GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 319297
Path to evolution attachments when opened in other applications are unuseable
Last modified: 2006-05-25 22:06:10 UTC
Version details: 2.4.1 Distribution/Version: Ubuntu Breezy Forwarded from http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/18160 Open any attachment up in another application. When you are done, save the document using just the save method. The document is saved to /home/user/.evolution/cache/tmp/evolution-tmp-garbage/ ... This is completely unuseable by a novice user. When they are done, they simply click save, or click save-as and then change the file name. Somehow, evolution and/or the other applications should cooperate such that the default place to save the new file is /home/user/Documents/ or at least /home/user/
I think this is an issue with the other applications, since Saving the attachment using another app, is what evolution cannot control. Although I really understand what you are saying.
i'd also say that this is not an evolution bug. where should evolution pass that information?!
Perhaps evolution could warn the user that they are opening the document in a tmp directory and that they should be careful to save the Document to their desktop/Document folder when they are finished? I was the original reporter from Ubuntu. I spent an hour on the phone with my dad trying to find his 'edited' document until I finally stumbled across the fact that he was saving it in such a wierd place. I contemplated filing a bug against openoffice and then decided not to for the following reasons: Openoffice and the other applications can't possibly check for all the directories where evolution and other applications might store temp data. They can't check for .hidden directories because the user may actually _want_ to save the file there. On the other hand, evolution _knows_ that this is a cache location and that the user will most likely _not_ want to keep their document there. Somehow evolution should deal with that. When A user specifically asks for a document to be shown in evolution, there is a good chance they might be editing it. So there is an argument for copying the file automatically to /home/user/Documents and then opening it. On the other hand, they may not want to edit it, and may want to only view it, in which case there is an argument to leave it in the cache/temp directory. This isn't completely evolution's fault, but it is one of the main applications where it is noticeable within gnome. The problem can be solved within the gnome community, possibly by providing a method for applications to put expiring Documents in the Documents folder, where if the user never saves the Document, eventually the Document dissappears. Otherwise, the Document stays in their folder.
Perhaps adding a menu option to the attachment with the concept of 'Edit Document' is appropriate? ( I haven't completely thought this through, it's just a brainstorm ). This menu item would copy the file to their Documents and then open it in the appropriate program?
well, 1 easy fix would be to make the viewer open the file in some read-only mode. this might require changes the mime-info db's on how to launch apps read-only, but would solve the confusion.
It would solve the confusion. But it reduces a users ability to collaborate on a document. The ideal solution would be something which facilitates: User A makes document and sends it to User B. User B opens from their mail client, edits it. User B then sends it back to User A. User A opens it from their mail client, edits it. ... repeat I'm not sure what that solution is yet, but I'm willing to let this bug report be turned into a wish, and let the discussion take place here.
this is fixed in evolution 2.6, see bug 322160 *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 322160 ***