GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 438809
Error message - read-only Calendar source
Last modified: 2012-02-08 11:51:04 UTC
Please describe the problem: As part of a cautious, step-by-step move towards Linux I've installed Evolution 2.8.2 on a Win XP system. It has numerous bugs that I'm quite prepared to live with given that it's still in development, but I have one new, major problem with Calendar. When I click on NEW to create a new event I get an error pop-up window advising: "Evolution Error Cannot create a new event You have a read-only source selected. Change to Calendar View and highlight a calendar that can accept appointments." I've worked my way around the menus but cannot figure out how to achieve this. I've previously entered numerous calendar events so it worked OK on installation, but somehow I have unknowingly changed something that now prevents me entering new appointments. I've re-run the installation programme and selected the option to repair the programme ("Repair installation errors in the program. This option fixes missing or corrupt files, shortcuts and registry entries"). Nil improvement. I've uninstalled and then re-installed Evolution. Even with a clean calendar, with no events entered, the problem persists, so there's obviously some files somewhere that didn't get uninstalled. As a further possible clue to whatever is causing my problem, I have found that I can edit and save existing appointments, but am completely unable to create new appointments. Can somebody please advise how to resolve this. In replying, please bear in mind that where the OS is concerned I am only accustomed to the offerings out of Redmond. I have 20+ years of computer experience but to date almost none of it is with Linux. I am completely at sea with your terminology so please keep the explanations very straight-forward. Steps to reproduce: 1. Select Calendar 2. Select NEW, to create a new event 3. Actual results: Error pop-up window, as described above Expected results: I would expect to be able to enter a new event Does this happen every time? Yes, the error occurs every time, as detailed above. Other information:
hi david, thanks for taking the time to report this. let me tell you the solution, if you tell me how to improve the error message after that. ;-) if you go to the calendar view in evolution ("view -> window -> calendar" in the menu bar), you will see a list of available calendars in the left pane (like "System" or "Birthdays & Anniversaries"). one of those calendars is highlighted (one can highlight them by just clicking on the name of the calendar; i'm not talking about the checkboxes in front of the names here), and this highlighted calendar is a read-only one (for example: Birthdays & Anniversaries). just click on the name of another, writable one, and after this, everything should work fine again. the error message that you ran into is already an improved one. i would be happy to get any advices/ideas to make that error more understandable. thanks in advance! and no need to reinstall - this won't work, this is not windows. :-)
Hi Andre Many, many thanks. You have (of course!) completely resolved the problem. Your trade-off deal is fair. Give me a couple of days to think about the error message as I have a heavy work programme this week; I'll get back to you over the weekend. The reply could be quite lengthy - do you have an off-forum email address that I can respond to? You have my address so let me know via email. If, in some small way, I'm able to aid the recognition of Linux and Linux apps as superior to MS, then I'll be delighted to help you in any way I can.
Just out of curiosity, where did you get this evo-2.8.2 build for windows (I could only find 2.6). I think it's ok to reply here since it concerns the usability of the application. Thanks again for taking the time to help.
@Gilles: http://www.go-evolution.org/FAQ#Does_a_version_for_Microsoft.28R.2CTM.2CC.2Cwhatever.29_Windows.28R.2CTM.2CC.2Cwhatever.29_exist.3F will lead you to http://shellter.sourceforge.net/evolution/ ... :-)
Gilles - download of v2.8.2-2 available from: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=159440&package_id=194380&release_id=492523 OK - I'll post a reply in response to Andre in a day or so - too b--- tired tonight
Created attachment 88428 [details] Calendar listing Hi Andre In regard to the error pop-up, I think your first decision is a policy matter. Are error pop-ups to be: a) all-inclusive and provide a solution to the problem, regardless of the size of the solution and therefore of the pop-up window; or b) small and brief, referring the user to another site for the detailed solution. In my attempts to repair / re-install Evolution I somehow created a situation where Evolution wouldn't load. That generated the "Your system configuration does not match your Evolution configuration" pop-up window, directing me to the http://www.go-evolution.org/FAQ site that, in summary, told me I had to insert <item>$PREFIX/lib/bonobo/servers</item> into the PATH section of an .xml file. That exercise in itself brought a few problems, until it occurred to me that maybe .xml files needed their own editor. Once I downloaded an .xml editor I managed to make the required change, and Evolution finally loaded properly. So I would see that as being your first decision - is that how you want to handle all error situations? If so, (and for consistency throughout Evolution), modify the Calendar error pop-up to be the same as the system configuration error pop-up, with a re-direction to the FAQ site, at which point a FAQ explains (as you did) how to select a writable calendar. Alternatively, if you just want to modify the existing pop-up so it becomes clearer, I suggest the following. Firstly, you do not need the wording that says "Change to Calendar View" because the error pop-up only appears if you are already in Calendar view. If you accidentally have the read-only calendar previously highlighted and you're in Mail, or Contacts, or any other view, and select New -> Appointment, then the normal "Appointments - No summary" pop-up window appears but with data entry locked. (This is a separate issue that you may want to think about - should the error pop-up also be appearing at this point rather than a seemingly normal pop-up window but with the cursor frozen). The pop-up wording could then be something like: Evolution Error Cannot create a new event You have a read-only calendar source selected in the panel to your left (indicated by the solid, blue-grey bar). Now, I'm not sure where to go from here because I don't know how, on-screen, you're supposed to differentiate a writable calendar from a read-only calendar. My calendar panel is shown attached. What's the pale blue box to the left of Personal? Does it indicate a default calendar, or a writable calendar? Should the pop-up direct the user to highlight that calendar? Can the writable calendars be highlighted in another colour, or listed in italic print, so the pop-up can then direct the user to select one of those? The pop-up could then read: Evolution Error Cannot create a new event You have a read-only calendar source selected in the panel to your left (indicated by the solid, blue-grey bar) To select a writable calendar, click on a calendar listed in italic print I hope that's of some help to you. Given the helpfulness of you guys, and the clarity of your explanation, I'm going to list a couple more of my problems in a separate thread. I envy your technical knowledge, maybe one day I'll progress towards your level and can contribute more effectively, but meanwhile I hope that by bringing my problems to your attention my involvement here helps you with programme development and with broader programme acceptance and usage.
hi david, and sorry for my very late response. thanks a lot for your comments, i hope to be able to discuss this with the User Interfaces folks and improve the situation a bit, and if you find more issue, don't hesitate to report them! thanks in advance!
Should be fixed by bug 438613 nowadays, closing as duplicate. *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 438613 ***