Hi,
I have thought about a new attachment UI, inline with the proposals on
Attachment UI enhancements from dobey and Nat, that replaces the existing
buttons that are present at the bottom of every message part.
- Remove those buttons and put a attachment bar.
This can be done in multiple ways. Im listing down the various ways.
(1) Have a small attachment bar panel, at the bottom of the message
and show it, when there are attachments. But it would then reduce the space of
the message view. I have a sample at
http://gnomebangalore.org/~sragavan/attachment-manager.png. We can also decide
upon, whether it should be on the bottom, or top of the message. In this case,
when a message that has a forwarded message which inturn has some attachments,
is viewed (if the forwarded message viewed inline), then all the attachments
would be shown in the same bar. This also helps to get all the attachments at
one single place. All the attachments would be displayed as icons.
(2) Have a small attachment bar sort of widget, at the bottom of
the message. All the attachments are diplayed as icon list in the attachment
bar. Like at the end of the message, we have a small attachment bar, which
shows the attachments. Here again, when the message which has a forwarded
message which inturn has some attachments, is viewed inline, there are two ways
to the problem. A sample is attached at
http://www.gnomebangalore.org/~sragavan/bar.png
(a) Show the attachment bar at the end of each message
part, which would result in multiple attachment bars in a message that has
multiple forwards. This would really cause trouble, when a mail has multiple
forwarded attachments which inturn has attachments.
(b) Show the attachment bar at the end of the top message
part (bottom of the message view). In this case, there would be just one
attachment bar, at the bottom of the message view. The only difference between
(1) and this, is that it doesnt have a dedicated window space, which hides the
message view. When a forwarded (attached) message which has attachments is
viewed inline, its attachments are shown in the parent message's attachment bar
and when hidden, its attachments are removed from the bar. But it has a issue,
that the user has to scroll a lot, if he has to see the attachments. This can
be solved by adding a button at the top without disturbing the UI, which
scrolls to the attachment bar.
(3) Have a expander at the top, probably below the subject, which
could list the attachments as links on expanding it. It would be simple. But it
wont be much user interactive. It is not a widget. Just embedded html links.
I would vote, for the 2 (b) option. We should have a "Scroll to Attachment bar"
button too as a short cut to avoid scrolling.
- Allow attachments to be shown inline
The attachments, which are set to show by default, should be shown
inline. The attachments will be shown in a widget frame which has a HIDE button
at the top to hide the displayed attachment. They also can be hidden, by click
"Hide" in r-click pop-up menu of the shown attachment.
- Resize the images to fit available size.
Provide a option in Edit->Preferences->Mail Preferences->HTML Mail->
Resize images to available size
It should keep the aspect ratio of the image.
- R-Click popup menu on the attachment.
The R-click menu should have "Save All Attachments", so that all the
attachments in the bar can be saved easily. I have put up a sample popup menu
at http//gnomebangalore.org/~sragavan/menu.png. It should have the default
application from mime type default application ,other supported application and
a provision to open with a custom application.
- Emblems to show the status of the attachment. (A New idea)
Many times, ive forgotten that did i save the attachment. Or did i saw
all the attachments. Just a idea from that pexperience. We should have some
emblems attached on those attachments, that are viewed, saved etc. I have put
up a screenshot of the mock at
http://gnomebangalore.org/~sragavan/emblem-bar.png.
All these are ideas, i wanted all your opinions and suggestions to improve the
attachment UI.
Thanks
Srini.
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