GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 549573
Varying terminology for offline use of messages
Last modified: 2021-05-19 12:13:08 UTC
The terminology for offline use of messages varies. I found these strings that _seem_ to describe the same thing: Account Editor (for IMAP): Automatically synchronize remote mail locally Folder Properties (for IMAP): Copy folder content locally for offline operation File menu item: Download Messages for Offline Usage Tip for above men item: Download messages of accounts/folders marked for offline "ask-quick-offline" dialog: Synchronize folders locally for offline usage? Do you want to locally synchronize the folders that are marked for offline usage? (I haven't checked the documentation yet.) So evolution uses these alternatives: (locally) synchronize / copy / download remote mail / folder content / messages / accounts / folders offline operation / offline usage This terminology should be harmonized (as much as possible, of course). Other information: Note that the IMAP strings come from evolution-data-server (which took me way too long to realize).
Probably too late to fix for 2.24, but +1 from me.
Note to self (and others): have a look at bug #546418 before fixing this.
Haven't looked at the code yet, but I'd say "synchronize" is the best description of what is happening here (if one has to pick one the "synchronize / copy / download" alternatives). Correct?
This has always confused me. Would also require user doc updates.
Should also be reworded: Edit / "Synchronization Options..." (with tip: "Set up Pilot configuration"). Maybe something like: Edit / "PalmOS Devices..." (with tip: Configure PalmOS devoices"). This suggestion I basically copied form System / Preferences / Hardware, of course. For all I know that will also simply start gpilotd-control-applet. That suggests this item might as well be dropped entirely from the evolution menu, doesn't it?
Note that the User Guide agrees with my suggestion (to drop this menu item)! It reads: "Enabling Synchronization If you haven't used a handheld device with your computer before, you need to run the GNOME Control Center by clicking System > Settings, and make sure that Pilot Link is properly configured. [...]"
*** Bug 550870 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
The option "Automatically synchronize remote mail locally" in the IMAP account editor does not even seem to do anything (2.24.3).
2.24.3 is old - latest is 2.24.5
I agree with Kilian: "Automatically synchronize remote mail locally" in the IMAP account editor does not even seem to do anything, and you have to modify each folder to select "copy folder content locally for offline operation" in order for the mails to be downloaded (using 2.24.5). One would expect that the global option for the account means that (as suggested in bug 550870) the per-folder option should be disabled and all folders synchronized.
(In reply to comment #8 and comment #10) Whether or not "Automatically synchronize remote mail locally" actually does anything warrants a separate bug. (Please note that I haven't checked whether that bug isn't already reported). This bug - which I haven't given any attention for over 6 months - is about the terminology used. Of course, a discussion on the terminology used for an option that doesn't do anything useful - if that would turn out to be true - is largely moot.
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