Re: [Usability] Copying files

[Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie>]

On Sat, 28 Jul 2007, lloyd wrote:

> Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:09:39 +1000
> From: lloyd <lbf aapt net au>
> To: usability gnome org
> Subject: [Usability] Copying files
>
> I am using Gnome with the latest version of Ubuntu, which detects and
> asks before copying a file onto another file of the same name when
> copying or cutting between directories or disks etc.

more specifically this task uses Nautilus the Gnome file manager.

knowing that did a very quick search in Bugzilla (the Gnome Bug tracking
system) to see if I could find any reports or requests related to copying.
http://bugzilla.gnome.org

there are more than a few issues and a lot of potential work if someone
was interested in doing a thorough evaluation and tackling the problem at
a higher level.

see for example
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=320286

or cases where even the name is obscured
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=343342

> A helpful feature of Windows Explorer is that it provides the dates of
> the 2 files in the dialog box as well.

Useful but in a very limited way.  There are other things such as a size
check or a full hash check, or various other methods which could be use to
fully automatically check if files really are the same so users don't
have to figure out that part of the problem.

> Is there any reason why Gnome's file manager does not do this and if
> not, is it a feature that could be included?

so while my very very quick search didn't find a request exactly matching
what you are asking for - there probably is one somewhere, I only checked
a few of the most obvious currently open bugs - there is certainly
awareness of a greater problem that needs to be solved here, rather than
the way you specifically propose to address it.
If you file a request with your suggestion they might make the change but
I'd be surprised if they didn't prefer to wait and tackle the overall
problem in some other way.

Sincerely

Alan Horkan

... really must make time to contribute again soon.