429862 - Add views to DM window to show only active/recent/all entries

Status: NEW

(Toolkit :: Downloads API, defect)

Description

[Justin Dolske [:Dolske]]

Attachment: Mockup v.1

Bug 400495 has been, uhh, discussing the issue of having removed the "Clear List" button from the Download Manager. I generally agree with the removal of the button, for a variety of reasons, but I think there's a valid argument that we're still not accommodating a common use case. But the answer isn't to glue that button back onto the window, it's to find a better way to present info so users don't have to want/need to periodically click a cleanup button.

Here's one suggestion, using UI similar to what we already have in the Addons Manager and Error Console. Those who just want to have a view of what's currently downloading, without being distracted by a full history, can just have the "Active" view selected. "All" would be the unfiltered list we currently show, and there could be some in-between views if they seem useful.

Comment 1

[Justin Dolske [:Dolske]]

Attachment: Transmission on Ubuntu

Transmission (bittorrent client) uses a similar principle.

Comment 2

[Ed Lee :Mardak]

Reminds me of the early mockup to allow filtering of download "types"

http://wiki.mozilla.org/User:Dmose:Fx-Docs:DownloadManager/User_Interface#Mockup_and_Specification

* toolbar at bottom of dialog contains a "Show: Today|Completed|All" drop-down filter control and a "Clear All" button 

I mean.. no clear all button ;)

But the mockup in attachment 316629 [details] looks good to me.

Comment 3

[Mike Beltzner [:beltzner, not reading bugmail]]

At first blush, this seems pretty heavy to me, but it probably would help us by providing some chrome against which to anchor the search field.

Comment 4

[Damian Shaw [Quan]]

As well most of the "Clear List" concerns, this also provides a big step to making the download manager *feel* better in windows that I expressed in bug 419664

Comment 5

[Damian Shaw [Quan]]

Any news on this?