increasing the usability of search dialogs

[Luciano Montanaro]

On Monday 15 May 2006 17:29, Krzysztof Lichota wrote:
> Luciano Montanaro napisał(a):
> > Actually, API wise, the windowed panel and the docked panel should not
> > need to differ. And we don't really want both the "Find" and er..
> > "QuickFind" item in the menus. So, if the windowed interface is to be
> > mantained, I'm afraid the user will have to make the choice through a
> > global option.
> >
> > By the way, I understand to a point the aversion for more global
> > options, but if with a number of global options we could reduce the
> > overall number of settings, wouldn't it be an improvement, on the
> > whole?
>
> How about adding button "dock/undock" to find dialog, like it is done
> for panels in KDevelop. If one prefers to have dialog, he clicks
> "detach" on docked search panel. If one prefers search panel, click
> "dock" in dialog.

I have thought about that, too. The problem is that the dialog has a very 
different aspect from a toolbar... maybe not so big a problem, but would 
look more like a hack than a real solution. 

>
> The only issue left is the initial setting ;)

Not really... as long as the dialog remembers the settings. 

Just open it as usual, in the center of the window. If the uses decides to 
dock it to a border, it sticks there (or pops up there next time). Since 
the user has explicitly asked for the dialog to stick to a border, we can 
assume he'll remember where to look for it.

Luciano

-- 
Łŭčīåñø Montanaro //
              \\ //
               \x/ www.cirulla.net