GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 95950
New tab behavior
Last modified: 2004-12-22 21:47:04 UTC
Comments by tko on another bug: I'm having doubts about my original statement about File/New Tab behavior. 'Jump in to new tabs automatically' must be enabled by default, that's how everything else works, and when compared to New Window provides more consistent default behavior. But when the user chooses to disable the 'Jump in to new tabs automatically' then we must assume he really means that -> if disabled, File/New Tab must open a new tab in the background as well. We must not start second-guessing user's preferences. I don't know what I was thinking at first... :-/
Tko this is the right bug ;) My thoughts about this are: - Tabs should not be a replacement of windows otherwise it would be better to let the wm handle them. Doesnt tabbed wm already exists ? - The ability of opening many tabs at one time is nice :) - Tabs and Windows togheter cover both the usage paths you pointed out. So it sounds like a good candidate for a default
Hmm.. I think I'm losing track of what this bug is focusing at. :-/ I'm saying that all actions that open a new tab should follow the user preference, because that's what the user wanted. As for the default behavior, I'm suggesting to keep the 'Jump to new tab automatically' enabled, for the reasons I stated in the wrong bug... Another reason I might add is that if kept enabled, changing from windowed browsing to tabbed browsing wouldn't be so drastically different. Toggling only one pref, you'd get only one, small, easily understood change in the behavior. If you want to take your tabbed browsing experience even further, toggle the other pref. And I agree, opening multiple tabs is nice, but that's what I do less frequently. The default is not a problem for me personally, you know that. I just think toggling preferences one by one should introduce incremental changes in behavior.
>And I agree, opening multiple tabs is nice, but that's what I do less >frequently. Me too, but you still have windows for it. >I'm saying that all actions that open a new tab should follow the user >preference, because that's what the user wanted. I dont have a strong feeling about this but I'm pretty sure we would get huge complains if we change it :) I think it was implemented that way because when you open a new tab you probably want to type an url in. And having to activate it sucks. But I didnt implement it.
I still don't understand what you are refering to with the windows. I open new windows very rarely. I don't want them cluttering the desktop. If I did, I wouldn't be using tabbed mode in the first place. Yeah, the File/New Tab is strange case... Hmm, what about middle-clicking on bookmarks? My first thought is that it should be automatically activated, because the bookmark menu will close once you click on the bm, making it somewhat harder to open multiple bookmarks than it is opening links on pages.
>I still don't understand what you are refering to with the windows. I >open new windows very rarely. I don't want them cluttering the >desktop. If I did, I wouldn't be using tabbed mode in the first >place. I'm referring to windows because: 1 As I alreasy said if tabs == windows less cluttered that should be wm work 2 If a default provide a way to access both behavior paths, it's a good default >Yeah, the File/New Tab is strange case... Hmm, what about >middle-clicking on bookmarks? My first thought is that it should be >automatically activated, because the bookmark menu will close once you >click on the bm, making it somewhat harder to open multiple bookmarks >than it is opening links on pages. If the dialog close yeah, it should jump ihmo.
Heh, well, I've heard and agree on that 'tabs are MDI done right.' WM can't do that, not that many really even try. The point I'm trying to make on the default setting (which btw is based on the assumption that windowed browsing is the default) is that toggling just one pref gets you from windowed browsing the other extreme. I'm worried that people try that, see it's drastically different, don't like it and change back. Never realizing there's a middle ground. It's hard to understand how toggling two prefs makes a smaller change than toggling just one. Though, if you choose tabbed mode as the default, then it's a different story.
I think the HIG state MDI sucks ;) not sure ;) Anyway if we want to get a decision we should ask also to others ... I'm pretty sure they would agree with me though, oddly ;)
I'm not opposed to tabs mode as default ...