68134 - Need list of "tweakable settings" in advanced preferences

Status: VERIFIED DUPLICATE of bug 17199

(SeaMonkey :: Preferences, enhancement)

Description

[Peter Lairo]

Need list of "tweakable settings" in advanced preferences

There should be a tab in advanced prefs with a list of "Tweakable Settings" like
IE has under start - settings - control panel - internet.

This would be an excellent reservoir for settings that would confuse the normal
user but would be highly appreciated by power users.

The settings could include things like:
- display new window directly on top of previous (no cascading)
- remove deleted themes fro prefs.js
- underline links (always, on hover, never)
- play sounds on webpages
- etc.

Comment 1

[Boris Zbarsky [:bzbarsky]]

See also bug 67996.

I agree with mpt that this is a bad idea.

Comment 2

[Fabian Guisset]

bad idea, me think so too. see also bug 17199, which looks more interesting

Comment 3

[Peter Lairo]

i strongly feel that there should be some place where teakable settings should
reside. It could be a relatively inconspicuous place (where novices fear to
tread) like under "Advanced - Miscellaneous".

Frankly, I don't understand the concern about "overloading" the program with
options. What harm could option do? Especially when they are placed in an
inconspicuous place where nobody (ok, maybe a few lusers) will confuse them with
required settings - "Miscellaneous" is pretty clear!

Comment 4

[Ben Bucksch (:BenB)]

How is that different frlom bug 17199? Suggest dupping.

Comment 5

[Peter Lairo]

bug 17199 only suggests adding settings that are in the prefs.js file.

This bug requests that there needs to be a place for settings to be adjusted
that may or may not be in prefs.js. If the other bug changed its scope then i
would agree that this was a dupe. Currently, it is not.

Comment 6

[Matthew T (active 1999-2002)]

*   Displaying new windows in the most confusing manner possible is bug 67149.
*   If traces of deleted themes are retained in prefs.js, that is a bug, not
    something which there should be a pref for.
*   Underlining links already has UI in the `Colors' panel.
*   If you want a pref for playing sounds, file an RFE for that.
*   With the exception of pane/window sizes and positions, which are much more
    easily set by actually manipulating the windows than by fiddling with prefs,
    all settings *are* stored in prefs.js. Therefore, Peter's `settings [...]
    that may or may not be in prefs.js' is identical to `settings that are in
    prefs.js', so this bug is a duplicate of bug 17199.


*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 17199 ***

Comment 7

[Peter Lairo]

OK, so the examples I listed may not have been the best. I just copied a few
from the IE settings. The list there is VERY long and there a surely settings
that would apply to this request.

> Displaying new windows in the most confusing manner possible is bug 67149.

I have heard that entire OS's have it so that new windows are placed directly
above previous ones (no cascading). Some people just don't like having to
spacially reorient themselves every time a new window appears - all the back-,
forward-, bookmarks, scroll- and menu buttons keep shifting around with every
new window. Now that is most confusing. The taskbar shows what windows are open.

> ...more easily set by actually manipulating the windows...
Really? If one has to do it EVERY time a new window appears, i would think that
making a setting ONCE in prefs would be simpler.

Please remember that not everyone works the way you do. And denying these people
an *inconspicuously* placed pref (under advanced - miscellaneuous!!!) is just
silly and stubborn.

NOBODY has yet brough up even a single reason of what harm such an
inconspicuously placed reservoir for tweakable prefs would do. All i hear are
simple opinions "I *think* this is a bad idea...". That is a very dangerous
attitude in this compettitive market.

...Shifting my attention to bug 17199 and hoping for open minded people there :-)

Comment 8

[Boris Zbarsky [:bzbarsky]]

Peter, once you adjust the window size Mozilla remembers the new size.  So it
_is_ a one-time adjustment.

And as we said, bug 17199 is precisely about the "inconspicuous reservoir for
tweakable prefs" that you want.

verifying duplicate

Comment 9

[Peter Lairo]

OK, moving to other bug.

Just to clear things up: i am (and always have been) talking about the POSITION
of a window and not the size. I am fully aware that the size is retained.
Cascading (and not cascading) is, as the name implies, all about windows
POSITIONING!

There is nothing more frustrating than arguing with someone who doesn't even
care enough about a subject to even listen (i.e. read) to the others' point of
view. I fear for Mozilla sometimes...