Bug 458174

Summary:	Dolphin abbreviates filenames in a way that doesn't make clear it is an abbreviation
Product:	[Applications] dolphin	Reporter:	Alex <allo>
Component:	view-engine: icons mode	Assignee:	Dolphin Bug Assignee <dolphin-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Severity:	normal	CC:	kfm-devel, nate
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	22.04.3
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Other
OS:	Other
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Alex 2022-08-22 15:00:31 UTC

SUMMARY
Dolphin abbreviates long filenames like "thisisalongfilname.txt" as "thisisalongfilna....txt" which itself would be a valid filename.
Indeed one can create the file "thisisalongfilna....txt" and dolphin displays two files which seem to have the same name next to each other.

I would suggest coloring the three dots in a different color than the rest of the filename or a similar indication what is part of the filename and what is a replacement for a too long part of the filename.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Create a file with a long filename
2. List the file in dolphin

OBSERVED RESULT
The filename is abbreviated to a string that could also be a valid filename.

EXPECTED RESULT
There should be some indication that it is abbreviated.

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2022-08-23 10:10:05 UTC

This is the way all strings across the OS are elided, and it's how Windows and macOS elide strings too. I don't think this is really a source of confusion for anyone, and if it is, it's something they can easily get used to.

Comment 2 Alex 2022-08-23 10:11:19 UTC

Isn't windows using … (1 unicode character) instead of ...?

Comment 3 Nate Graham 2022-08-23 10:26:45 UTC

Yes, which is a valid character in a filename. It's also visually indistinguishable to users with many fonts.

Comment 4 Alex 2022-08-23 10:29:04 UTC

That's why I suggested color. That would not be possible with a filename. You may also underline it, or use other indications.
I would need to test how Windows does it in detail.
The thing I noticed before thinking about the consequences is that file....txt looks pretty weird and I am rather sure that it doesn't look that weird on Windows. I need to test how it looks there and why it looks better, though.