[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-look
Subject:    Re: Minor suggestions
From:       Manuel Arriaga <m.arriaga () ip ! pt>
Date:       2001-12-18 16:45:21
[Download RAW message or body]

Hi Dave,

Thank your comments.

On Tuesday 18 December 2001 13:55, Dave Leigh wrote:
> On Monday 17 December 2001 12:58, Manuel Arriaga wrote:
>
> I'm using Mandrake, so my menus are different from what you describe
> (remember, if you don't like things you can change them, though I
> understand your criticisms with regard to the default configuration.  Just
> a couple of thoughts:

That certainly is an important aspect I forgot about: namely, that, besides 
individual users being able to configure the menus, _Linux distributions_ 
could also do that.

Still, since I compiled 2.2 from source, I suppose that what I see is the 
default KDE configuration. But I certainly agree that distributions 
constitute an important filter between KDE itself and  the user.

> > 1- Duplication between 'Graphics' and 'Word processing' : both entries
> > list .ps, .pdf  and .dvi viewers.
> >
> > 2- 'GV', 'X PDF' and 'X DVI' under 'Word processing': none of them
> > provides a way to edit (rich) text documents, which (I think) should be
> > the criterium of inclusion in that section.
>
> This is really a judgement call, as postscript, pdf, and dvi typically are
> representations of a printed page, and have no more to do with graphics
> than they do with text. Putting them in both places seems to be a
> reasonable compromise. Mandrake puts two submenus under "Applications"...
> "Editors" and "Text Tools." This appears to me to be a better solution
> regarding tools used for editing vs. tools used to display or otherwise
> manage text.

I couldn't agree more with you as far as the Mandrake setup is concerned. It 
was something along those lines that I was advocating (separating "editors" 
from "viewers"). In what regards the 'Graphics' menu, as you put it yourself, 
"postscript, pdf and dvi typically are representations of a printed page", so 
perhaps they really shouldn't be there.


> > 4- Existence of 'Control Centre', 'System' and 'Preferences' submenus
> > leads to confusion. Although I understand the difference between
> > system-wide settings and individual user preferences (it is
> > understandable in a multi-user OS), I don't understand why both are shown
> > to non-privileged users: perhaps only root should see the 'System'
> > submenu. Besides that, there are some items under 'Preferences' which
> > don't seem to belong there:
>
> System utilities can be run by non-priviledged users by virtue of the
> "kdesu" command, which requires the root password at program invocation. I
> almost never log on as root, and if you do you shouldn't. Having these
> utilities on the menu allows us to run these programs without having to log
> out as a user then log back in as root.  This both promotes security and
> saves time.

I understand your point. But, still, on a multi-user system, a user which 
can't run the system utilities (because she wasn't given root's password) 
shouldn't be presented with a considerable list of commands she will never be 
able to run. A possible solution would be to allow the user (either in the 
Control Center or under 'Preferences') to switch on the display of the System 
menu when/if  she was granted root access to the system.

Do you also believe that apparently there is some confusion in the choice of 
items under 'Preferences' and 'System'? What about the existence of the 
Control Center, which is a duplication of the 'Preferences' submenu, but 
lacks system-wide configuration options (those under 'System')?


> > 6- 'Advanced Editor', 'Kate' and 'Text Editor' under 'Editors': three
> > very similar applications in the same menu leads to confusion.
>
> That's been discussed both here and on other KDE lists. As various features
> and different techniques are tried you can expect some diversity to result.
> In the future we'll likely see these merge.

At least I got *this one* right. :-)

> > 7- When quitting KDE, user should  be notified of any running apps
> > (specially important due to multiple virtual desktops).
>
> The best possible world would be for KDE to remember state of the current
> session so that when you log back in it's restored exactly as you left it.
> That's what session management already attempts to do, at least with regard
> to KDE apps. If there are non-KDE apps running, or if you have unsaved
> documents, then you are informed. It works that way now, so I don't see
> your point.

You are absolutely right; I now notice that I had never attempted to quit KDE 
with a unsaved document open. Since KDE didn't complain when I tried to exit 
with Konqueror and Kmail open, I wrongly assumed that KDE would handle all 
apps the same way and that work might be lost due to that behaviour. My 
mistake. :-)

Best regards,

Manuel

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]