Hi Blake and Charles,
Sorry for the delay and thank you for debate.
Let me explain some tips.
Unified Search extension borns like a proof concept for the Bug 526221,
because some things was dicussed about what is better and what worse, but
without possibilities to test it (sometimes, something can seem bad when
speeking about but good or no-so-bad when testing it). The extension exists
only like attachments in that bug and not published at AMO, was not intended
like a production extension. But works well enought, no progress was in
resolution of that bug and I decide released.
Later, a quick solution for Bug 520040 (it's no smart, but works and is only
one line solution), and from 0.5 version an implementation for this Bug
extremely based on the attached Thomas's mockups. And the idea was the same: to
be a proof concept, an extension to test different features, behaviors, to
select what is best, what is bad, what can be improved. Not was intented to be
exactly the final solution, I'm sorry if this was what seems.
On other hand, let me say, Blake, all you pointed like possible bugs,
really are, but seems happens only to you (works good for me, and seems
works for Charles), I must continue testing it to discovered and solve
it. But the topic is not this, the extension is not builded to be 'as
is' included in the Thunderbird code, because technical reasons; can be
useful for daily use by power users and useful to speek about what
features and how must be included in Thunderbird, like we are doing now,
and this last is really its goal.
For example, Unified Search include three alternatives to unified global and
filter boxes:
- Give to the Thunderbird Global Search box filter capabilities (active it
from the extension options).
- Give to the Thunderbird Quick Filter box global search capability (active it
from the extension options and disable 'hide quick filter bar' and 'hide quick
filter box'; then, press Ctrl+Enter when using the standard filter box to open
a global search -press only the Enter key is an available option, but disabled
by default because was discussed previously and don't like to several users
that use Enter to speed up the filtering, that have a timeout-). By default
(without the extension), a global search can be opened from the filter box only
when there are no results, with extension you can do it ever.
- Create a new widget, with both capabilities: current Unified Search Widget
do this, but includes several options for testing only:
- Horizontal bar, vertical bar, and a button to show/hide it (and also a
shortcut, press Down key when in widget box): final widget implementation must
only include one of them, vertical Or horizontal, and maybe the button can be
removed or changed in some way; will be simplier than now, but both options was
included because was discussed previously with the Thomas's mockup, extension
can be used to test both options and choice the bests (or evolve one of them);
"test it to decide", and not only "think about it to decide", was my
contribution to help in the process of choosing a solution.
- Widget working 'all in one', or with two differents modes (one for only
search, one for filtering), and the button and shortcut to switch mode: the
'two differents modes' behavior needs a button and shortcut to switch mode,
maybe being a more cluttered widget, but 'all in one' without modes without
search/filter button needs some way to change between show global search
suggestions or not show it (because show global search suggestions can overlap
some filtering results if both are working at same time -this behavior can be
tested using the standard global search with filtering capabilities enabled and
disabling the option 'autocomplete and quick filtering must be incompatible'-).
'All in one' must be thought like current 'filter mode' without the
search/filter switch button (imagine it;).
Another questions:
- Technically, I'm using the 'Thunderbird global search widget' (gloda box)
like the widget base, because of this, all their features are inherit, and
then, I change something to implement filtering by synchronizing widget values
with the standard quick filter box, because of this Unified Search Extension
needs the Quick Filter Bar to exists to work, this must be changed in a
Thunderbird implementation of Unified Widget.
- 'auto-expands/contracts': previously means that auto-expand/contracts
features is not implemented by me, is implemented by standard global search
widget, and I don't touch it, you can enjoy this feature in the standard search
without the extension! I don't know if is a bad or good feature, but is a
Thunderbird feature. If don't like you, maybe a bug for this can be opened.
- 'So when I just tried it, I typed a string, then switched from filter to
gloda, and the string disappeared': it's a bug, the behavior must be that the
string is presserved in order to allow you to see the search suggestions (that
appear automatically when switch), it's the idea; But works fine to me, I
couldn't repeat the bug :(.
- 'For the add-on's popup, there's no indication of what the various icons
are, or which keys I would use to activate them.': I use the standard
Mozilla-XUL method to implement key-shortcuts, meaning that a letter is
underscored or between brackets in the button text; but I see in your
screenshots that you are using 'icons only' in the preferences of your toolbar,
this hide all texts in Thunderbird buttons and Unified Search buttons too. Just
like the standard. Maybe an alternative to the standard can be used (any idea?)
or have a 'customize' preference different for the widget options bar (pop-up
with the filtering options). New users will see the texts and shortcuts
reminders because 'icons beside text' is the default configuration in
Thunderbird. Note: if you have opened the Thunderbird Quick Filter Bar when
trying to use the shortcuts from Unified Search Widget, shortcuts will no work
because a conflict, but is a bug that only happens with both opened, the idea
is have only one bar, not both.
- I know some filtering options shortcuts overrules some menu shortcuts, is a
knowed bug. Note that Thunderbird quick filter bar have not shortcuts for this
options/buttons by default, are included with the extension.
- 'For the add-on, to clear the options, Esc+Esc is a _horrible_ key
combination. (I also have no idea what "Clear Options" actually does…)': It's
only doing the same that Thunderbird Quick Filter Box does (that really is a
three-Esc process); maybe a proposal can be opened like a new bug, and I can
try to implement it in the extension to test it. To explain, Thunderbird
developers decision was:
- One Esc: clear filtering text; if no text, clear last filter option
(un-press/un-select button); if no text and no options selected, close quick
filter bar.
- Second Esc: clear options (un-press/un-selects buttons)
- Third Esc: close quick filter bar.
- Press clear button: clear filtering text; here there is a small
difference in Unified Search Widget: clear button clear the text and the
options (is like reset all filtering options). What behavior is preferred here,
clear all or clear only text?
- 'I agree there is more stuff displayed at the start in the QFB, but it's
better organized, and so easier to understand, and I don't think the add-on
actually does any less so it's not actually more minimal.': Yes, the idea is
just do the same in less space and organization I think is quite similar, only
changed the main place where widget is and some options in a popup/menu
(despite the behavior of use 'icons only' for options, it's a config matter,
not what a new user will see with default profile -'icons beside text' is the
default config-). But it's important for small screens, like netbooks, be
minimal: I have users that 'love' Unified Search Widget just for this and hate
standard big bar.
- 'Why is there an icon to show or hide the extra popup?': because is needed
for the horizontal menu; if the prefered option is have the popup bar and
remove the horizontal menu, we can remove the button.
- 'Once I type something, and the bar is popped up, how do I navigate to it
with the keyboard?': it's a weak, shared with the standard Thunderbird quick
filter bar (spite of this, the bar was included in thunderbird); only can be
'navigated' with shortcuts. Any technique solution is welcome (we can open a
new bug for this, because happens to Thunderbird just now from 3.1 version).
- 'I think we can have something that offers both filtering and global search
without making people specify which one they want, by extending the behaviour
of the QFB when you type in something like "fjdsfjslfnsdkfn" to also cover
cases where there are matches, and that seems like a better way to go to me…':
I explain this previously, try the filter-box with global search capabilities,
global search with filtering capabilities, or using the unified search widget
only in filtering mode and press Ctrl+Enter to do a global search and say us
what you prefer, or what approach is closest to what you prefer and we can work
on the right track.
- A bug in Unified Search Widget: no message is included saying the number of
messages found; if preference 'hide quick filter bar' is selected, no coloured
border appear, only a different background colour.
- A bug in Unified Search Widget: no options to select what tags you want to
filter on, Quick Filter Bar let you choose some tags after press 'Tags' button.
'Nothing' more ;-)
Sorry for the large text, I hope I was clear, please ask any questions.
Thanks,
IagoSRL
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/691380
Title:
Quick Search Filter should be moveable
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