[Thunar-dev] Some ideas to improve usability

[Mikko Linnalo]

On Sat Jan 28 12:04:09 UTC 2006, Benedikt Meurer wrote:
> > - Option in right click menu or in file menu to add a folder to side
> > pane (as a shortcut). I know drag'n'drop to side menu works but it isn't
> > that obvious to "normal" user without reading the manual. This would
> > increase Thunars out-of-box readiness and overall usability
> 
> Dunno if this is really necessary. Where would you add it exactly? To
> the folder context menu?

Under the File menu, theres already some items in there that are active
only when a folder is highlighted. This "Add to shortcuts" could be
after "Open" and "Open in new window" items. Another solution could be
to add it to right click menu, but that could make the menu look a bit
bloated IMHO.

> > - "Remember selection" option as check box in Open with -dialog. I know
> > that default application can be selected from file properties dialog,
> > but being able to do so from Open with -dialog also would improve the
> > usability greatly (IMHO)
> 
> The check box isn't necessary, since Thunar will automatically remember
> your choice.

It doesn't remember that with 0.2.0 alpha (atleast for me), looks like
I have to change to SVN version anyway...

> > - Single click support, lots of people have been used to using this.
> > This requires most effort from me to get used to after so many years of
> > single clicking
> 
> This was discussed earlier. I'm personally not a big fan of single
> click, esp. since it is totally inconsistent with other applications
> that use GtkTreeView. Besides that it requires aweful hacks. You can
> file a feature request for this, but it won't be on high priority.

I'll file a feature request then. Most people I know use single click
(both Windows and Linux users), my guess would be that single click
divides users of any OS into 2 about same sized groups (+-10% maybe).

I'd also like point out an inconsistency inside Xfce if Thunar only
uses double click, atleast Xfce settings manager is "kind of" using
single click and also Rox file manager which large part of Xfce users
are using (or were using before Thunar was usable enough).

I'm not saying that single click should be on by default, but an option
atleast. I'll end now before this looks like I'm debating this to the
bitter end :)

Regards,
Mikko Linnalo