I think we've exhausted this topic enough so this is a 'last call' e-
mail.
Mimi and I had discussed yesterday that from a design perspective if
we are uncertain of the success rate for auto launching then we need
time to allocate for testing. Otherwise it may end up confusing the
user as opposed to making it easier for them.
Although this is not the most elegant solution, from a scheduling
perspective post 0.6 we could allocate more time to test auto-launch
properly and be aware of all the different parameters and what the
success rates are if we want to have auto-launch for Preview.
A lot of opinions were expressed in this thread and I'm going to
highlight the discussion that has helped us come to this final
proposal for 0.6. It's just not possible to address everything, but
the opinions expressed are noted below. Which means we can still
explore auto-launching post 0.6 and before Preview given the time
constraints.
+ BCM commented that "there's no technical need to open the
collection details dialog when the user chooses a subscription method."
+ BCM requesting to list out webcal and caldav for now and wait on
listing out explicit applications.
+ Priscilla/Ted mentioned that listing out the applications is a more
user friendly form. ie. Chandler, iCal 2.x, iCal 3.x, Sunbird,
Evolution.
+ Matthew commented that listing out specific apps other than
Chandler could lead issues such as, a 'humongous' list of
calendaring apps, how do we ending up deciding which apps make the
cut and dealing with format changes.
+ Bobby commented on "I don't like the "auto launching" part.
Sometimes I just want to copy the link, not launch an app." and
"People don't expect selecting an option will do something as drastic
as launching another app." Priscilla supported his comments.
+ Bobby also commented on having the subscription URL as a hyper-link
(opposed to having text in the text box), so the user could make the
decision to click on the link to 'auto-launch' or copy/paste or click
the right mouse button to 'copy link location'. Matthew supported his
comments.
+ Mimi/Jeffrey had trouble with hyper-links with the dexterity of
copy/pasting a hyper-link and the first reaction is to click on the
link. There is also a suggestion from Mimi to add a 'copy to
clipboard' button or a 'subscribe' button which will copy the URL for
the user. Even if there are instructions on how to subscribe most
people will just click on the link. BCM supported this comment.
+ Bobby/Priscilla mentioned 'copy to clipboard' button is not a web
convention.
+ There is still work to be done for the explanatory text and as
Matthew commented, there may a lot of work to keep it up to date, in
the 'Collections Dialog'. Additional wordsmithing may be needed in
the menu items, if we choose not use the application names on the list.
*Final Proposal for Subscription in 0.6*
When the user selects an application from the 'Collection Details'
dialog drop down *OR* from the application drop down (subscribe
pulldown behavior in the top right and corner of the app), it will
always launch the 'Collection Details' dialog. With the exception of
when the user selects 'download calendar and tasks (.ics file)'. The
user will be able to select their application of choice from the
'Collection Details', then copy and paste the URL in a text box (not
hyper-linked because we are not allowing the user to auto launch) in
order to subscribe.
The current proposal for drop down menus (both in the Collection
Details & from the application drop down) are:
Subscribe with:
| Chandler |v|
| iCal 2.x
| Feed Reader
| Download calendar and tasks
| Other…
=====
Collection name: [xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] [Link icon - mouse-over: 'link to
this collection'] -(name of collection is not editable if the user
is not logged in.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe with Chandler --> Collection Details dialog prompts,
default to Chandler in the drop down menu -
Copy and Paste this URL to the Collection>>Subscribe... menu item in
Chandler:
URL: [Subscription URL in text (not hyper-linked)] [Help]
Subscribe with iCal 2.x --> Collection Details dialog prompts,
default to iCal 2.x in the drop down menu -
Copy and Paste this URL to iCal 2x >>Subscribe... menu item in iCal:
URL: [Subscription URL in text (not hyper-linked)] [Help]
Subscribe with Feed Reader --> Collection Details dialog prompts,
default to Feed Reader in the drop down menu -
URL: [Subscription URL in text (not hyper-linked)] [Help]
Download calendar and tasks --> Downloads .ics file to Desktop
Other --> Collection Details dialog prompts, default to 'Other…' in
the drop down menu -
Find out which protocols your application supports (ie. Evolution,
Sunbird) and subscribe with the appropriate URL:
CalDAV: [xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
WebCal: [xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Atom: [xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
-Priscilla
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