746095 - When the folder tree pane shows no folders and accounts, make the account central inform the user what is (could be) the problem.

Status: NEW

(MailNews Core :: Account Manager, enhancement)

Description

[:aceman]

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #713277 +++

If the folder tree pane shows no folders and accounts, either none are defined or are filtered out via folder view. In bug 713277 these cases were catched so that they do not throw exceptions.

But we can probably do better. In some of the cases we can tell the user what the problem is (like he must create at least one account).

The infrastructure for this information was started in bug 713277 but it is moved to this bug so finish it. 
The problem is, Account central is not dynamic enough. After the user solves the problem (creates account, changes folder view), AC is not refreshed to "re-check" the problems so it still shows the outdated message.

That is the last point needed to finish this feature. If anybody knows how to force refresh of the Account central OR hook it to react to more events, then I'd welcome those hints.

Comment 1

[Ian Neal]

Does this deal with comment 2 from bug 720661 too?

Comment 2

[:aceman]

Maybe, if I get answer to bug 720661 comment 3 :)

Comment 3

[Ian Neal]

(In reply to :aceman from comment #2)
> Maybe, if I get answer to bug 720661 comment 3 :)

TB doesn't appear to have a duplicate tab (Ctrl-T) option so it will be an SM only issue.

Comment 4

[:aceman]

Then I will probably not be able touch that. You'll probably need to make a SM specific fix.

Comment 6

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Another related to account availability

Comment 7

[Alessandro Castellani [:aleca]]

With the new account hub, if no folders pane has no accounts or folders, the UI adapts to hide that empty Pane, and showing a simplified account central view which focuses on account creation.
Maybe also this bug can be closed.

Comment 8

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

Aceman, can you describe steps for the "filtered out via folder view" problem case?

For the former main cases of this bug, this looks done. Aceman, can this be closed?
Maybe better to start new bugs for any remainders.

Comment 9

[:aceman]

"filtered out via folder view" means the folder modes, e.g. View->Folders->Favorite when you have no favorite folders will show an empty folder pane. Try restarting TB at that point and you will get an empty folder pane and empty pane to the right (no account central, no message list). That is correct working, but may confuse the user and looks exactly the same as if TB thrown some exception due to an error in enumerating accounts/folders.