1802914 - Restore a direct way of writing to a mailing list selected in directory pane (e.g. add `Write` to context menu)

Status: NEW

(Thunderbird :: Address Book, defect)

Description

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

Attachment: Screenshot 1: In TB 102, no direct way to write to a mailing list selected in directory pane

STR (compare TB 91 vs. 102)

• In directory pane (sic, on the left side of AB!), select a mailing list node.
• Try to write a message to that mailing list (without going back to the parent AB and searching again for the mailing list which is already right in front of you)

Actual

• In 102, there's no direct way in the UI to write to a mailing list which is selected in directory pane.
• Looks like an obvious and legitimate scenario, but users in that situation may get stuck, not knowing how to perform that task (as in this support question).
• In TB 91, you could use the Write button on toolbar to write to everyone in the list via To (and weirdly, the list would be expanded as well).
• 102: As a workaround (from here), you could click on the first member, then press Ctrl+A to select all members (much harder with mouse), then right-click > Write. Not very intuitive/efficient.

Expected

• Restore/provide an easier/more intuitive/more discoverable way of writing to a mailing list node selected in directory pane
  • Imho, at least Write action should be offered in the context menu of a mailing list node in directory pane; I've advocated to assimilate the context menus (the other one is when you right-click on a mailing list item between contacts of the AB), but strangely, Write didn't make it...
  • I understand that Alex doesn't want to expose the Write button on the toolbar again, so with that, not easy to expose this explicitly in other ways which aren't random, but somewhat consistent with the general UI logics here...
• I think there's no advantage in auto-expanding the list; the visual and mental burden will be significantly less with just having a single mailing list item in the recipient area, consistent with the other methods of writing to a mailing list. You can always right-click on a list item in recipient area > Expand List.

Comment 1

[Matt]

From my own personal "axe to grind" factory. It would be good if this option offered BCC as a compose choice. My feelings are those that most have a need for BCC tend not to be the ones using it.

Comment 2

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

(In reply to Matt from comment #1)

From my own personal "axe to grind" factory. It would be good if this option offered BCC as a compose choice. My feelings are those that most have a need for BCC tend not to be the ones using it.

Yes, absolutely. I had already filed this as Bug 1797061.

Comment 3

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

(In reply to Thomas D. (:thomas8) from comment #2)

(In reply to Matt from comment #1)

From my own personal "axe to grind" factory. It would be good if this option offered BCC as a compose choice. My feelings are those that most have a need for BCC tend not to be the ones using it.

Yes, absolutely. I had already filed this as Bug 1797061.

Having a fast fix here would be better imo than waiting for bug 1797061. Whenever bug 1797061 gets done, we can easily swap both simple context menu entries for the submenu variant.

Comment 4

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

Attachment: 1802914 Writing to a mailing list

The fast fix is that this functionality does exist right now. You need to select the parent item in the list of address books. For example, in the attached image, if your mailing list is named "Test", then click on "Personal Address Book." After clicking on the address book, a list of contacts will appear next to the list of address books. Select the the mailing list name from this list of contacts. From there, when you select the mailing list name, the write option appears next to the list of contacts. This is a bit of a workaround, but does do what is needed.

Comment 5

[Elizabeth Mitchell]

The fast fix is that this functionality does exist right now. You need to click on the parent item in the menu, then click on the mailing list name, and the write option appears. This is a bit of a workaround, but does do what is needed.

Comment 7

[Magnus Melin [:mkmelin]]

Fixing this is even more important for 115 since there is no longer a global Write button visible on the main toolbar.

Comment 8

[Alessandro Castellani [:aleca]]

(In reply to Magnus Melin [:mkmelin] from comment #7)

Fixing this is even more important for 115 since there is no longer a global Write button visible on the main toolbar.

I don't think this is a valid point to raise the priority of this bug.

• We haven't finished the unified toolbar, which the last step includes migrating existing buttons from the old toolbar to the new one. So users that have a "Write" button in there will see it again.
• The new unified toolbar allows showing a Write button in all spaces, even the Address Book, which 102 doesn't support at all.
• This issue is strictly for mailing lists, and there are 2 workarounds already available:
  • Select the list and click Write
  • Access the list from the Contacts sidebar in the compose window