[kmail2] [Bug 390051] New: Jump to oldest unread

[John B]

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=390051

            Bug ID: 390051
           Summary: Jump to oldest unread
           Product: kmail2
           Version: 5.5.3
          Platform: Ubuntu Packages
                OS: Linux
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: wishlist
          Priority: NOR
         Component: message list
          Assignee: kdepim-bugs at kde.org
          Reporter: john+kde_org at daaave.org
  Target Milestone: ---

When I use the "Next Unread Folder" key, KMail does jump to the next folder
with unread messages.  However, the specific message that it jumps to is the
one which is furthest toward the top of the screen.  This creates a choice of
sub-optimal solutions if you sort by date:

1. Sort messages in date-ascending order (so that the newest messages are at
the bottom) and deal with the fact that KMail always assumes the most important
messages are at the top of the list.  This is what I have historically done and
I'm constantly having to scroll message lists around any time I navigate
without using the "next/previous unread folder" keys (which, thankfully, is
most of the time).

2. Sort messages in date-descending order (newest messages at the top...the
default) and have KMail select the newest one, then have to read the messages
in reverse chronological order unless I explicitly scroll the index and click
on the oldest unread.  This is a larger problem when using threads, since the
unread messages usually aren't in a contiguous block at the top.


I think the core of this is a UI issue stemming from the fact that KMail's
navigation semantics are all centered around "spatial" navigation.  In other
words, when you hit the "Next message" key, you get the next message in list
order...not in _sort_ order.  To put it yet another way, when I'm using the
default sort (date-descending) and I ask for the "next" message, I get an
_older_ message.

As I see it, there are two ways to approach this if it gets accepted:

1) When entering a folder without instructions on which message to select,
select the bottom message if the sort order is ascending (or, at least,
date-ascending).  For what it's worth, this would be my preferred solution.

2) When entering a folder using "Next Unread Folder", always select the oldest
unread message.

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