Re: [Usability]gnome-file-dialog UI update

[John F Dixon Iv <John Dixon ndsu nodak edu>]

Mathew Johnston wrote:

> > opening a file in gedit, why does it show me files that it doesn't know 
> > how to open? When would i want to open a gif file with gedit?
> >    
>
> Because there is no requirement for a file name to have an extention,
> let alone a meaningful extention; similarily, magic numbers can not be
> reliably used. Current methods of mime detection are not reliable.
> Besides, why shouldn't someone be able to open a gif in gedit?
If gedit can do something meaningful with a gif, then i wouldn't object 
to it. But, the way it is now, opening a gif is not allowed at all by 
gedit. (gedit will not open the file at all)
If there were a way to determine mime type, then showing all files seems 
like that would make the process of choosing a file more difficult than 
it needs to be. By shorting the list of files to those which can be used 
in a meaningful way, it would make it faster to select files because 
there would be less files to choose from. But, i do see your point about 
file extensions. In a way it is unfortunate that mime type detection is 
not reliable enough.

> An option saying, "show only files with mime types that I know how to
> open" would be fine, as long as it also displayed files of indeterminite
> type. There should always be a method of listing ALL files, however.
>
> Mat.
If there is an option of showing all files or only some files, then what 
would be the default? I would suggest that showing relevent and unknown 
file types would be better than showing all of them, but i have a 
feeling you would lean the other way. :) It seems to me that the ability 
to shorten the number of files shown outweighs its disadvantages. But, 
that is pure speculation on my part.
john

>