Hi list, I like the idea of giving KDE 4 a major usability overhaul, and so here's an idea:
I'm concerned about workflow, ie "how to do things in KDE". One thing I find myself doing over and over again is saving files, modifying them a bit, doing something else with them, on and on. Using different programs and functions, I have to think about the open- and save-dialogues far too often. I have to think up file names and decide were to save temporary files, and remember those things when I then go to open the file in the next program. Obviously I could just always save in my home folder, that would simplify the process somewhat. But still, maybe I don't actually want a file at all. I certainly don't want my home folder filled with files I can't remember what to do with. Or temporary files. It's a bit difficult to think up a good example... How about this: I surf the web, I see an image I want to email to somebody. But first I want to crop it a bit in Krita, and when I have time I'll want to check if I have the image in my own collection. This would, working the way I do, require several saves and files, and memorising those to some extend. Let me try to do just that: 1) I'm looking at http://appeal.kde.org/wiki/People -- wow, what a nice image! 2) Save the image somewhere, remember path and name. 3) Open Krita, open file from 2). 4) Crop, save with another name. Remember that. 5) Open Kmail, new message, attach -> put in name from 4). 6) Delete cropped image, probably with Konqueror. 7) Remember to check my archives for the original image, when I have the time but before I forget. Until then, it's in Limbo in its current location. There's probably a step or two of open/save that I've missed. All this can be done in different ways, using "Open with" from Konqueror or drag & drop. But still, there's a lot of clicking and typing and remembering. I think it would be good to try to minimize that. (Come to think of it, I think this example was used somewhere else for something else...) A solution would have to involve these same programs to some extend, and also a file or two. The user workload could be simpler though. My suggestion is some sort of global super-clipboard, a KDE-wide resource repository. Maybe this already exists in some form, I haven't seen it quite as I'm imagining it. Here's how it could work in the above situation: 1) I'm looking at http://appeal.kde.org/wiki/People -- wow, what a nice image! 2) Right click, select "add to resource repository". 3) Open Krita, select "Repository". Some sort of visual overview of the current items let's me open the image. 4) Crop, Save to repository. This doesn't overwrite the original file, both are in the repository. Nor does it require me to make a new name for a temporary file. 5) Open Kmail, attach, select "Repository", click cropped image. Obviously there are differences between method 1 and 2 in terms of the actual result, but certainly also in terms of how easy the work process was. Details need to be added to both methods before it's possible to say that either is much to be preferred. Maybe a "My documents" folder with some fancy versioning scheme and preview function could do the trick. I do think, however, that the workflow would be simpler with method 2, but I understand that I need to explain myself better. Does anyone see my point at all? Is anyone interested in working on this idea? Regards, Niels _______________________________________________ Appeal mailing list [email protected] https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/appeal
