GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 47665
"Main menu" applet should have search for files
Last modified: 2015-03-24 13:00:35 UTC
This was shown multiple times during user testing. Users gravitated to the Gnome "foot" menu in search of a find application. I suspect this is because Windows has a search application in the Start menu, and Apple has Sherlock in the Apple menu (pre Mac OS X). I propose that we add a menu item that invokes a nautilus search. Rebecca also suggested that we build a new app that puts searching into its own interface. ------- Additional Comments From arlo@workthatmouse.com 2001-03-10 19:16:55 ---- *** Bug 47664 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. *** ------- Additional Comments From don@eazel.com 2001-03-11 13:02:22 ---- Is this a GNOME 1.4 packaging issue? ------- Additional Comments From rebecka@eazel.com 2001-03-11 13:06:00 ---- This bug came about as a result of Arlo's user testing. users were asked to "find a file" and many users opened the foot menu looking for a "find" menu item. (One exists in the start menu, for example) In either case, I'm not sure what you mean by a "GNOME 1.4 packaging issue." Yes, fixing it will involve a change to the foot menu, but it also definitely involves either 1. Creating a whole new mini app as a graphical front-end to medusa or 2. Adding the new feature to nautilus to start in "find mode" ------- Additional Comments From don@eazel.com 2001-03-11 16:40:01 ---- OK, stupid me. ;) Since we don't have an easy way to invoke find, then let's worry about the right thing to do here later. ------- Bug moved to this database by unknown@bugzilla.gnome.org 2001-09-09 21:13 ------- The original reporter (arlo@workthatmouse.com) of this bug does not have an account here. Reassigning to the exporter, unknown@bugzilla.gnome.org.
Changing to "old" target milestone for all bugs laying around with no milestone set.
moving this to gnome-panel, effects "main menu" applet. just to clarify. "search for files" should be in the root menu as is "run."
Dave: when moving a bug, make sure to check 'and reassign to owner of selected component'. Seth, Nils: did the usability people have a suggestion/comment on this? I'm marking this high because it seems like a very reasonable suggestion and should be decided on ASAP so that it can be screenshotted and documented with minimal trouble if it goes in.
We currently have an entry for gsearchtool in the root of the Applications menu, which should partially address the usability problem (if not presenting the fastest search mechanism :-/). Somebody should eventually add medusa support to gsearchtool, or perhaps we can move to Nautilus fully. But for the present, medusa isn't going to be released with GNOME 2.0, so this bug doesn't really apply for the short term. We've also discussed that "Actions" might be a better location for search functionality, since it isn't really an application (or at least, we may not want users to think of it that way).
Seth, if one is using the foot menu (that is what is refered to in this bug) than they expect functionality close to that of windows typically. That is why there should be a "search for files" in this menu. I agree that in terms of the menu panel / menubar that search for files should be in the actions menu.
Its ok to deviate from exact user expectations (particularly when they've been formed by a pre-existing system and aren't "natural" inclinations) as long as: a) They find the new item pretty quickly b) They remember where it is without too much trouble I don't know if this would happen with Search for Files. I think users would get the distinction pretty quickly, but maybe not. Remember: if we try to never violate user expectations, we'll end up with Windows98 :-)
seth: If you would rather include an actions menu in GnomeMenu that would be fine as well i suppose. It's just important that search be easily accesible from the users who choose to make there panels look like windows. Only problem with that right now is gnome menu includes run, lockscreen and logout in the root menu similar to windows.
Marking this a duplicate of bug 73183 since that has (gasp) a /patch/. *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 73183 ***
Reopening. louie I think you're confused. this bug has to do with the "gnome menu" foot menu, which is different from the actions menu in the foobar.
I would say this bug has more to do with "having some standard mechanism for accessing search", and since foobar is on by default, I would say this solves the problem. Maybe a seperate bug should be filed for "main menu should have search"
Really what we'd like is to have the Actions menu as a submenu of the main menu.
Okay, I'm going to put it in the actions menu. Closing this as WONTFIX because this is about the GNOME menu