog allows you to right click an any file and then
> > open it, add it to a zip file, change its security settings, cut it,
> > copy it, delete it, rename it, create a new directory, change the amount
> > of detail shown about the files, create a symlink (NT "shortcuts"), or
> > send the file via mail, etc.  It does this without adding in extra
> buttons
> > to clutter the normal case, while still acting as a mini file manager.
> > The things that the CFileDialog can do on a right click are defined by
> the
> > context of the click (if it is on the background, a directory, or a
> file),
> > and the functionality is provided via a COM interface.
> 
> Yipes!  Think this one through very carefully!  Consider the
> following quote from the Interface Hall of Shame, in a section
> devoted specifically to addressing the faults with Windows'
> common dialogs:
> 
> http://www.iarchitect.com/file95.htm
> 
> >   Attention Deficit Disorder 
> > 
> > An application uses the common Open File dialog simply
> > to allow you to specify the file to be worked on.  Why 
> > is it then, that the Open File dialog allows you to 
> > rename files, delete files, create new folders, send 
> > files to the printer, send a fax, save a file to a 
> > floppy disk, try to convert a bitmap file to an Excel 
> > spreadsheet, edit a file with a different application, 
> > create an e-mail message. and so on, all while the 
> > calling application is waiting for the name of the file 
> > you want it to work on? This is bizarre! 
> > 
> > While you could do all these things and more from the 
> > Open File dialog, who would want to? The availability 
> > of these functions from this location could only be of 
> > extremely limited value to the most experienced of users, 
> > at the cost of easily confusing the new user. These 
> > functions are not mere distractions, they could lead the 
> > user on a convoluted path through the operating system, 
> > taking them further and further away from the initial task. 
> 
> IMHO, this feature should stay out of GNOME proper, unless it
> passes the approval of the core GNOME developers (which I doubt
> will happen).  It's a can of worms, and probably not the best way
> to go.  This functionality belongs once, in the file manager, not
> duplicated in every application.
> 
> In any case, I agree (with Jeff) that it should not go into the
> v1.0 release.  
> 
> Later,
> John
> 
> P.S.--To shed some light on my comments, I'm also a MFC hack at
> work and a Linux geek at home, pining for a 100% Linux
> existence.  (c:
> 
> 
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