612564 - Too many different looking glasses

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Thunderbird :: Mail Window Front End, defect)

Description

[Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn)]

Attachment: screenshot

We seem to have 2 different looking glasses in our UI. While this is better than 3, that we used to have it would still be nice to have just one.

Comment 1

[Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn)]

One way of fixing this would be to:
1. get rid of the icon in the filter box, it doesn't do anything.
2. make the one in the searchbox simple in style similar to the toggle button one.

Comment 2

[Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn)]

and while it would be good to have something different for search and filter, there is simply no good metaphor to use for filter specifically.

Comment 3

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Andreas, thanks for looking at this

(In reply to comment #2)
> and while it would be good to have something different for search and filter,
it must also be confusing to those users who stop to think about it

> there is simply no good metaphor to use for filter specifically.
there was a brown funnel icon (now gone) which I think was used for Filter Messages in Account Central panel.  It might be a decent metaphor for quick filter.

to add fuel to the mix...the two search boxes work differently ...
> 1. get rid of the icon in the filter box, it doesn't do anything.
In fact it does, although nothing practical -  if you click it with the default text there, it clears the text. 

conversely if you click the search all messages icon, it oes worse than nothing - it doesn't change focus to the search all messages box


But to come back to the original topic of the bug and posit a different conclusion - I think icons in both places is good - it's helps draw the eye. If that thought doesn't fly, there may be reason to say there's no need for either spot to have an icon.

Comment 4

[Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn)]

(In reply to comment #3)

> > there is simply no good metaphor to use for filter specifically.
> there was a brown funnel icon (now gone) which I think was used for Filter
> Messages in Account Central panel.  It might be a decent metaphor for quick
> filter.

I feel that's a bit of a weak metaphor.


> In fact it does, although nothing practical -  if you click it with the
> default text there, it clears the text.

As far as I can see, that applies to clicking anywhere in the box, and not the icon specifically.


> But to come back to the original topic of the bug and posit a different
> conclusion - I think icons in both places is good - it's helps draw the eye. If
> that thought doesn't fly, there may be reason to say there's no need for either
> spot to have an icon.

But the first one actually works as a action button. I just feel that we might need to kill one of them, and the filter one comes off as less useful of the two.

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

(In reply to comment #4)
> But the first one actually works as a action button. 

ah, never new that - there is no hint that it does anything after typing into the field. I've always used the enter key

Comment 6

[Richard Marti (:Paenglab)]

This is fixed now with bug 1373923, The QFB button uses a icon of a funnel.