GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 674480
Missing "Always Use" checkbox in "Open With" Dialog
Last modified: 2019-04-21 11:47:06 UTC
Created attachment 212435 [details] Open With Other Application Dialog See that attached screen shot of the "Open With (Other Application)" dialog. There should be a check-box on this dialog that allows you to indicate that you always want the selected application to open files of "this" type. I do realize that by going to the properties of any file, that you can go to the "open with" tab to achieved the same result, but for user-friendliness' sake, options should always be available where they are most commonly used: Having this (suggested) check-box, on this dialog (attached), would be the most intuitive way for a user to achieve this objective, because it makes that decision (of setting to default application) available *at the time* they are actually trying to open a file WITH an application that is currently NOT the default (VERY CONVENIENT).
Created attachment 212436 [details] Open With dialog (from another OS) Now see this attachment, and notice the check-box.
I originally filed this here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/986189
-> gtk+ Not sure we want this though. Specifically I don't like the fact there's no obvious way to undo/change back to the previous beahavior with such a checkbox (which is a problem because this dialog is not uesd only by Nautilus but it's a generic GTK widget).
That's a very good point. Yet, I think we do want this. Other major OSs have it, and once you have it you like it and want it. We just need to also address your concern too. Isn't undoing it already addressed in the "Properties" context-menu option? I don't mind doing a little clicking around to "undo" something, but I do mind when I'm trying to "do" something. If this concern is not properly address in the "Properties" context-menu option, then we could also include a option in the context menu (when you right-click on a file) "Manage Default Applications (for this file type)". Clicking that can bring up what's needed to "undo".
(In reply to Cosimo Cecchi from comment #3) > -> gtk+ > > Not sure we want this though. Specifically I don't like the fact there's no > obvious way to undo/change back to the previous beahavior with such a > checkbox (which is a problem because this dialog is not uesd only by > Nautilus but it's a generic GTK widget). yeah, lets not do this.
Generally I favor "fewer steps" to "more steps". Your conclusion that this cannot be undone is not correct. It can always be undone in the same step-intensive way you currently have to do it in the first place. 5 steps: Right-click > Properties > Open With > Set Default Application > "Close" http://neartalk.com/ss/2016-06-07_003_742x636.png Currently you have do all these non-intuitive steps anytime you want to change the default application, when usually it would be nicer to set this in one step as proposed, the first time you open the file type, and then only do the longer steps in the event that you "change you mind". I favor "fewer steps" to "more steps". Especially when it is more intuitive (as what I've proposed is). Concept: "Put settings one step away from where they're used".
Typical GNOME answer: NO.