611996 - About dialog doesn't show up in window list on Mac OS X

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: Menus, defect)

Description

[Ben Turner (not reading bugmail, use the needinfo flag!)]

Not sure where to file this, but the About dialog isn't included in the window list for some reason on OS X. Since I can click away from it and hide it beneath other windows I think it should be included.

Comment 1

[Henrik Skupin [:whimboo][⌚️UTC+1]]

The About window is not a document window and given the HIG it shouldn't appear in this list. None of my installed applications make use of an entry.

Comment 2

[Ben Turner (not reading bugmail, use the needinfo flag!)]

"Finder" does, for instance...

Comment 3

[Aaron Train [:aaronmt]]

I'd like to add just how annoying this is to lose the visibility of the help window while it's updating if one has many applications and spaces setup on OSX. It can get lost in a sea of open applications. +1 to adding this to the window list on the dock.

Comment 4

[Alex Faaborg [:faaborg] (Firefox UX)]

Limi: what do you think?  I'm fine with violating the HIG on this one since we actually have some functionality in the window (updating).

Comment 5

[Alex Limi (:limi) — Firefox UX Team]

I think the main problem here is that we can end up in a state where the application is waiting for you to click the Restart button, and I've been able to get a second About window to show up while the actual window that does the update is blocking it, so there is no Apply Update button, and no indication of version check.

I don't think we should put the About window in the Window menu (other windows like the Download Manager *should* be there, though), I'd rather make sure there are no edge cases if you lose the window that gets you stuck if you re-trigger the About window.

Comment 6

[:Margaret Leibovic]

(In reply to comment #5)
> I think the main problem here is that we can end up in a state where the
> application is waiting for you to click the Restart button, and I've been able
> to get a second About window to show up while the actual window that does the
> update is blocking it, so there is no Apply Update button, and no indication of
> version check.
> 
> I don't think we should put the About window in the Window menu (other windows
> like the Download Manager *should* be there, though), I'd rather make sure
> there are no edge cases if you lose the window that gets you stuck if you
> re-trigger the About window.

You shouldn't be able to open two about windows. Bug 599573 fixed that.

Comment 7

[Ben Turner (not reading bugmail, use the needinfo flag!)]

(In reply to comment #5)
> I don't think we should put the About window in the Window menu (other windows
> like the Download Manager *should* be there, though)

What's the difference between the About dialog and the Download window? Especially since we have Update functionality built in now?

Comment 8

[Alex Limi (:limi) — Firefox UX Team]

(In reply to comment #0)
> Not sure where to file this, but the About dialog isn't included in the window
> list for some reason on OS X. Since I can click away from it and hide it
> beneath other windows I think it should be included.

This is the same in any OS X application, you can do the same in Safari, for instance. As long as the About window can't block anything (bug 599573, which was fixed), and shows up when you trigger About again, I don't think this is something we want to deviate from the standard behavior on.