Closed Bug 845658 Opened 11 years ago Closed 9 years ago

[UX] Implement "Remove Completed Downloads" Option

Categories

(Firefox :: Downloads Panel, enhancement)

Product:
Firefox
Component:
Downloads Panel
Version:
20 Branch
Platform:
x86
All
Type:
enhancement
Priority:
Not set
Severity:
normal
Points:
5

Tracking

()

Status:
RESOLVED WONTFIX

People

(Reporter: david.hocky, Unassigned)

References

(Blocks 1 open bug)

Details

(Keywords: uiwanted, Whiteboard: [ux]) 

Add button next to "Show All Downloads" stating "Remove Completed Downloads". Alternatively (or in addition), add to preference panel to "Remove completed downloads on exit".

This would allow users to more easily manage downloads without having to open the library.
Keywords: uiwanted
what do you mean by "on exit", when closing the panel? since we already remove completed downloads on exit.
Hi Marco, while downloads are removed from the download list on exit, they are not removed from the "library". Selecting the download arrow shows no downloads but then clicking "Show all downloads" opens the library with a history of files. There needs to be a way to clean this up without having to open the library every time.

Right now if I go to "Preferences" -> "Privacy" and then change "History" to "Use custom settings", I can tell Firefox to not "Remember my browsing and download history", but I cannot choose just to forget downloads (and this is not a very obvious location either).
(In reply to David H from comment #2)
> Hi Marco, while downloads are removed from the download list on exit, they
> are not removed from the "library". Selecting the download arrow shows no
> downloads but then clicking "Show all downloads" opens the library with a
> history of files. There needs to be a way to clean this up without having to
> open the library every time.

What's the reason to remove them? Why does that differ from other history?

> Right now if I go to "Preferences" -> "Privacy" and then change "History" to
> "Use custom settings", I can tell Firefox to not "Remember my browsing and
> download history", but I cannot choose just to forget downloads (and this is
> not a very obvious location either).

downloads history is history, thus they are handled the same.
(In reply to Marco Bonardo [:mak] (Away Mar 1) from comment #3)

> What's the reason to remove them? Why does that differ from other history?

When I open the downloads panel and see it with no entries I intuitively think that my download history has been removed. 
- If I manually remove an item from this panel it DOES in fact remove it from the history so why would an end user think anything else when simply exiting Firefox.
- When I open the panel and simply see a 'greyed out' "Show All Downloads" (which isn't obviously click-able unless hovered over), which I think also lends to the assumption that there are no more downloads.

> downloads history is history, thus they are handled the same.

I dont think Download History is really not the same as Browsing History. Browsing history can be used to help suggest URLs/sites for a user, whereas once the downloads are removed from the panel they are just tucked away in an archive (the library). 

Unless a clearer indication that downloads are being saved to the library is implemented (this was an option you could disable in previous versions of FF by selecting to clear downloads list on exit), then I think users should have the option to only store browsing history and/or download history depending on personal preference.
(In reply to David H from comment #4)
> When I open the downloads panel and see it with no entries I intuitively
> think that my download history has been removed. 

This sounds like an assumption based on how the old DM window was workins.
The panel is not a manager, has been designed as a notification panel. I can see how on first uses one may confuse the behavior since used to the old manager, but that miscomprehension should  fade out pretty quickly after first uses.

> > downloads history is history, thus they are handled the same.
> 
> I dont think Download History is really not the same as Browsing History.
> Browsing history can be used to help suggest URLs/sites for a user, whereas
> once the downloads are removed from the panel they are just tucked away in
> an archive (the library).

There is really no difference from this point of view, also history menu shows 10 entries and old history is in an archive.

> Unless a clearer indication that downloads are being saved to the library is
> implemented (this was an option you could disable in previous versions of FF
> by selecting to clear downloads list on exit)

Actually that's untrue, previous versions of Firefox were indeed allowing to clear "downloads" in the manager, but they were also already storing downloads history apart in the Library, you can easily verify that in any version < 20. So you actually thought to clear downloads history, while it was not cleared at all. The current situation just makes that evident so it's less likely one will think to have cleared downloads just to discover later they are still in his history.
btw, you may also take a look at bug 838681, that is related.
Thanks, will do
Depends on: 838681
Blocks: 838681
No longer depends on: 838681
(In reply to Marco Bonardo [:mak] from comment #3)
 
> downloads history is history, thus they are handled the same.

If they're the same then why do they have different interfaces? (By the logic of your argument: that they're the same, then the download panel is completely unnecessary and the interfaces for browsing history and download history should be identical.)

The real answer is they're different because users treat download differently than they do history. Saving or copying a file from a site to your computer is a different use-case than simply visiting a site. Download history != browsing history.
I know that bugzilla is not the place to post opinion on FF features but I was really surprised to find out that the new download manager does not have feature parity with the old download manager.

I would love to see an option to set download history retention separately from web page history retention.
In my view it is now too easy to clear downloads accidentally. Thought should be given to adding a confirmation step, especially when a large number of downloads are about to be deleted (just as you are warned when closing a window with multiple tabs).  Downloads take time to find, and time to download.  A lot of work can be destroyed in an instant, even by accident.
(In reply to liboff12346 from comment #10)
> In my view it is now too easy to clear downloads accidentally. Thought
> should be given to adding a confirmation step, especially when a large
> number of downloads are about to be deleted (just as you are warned when
> closing a window with multiple tabs).  Downloads take time to find, and time
> to download.  A lot of work can be destroyed in an instant, even by accident.

We indeed plan to add a confirmation dialog when closing Firefox while donwloads are ongoing.
Needs UI decision and spec.
Keywords: uiwanted
why, it was discussed many times this is a wontfix until we find valid use-cases for it. Such use-cases have not still been brought up by anyone.
I think people have expressed interest in separating download history and browsing history. As such, there should be similar options for keeping download history cleaned up as there is browsing history (if not with the level of specificity). This functionality certainly used to exist... not sure why or exactly in what release it was removed.
As I previously explained many times, what was there before was an option to give a false sense of privacy, the data was stored elsewhere, even if you cleared downloads history. There was NO privacy at all, unless you cleared all history data, we just decided to clarify that in the UI, but nothing changed from a privacy point of view.
So, given that there's no privacy win here (for that you should really use a private window or clear all of history), what's the use-case to limit downloads history to the session?
IMHO, from a UX/house-keeping perspective it's a nice functionality to have instead of having to go through and delete these manually especially once the files have been deleted or moved from the original download directory it doesn't help to leave the download history around (right now i believe it just greys the download out so you can't double click on it). If you still disagree, please feel free to close and mark as WONTFIX.
No longer blocks: fxdesktopbacklog
Flags: firefox-backlog+
Summary: Implement "Remove Completed Downloads" Option → [UX] Implement "Remove Completed Downloads" Option
Whiteboard: [ux] p=0 → [ux] p=5
Points: --- → 5
Flags: qe-verify-
Whiteboard: [ux] p=5 → [ux]
¡Hola David!

Given https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=838663 I'm guessing this is WONTFIX.

¡Hola Mike!

Could you please confirm if this is in fact a WONTFIX or needinfo the right person?

¡Gracias!
Alex
Flags: needinfo?(mconley)
Status: UNCONFIRMED → RESOLVED
Closed: 9 years ago
Flags: needinfo?(mconley)
Resolution: --- → WONTFIX
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