Bug 494849

Summary:	Request: File Picker design update
Product:	[Plasma] xdg-desktop-portal-kde	Reporter:	Fernando M. Muniz <fernandommuniz>
Component:	general	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	aleixpol, kde, nate, plasma-bugs-null
Priority:	NOR	Keywords:	usability
Version First Reported In:	6.2.1
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Arch Linux
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Fernando M. Muniz 2024-10-16 07:32:24 UTC

+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #493647 +++

The file picker is limited to one window per app, most noticeable when using internet browsers.
MS Windows' solution is to make the main app non-interactable until a file is picked. (terrible solution)

I think this would be the perfect file picker:
1- Limited to only one instance system-wide; it will use tabs instead.
2- Internet browsers will now be able to summon multiple file picker tabs, but only if they are summoned by different websites.
3- The tabs will display which url and/or app that summoned it, for security reasons.
4- Trying to summon the file picker when a tab for it is already open will now focus on the existing file picker and switch to the existing tab.

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2024-10-16 18:42:02 UTC

I don't think this would be an improvement, sorry. A tabbed file picker would be really weird and confusing. These dialogs are meant to be transient anyway, not left open for extended periods of time: You do something that opens it, you pick a file, and then it closes automatically. No need for it to remain open.

Comment 2 Fernando M. Muniz 2024-10-16 18:46:31 UTC

(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #1)
> I don't think this would be an improvement, sorry. A tabbed file picker
> would be really weird and confusing. These dialogs are meant to be transient
> anyway, not left open for extended periods of time: You do something that
> opens it, you pick a file, and then it closes automatically. No need for it
> to remain open.

What about the fourth one? Wouldn't the File Picker showing which site spawned the window improve security in any way?

Comment 3 Fernando M. Muniz 2024-10-16 18:47:11 UTC

And by "fourth" I meant third.

Comment 4 Fernando M. Muniz 2024-10-16 18:56:33 UTC

Considering all was talked about was the tabs, I guess that means the security thing should be file under another bug.

Comment 5 Nate Graham 2024-10-16 19:03:32 UTC

Yes, though I don't know how feasible it would be to have the window identify the tab it came from. The parent window yes, the tab... probably not.