Bug 176787

Summary:	Automatic address search and completion does not work directly in composer
Product:	[Unmaintained] kmail	Reporter:	Ralph Moenchmeyer <rm>
Component:	general	Assignee:	kdepim bugs <kdepim-bugs>
Status:	RESOLVED WORKSFORME
Severity:	normal
Priority:	NOR
Version:	1.10.3
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	openSUSE
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Ralph Moenchmeyer 2008-12-03 12:56:45 UTC

Version: 1.10.3 (using KDE 4.1.3)
OS: Linux
Installed from: SuSE RPMs

There are several bugs in the automatic address search. They are new in the sense that the came up with some of the latest KDE 4.1.3 packages.

I use Kontact/Kmail connected to an OX5 server. The address search in the kontact/adressbook application works correctly. So, there is no problem with the connection to the OX5 server and the search functionality itself. However, there is an interaction problem with the kmail composer. The order to search for adresses is in my case set in such a way that Kmail should first search in the external address source (OX5) and then in the local address book. But I think the following bug is independent of the address source.

The bug:
You open a new mail. You go into the "To"-field. You start typing the first letters of an address - however, there is no reaction of the address search system - although there are fitting addresses. Instead only a next input-field for a potential "CC"-address is generated.

However, sometimes, if you have typed already three letters in the "To"-field and then use the backspace button to delete the last two letters suddenly the address search starts and the combobox to choose on of the fitting adresses is shown.

So, I think, that the automatic search functionality is not triggered correctly when the first "To"-field gets the editing focus.

In addition the opened combobox can in contrast to previous versions not be controlled and handled by using the keyboard alone. I open a separate bug for this annoying problem.

Comment 1 Jaime Torres 2008-12-03 13:12:54 UTC

Hi,
  Thank you for your bug report.
  
  This seems to work in kmail 1.10.90 (kde 4.2 svn trunk r890802).
The default way to complete the field is not a combobox, but a gray text. (but the completion box is also available).

Best Regards.

Comment 2 Ralph Moenchmeyer 2008-12-03 13:57:48 UTC

In my case the combobox is set as the default. I did not do it; I was set already during the installation. 

By the way - regarding the choices for the auto-completion : 

If you right-click on one of the address fields a menu opens which gives you the following choices for the text auto completion adress fields  - I have only the German menues, unfortunately :

*  Keine 
*  Manuell
*  Automatisch
*  Aufklappmenü
     Automatisch kurz
     Aufklappmenü und Automatik

I find it very strange that none of these options is offered in the general customizing pages for Kmail. Furthermore, if you choose one of the options, it will be forgotten the next time you open the email composer. And in my case there is always the option "Aufklapp-Menü" (i.e. Combobox) active.  

I find it even stranger that if you choose e.g. "Aufklappmenü und Automatik", a new menu item "Standard" appears afterwards below all the points listed up above: 

*  Keine 
*  Manuell
*  Automatisch
*  Aufklappmenü
     Automatisch kurz
     Aufklappmenü und Automatik
------
* Standard 

This seems to be inconsistent - why is there no standard offered already the first time ?

Comment 3 Jaime Torres 2008-12-03 15:24:19 UTC

Yes, all of those have been solved in 4.2 (including the autocompletion mode not remembered). You can check them in the 4.2 beta 1.

Comment 4 Ralph Moenchmeyer 2008-12-03 19:06:27 UTC

OK, I have installed the relevant packages from the unstable branch of SuSE's repositories.  
Looks much better, indeed: 
a) Autocompletion works as expected. 
b) Kmail 1.10.90 remembers the the preferred choice for the adress fields in composer.     

So, there is a future to hope for. 
Should we close the bug?

Comment 5 Jaime Torres 2008-12-03 19:42:13 UTC

Closing. it works for the reporter.