Hi,
Proposal 2 is the best because attachments (if present) are always
visible in the same location (not at the end of some variable-length
mail message).
One of my biggest problems with attachments (mostly jpg's) is that when
displayed inline, they become nearly impossible to save to disk.
I think that when a filename is doubleclicked (what most novice users
will do), a *dialogue* should appear asking whether to save or open the
file.
A right click on a filename should also reveal a menu
(save/open/properties). The attachment button should remain too, for the
many users who haven't realized that they have a right mouse button.
Most importantly, though, is that the attachments "window" should be
large enough to show the FULL filename of a typical longish filename
PLUS 25%, *BUT* should be narrow enough to allow longer subject lines
and TO/CC lines to be displayed in full, all on one line as best as
possible.
The "save as..." and "save all..." options should preselect either a
defined directory (prefs), or (within a session at least) suggest the
previously selected directory.
I don't think the filesize is so important, because one can infer it
from the size/lines collumn in the header pane. This would just take
space away from the subject line, which is more relevant here (let's not
forget that).
Jennifer Glick wrote:
> Scott MacGregor has actually been working on trying to improve this. Some
> ideas we have been looking at are posted here:
> http://www.mozilla.org/mailnews/specs/threepane/Attachments.html
>
> Feedback appreciated.
>
> Ben Bucksch wrote:
>
>
>> WIth the small attachments button being the only indicatior for
>> attachments, and the fact that inline stuff like vCards counts as
>> attachments, it is currently very easy to overlook attachments.
>>
>> Attachments are an important part of msgs, sometimes the most important
>> one. When composing such msgs myself, I often do not put any verbiage
>> into the msg body that hints to the msg.
>>
>> I.e. it is quite possible that a user completely misses the point of
>> msgs. I leave it up to you to figure out the consequences (missing
>> deadlines etc.).
>>
>> Thinking about 4.x, a solution seems easy: Just put a note at the end of
>> the body, that there are attachments, in they aren't all inline. Or,
>> imitate 4.x completely and add links for each of the non-inline
>> attachments. Shouldn't be hard and completely solves the problem.
>>
>> Anyone has a better suggestion? Opinions?
