Bug 332457 - Different options for creating folders and files
Summary: Different options for creating folders and files
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: kde
Classification: I don't know
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: 4.11.5
Platform: Mint (Ubuntu based) Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Unassigned bugs mailing-list
URL: http://youtu.be/N7-fZJaJUv8
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2014-03-22 23:36 UTC by Brock McNuggets
Modified: 2018-03-14 18:55 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments

Note You need to log in before you can comment on or make changes to this bug.
Description Brock McNuggets 2014-03-22 23:36:14 UTC
Creating a new folder with one with an existing name errors out with no options, but creating a new file gives options.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
See video
Comment 1 Christoph Feck 2014-03-24 21:29:15 UTC
What options would you expect to see when trying to create an existing directory?
Comment 2 Brock McNuggets 2014-03-24 22:33:40 UTC
I would expect the process to be similar for folders and files. For the creation of the first ones (with Create New > Folder… / Text File… ) they are similar - though the creation of the folder leads to no notification and the creation of a file does. OK, first, what it does now:

If you try to create another file with the same name (which is the default on the desktop, but not in folders), you get very different results:

Folders: an error saying "A folder named /path/to/the/folder already exists"

Files: A very confusing dialog. First, it says "File Already Exists" which should be "A File Named X Already Exists" (or something to that effect). It also tells you that the destination (the already existing file) is "more recent" than the one you are in the process of creating (which is clearly not true). You are given a chance to "rename" this file that does not yet exist (though I think it is fairly clear it means offer a new name for a file to be created - hard to make that not be wordy), but if you select to "Overwrite" the pop up text tells you: "Files and Folders will be copied into the existing directory, alongside its existing contents. You will be prompted again in case of a conflict with an existing file in that directory. This is incorrect in that only one file will be created (not that big of a deal) and that you will *not* be prompted again in case of a conflict (which is incorrectly telling people they will not be overwriting data! That matters!). If you do pick a new name for the file, you are offered a button that is labeled "Rename" - since you are not actually renaming anything it would be better to call it "Create File" or something like that. There is a help icon on the top of the dialog - but it offers no help. Finally (whew), if you do create this file it is created just fine, but the notification for it says "Copying Finished" and lists the *original* name you tried - implying after all that you actually did overwrite your file. 

Hopefully that did not make your head explode. :) If you need help with it, I walk through the steps and the dialogs here: http://youtu.be/N7-fZJaJUv8

OK, now as to what I think *should* happen.

Ideally, when you select File > New Folder… File > New Text File… you would just have a file be created with a unique name and in rename mode. That is how it works in most environments and it leads to zero more mouse clicks / keystrokes and one less dialog, and I think is more clear. But this would be a significant change for the system, so if you want it to pop up a dialog first, I would suggest having it act like the file creation in having a dialog which allows you to pick a unique name or overwrite at your pleasure, but have that dialog make sense… maybe something like this: http://prescottcomputerguy.com/tmp/file-dialog.png

Not sure if a notification is needed, but if one is used it should be correct and - unless I am missing something - it should be there for both files and folders or neither.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Comment 3 Roman Inflianskas 2018-03-14 18:55:51 UTC
It looks like it's fixed (I'm using an unstable KDE version from git). When I create a new directory/file I get a dialog with a unique name. Moreover, if I choose the existing name, I get an error with no new file produced.

Feel free to comment on this if you think that the bug is not fixed.