[Bug 303729] New: Display an action"menu" on single left click on a contact in the Plasmoid

[Thomas Pfeiffer]

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=303729

            Bug ID: 303729
          Severity: wishlist
           Version: unspecified
          Priority: NOR
          Assignee: kde-telepathy-bugs at kde.org
           Summary: Display an action"menu" on single left click on a
                    contact in the Plasmoid
    Classification: Unclassified
                OS: other
          Reporter: colomar at autistici.org
          Hardware: Other
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
         Component: contact-applet
           Product: telepathy

Here is the situation:
- Currently, the contact list Plasmoid uses double-click as the only means to
start a chat. This is a no-go, as double-click may only be used as a shortcut,
never as the primary or only means to execute an action.
- Starting a chat on single click causes - according to your experience - too
many accidentally opened chats. 
- You need a flexible UI for the contact list Plasmoid that may incorporate
actions other than starting a chat

In order to solve all three problems, I suggest you do this:
On single click on a contact in the Plasmoid, display a set of buttons for the
available actions (unless other actions are available, it's okay to have only
one button in there) directly below the cursor (similar to a context menu, but
it should ideally be using the Plasma look and feel). This way you prevent
accidentally starting a chat but still keep the action discoverable.

This diverges from the behavior of the contact list application (which uses
buttons displayed on hover), but this is intentional. The reason for that is
that an application and a Plasmoid are not the same. Plasmoids should be as
compact as possible since they occupy space on the desktop permanently.
Therefore reserving space for buttons on a plasmoid is not a good idea. Showing
the buttons on click reduces the space needed.
Using a right-click context menu as the only means for executing a primary
action on a contact (such as starting a chat or a call) is not an option
either, since the presence of a right mouse button cannot be guaranteed (again,
right click context menus are only shortcuts)

Inconsistencies between the contact list application and Plasmoid should not be
a problem, since I expect most users to use either the app or the Plasmoid, as
they are basically two different UIs for the same purpose. Therefore each can
use the interaction method that fits its context best.

Reproducible: Always




This feature would also solve the problem in bug 303699

If my verbal description is unclear, I can provide a mockup.

This is part of my design ideas for the contact list Plasmoid as promised
during Akademy.

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