1488309 - "Compact Folders" dialog box can be alarming - should clearly indicate Thunderbird the requesting application.

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 716412

(Thunderbird :: Mail Window Front End, defect)

Description

[github]

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:61.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/61.0
Build ID: 20180807170231

Steps to reproduce:

Look at the Thunderbird compact folders request dialog


Actual results:

Thunderbird is not named as the originator of the dialog box, the request for action is not specific enough.  This confuses and alarms naive users.


Expected results:

Thunderbird should clearly be listed as the requesting application for compacting folders.

Comment 1

[Andre Klapper]

Where to see some "originator" or "requesting application"? Steps to reproduce welcome.

Comment 2

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

I can see how this might be alarming to the unsuspecting user, and there isn't anything distinguishing in the dialog chrome/window UI that makes it appear to belong to Thunderbird.

OTOH the dialog is modal to Thunderbird, which indicates the dialog belongs to that application. But being modal might not be noticed by a user.

(This probably belongs in backend, but moving to main window for now)

Comment 3

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Attachment: TB Compact Folders dialog 60.png

Reporter - how long have you been using Thunderbird?

Comment 4

[github]

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #3)
> Created attachment 9006223 [details]
> TB Compact Folders dialog 60.png
> 
> Reporter - how long have you been using Thunderbird?

Since version 1

Comment 5

[github]

(In reply to Andre Klapper from comment #1)
> Where to see some "originator" or "requesting application"? Steps to
> reproduce welcome.

The compact folders dialog arises randomly. Just use Thunderbird long enough and you will see it.

Comment 6

[github]

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #2)
> I can see how this might be alarming to the unsuspecting user, and there
> isn't anything distinguishing in the dialog chrome/window UI that makes it
> appear to belong to Thunderbird.
> 
> OTOH the dialog is modal to Thunderbird, which indicates the dialog belongs
> to that application. But being modal might not be noticed by a user.
> 
> (This probably belongs in backend, but moving to main window for now)

Perfect analysis! I submitted because a friend sent me this in an email:

"I keep getting this annoying app every time I turn on my computer. --Do I wish to compact my folders to save disc space. I answer no, but keep getting the dame request. Should I answer yes?"

I had to answer thus:

"If it is your mail client thunderbird asking yes you want to compact.
Test by closing thunderbird and then restarting it.  You should get the box."

My friend could not tell it was an application's modal dialog.

Comment 7

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Apparently the dialog/wording can also be confusing, for example https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1232155 
And the German locale of Thunderbird uses the term "compress".

Comment 8

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

This should be solved by improving the dialog in Bug 716412

It also has origins in bug 1260698