533031 - Print to File dialog defaults to a hidden filename

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 485067

(Core :: Printing: Output, defect)

Description

[Donald Owen]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1.5) Gecko/20091109 Ubuntu/9.10 (karmic) Firefox/3.5.5
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1.5) Gecko/20091109 Ubuntu/9.10 (karmic) Firefox/3.5.5

When one prints to PDF/PS/SVG from Firefox and Thunderbird, the filename defaults to ".pdf" or ".ps" or ".svg"

These filenames are hidden by default in GNOME file browsers and in most shell file commands such as 'ls.'  It is my opinion that this is a bad practice. If one forgets to specify a filename then the file is hidden in the user's home directory and is difficult to find.
If it is possible, I would like to see a default filename of "[Window_Title].pdf" or at least "output.pdf"

I also checked the same dialog in Chromium and it defaulted to "output.pdf," a much more friendly, though not terribly descriptive, default setting.

I filed a bug with the Ubuntu FF team, but was asked to file upstream as well, so this is that bug report.

Relevant version information:
Ubuntu 9.10 x64
(default FF install included w/ Ubuntu): Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1.5) Gecko/20091109 Ubuntu/9.10 (karmic) Firefox/3.5.5
(Thunderbird downloaded from Mozilla Messaging): Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686 (x86_64); en-US; rv:1.9.1.5) Gecko/20091130 Thunderbird/3.0

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open FF or Thunderbird
2. Select a webpage or email to print
3. File > Print... > Print to File
4. Observe default name in dialog box, this file name (.extension) is hidden by default in GNOME file browsers and shell commands
Actual Results:  
Default filenames are hidden and files printed without changing the file name are difficult to find

Expected Results:  
The default filename should be something reasonable like 'output.extension' or 'WINDOWS_TITLE.extension'

Ubuntu bug id: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/firefox-3.5/+bug/488857

Comment 1

[Daniel Holbert [:dholbert]]

dupe of bug 485067.

(Coincidental timing -- I actually filed a Gnome upstream bug for this today :))