1875121 - searching directory popup during message compose

Status: NEW

(Thunderbird :: Message Compose Window, defect)

Description

[mdidomenico]

Steps to reproduce:

when composing a reply to a message with several contacts that are not in my addressbook, but rather in my company's ldap system, i briefly get a pop that says TB is searching the directory. which is fine. however, when it does this the pop steals focus from the window and i end up typing into another window or something.

it's super annoying, not only that there's a popup, but it's also usually 1-2seconds after the compose window opens, so i've already started typing my reply. which is then messed up because of the window focus stealing

Expected results:

can the popup be turned off

Comment 1

[Magnus Melin [:mkmelin]]

The window can't be turned of as is. But the code in question could be refactored to work without the window.

Comment 2

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

This happened also in version 102?

Comment 3

[Magnus Melin [:mkmelin]]

It's due to an ancient design deficiency.

Comment 4

[mdidomenico]

it does not happen with v102, only 115+

Comment 5

[Magnus Melin [:mkmelin]]

I think it can happen with all versions. It may be more common with 115 since we're suggesting to encrypt more (and that for certain configurations ends up searching certs through ldap).

Comment 6

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

I screen shot would be helpful so we have the exact wording.

Comment 7

[mdidomenico]

unfortunately that i cannot do, as the machines i use are on an isolated network. i'll see if i can grab the wording though.

Comment 9

[alexandre.ferrieux]

Attachment: popup.png

Comment 10

[alexandre.ferrieux]

Just attached an image of the popup.
Please generalize to "whatever background task that suddenly thinks it's a good idea to tell you it's alive".
In all such situations, you'll soon or later get similar complaints about stolen focus and annoyed users.
Pop-ups should only be used when mandatory, i.e. when user input is required. In this case they should be (and typically are already) modal.
Modeless pop-ups with informative content should be completely banned in favour of the status line, IMO.