Bug 366839 - "Automatic column widths" should align columns to the left, at least when window is maximized
Summary: "Automatic column widths" should align columns to the left, at least when win...
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: dolphin
Classification: Applications
Component: view-engine: details mode (show other bugs)
Version: 17.04.2
Platform: Neon Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Dolphin Bug Assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2016-08-16 15:46 UTC by KDE Neon user
Modified: 2017-09-04 22:13 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed In:


Attachments
Actual result (63.63 KB, image/png)
2016-08-16 15:47 UTC, KDE Neon user
Details
Expected result (63.44 KB, image/png)
2016-08-16 15:49 UTC, KDE Neon user
Details

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Description KDE Neon user 2016-08-16 15:46:53 UTC
Setting Dolphin to set column widths automatically just moves all but the first column to the right edge of the window and resizes the first column to fit the whole rest of the screen. When the Dolphin window is maximized, this means that the first column is huge, and you need to move your eyes a lot to see the other file properties.

A better behavior would be to just resize each column width to match the largest row in them, so that all columns will be aligned to the left and be comfortable to read.


Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Maximize Dolphin on a widescreen monitor
2. Open a folder with many files and change the view mode to "details"
3. Let Dolphin set column widths automatically by right-clicking on the title of a column

Actual Results:  
The first column is huge, and the other columns are at the other edge of the screen, making it hard to scan the lines with your eyes.

Expected Results:  
All columns should be automatically resized to match the largest item in them and be aligned to the left.

Dolphin 16.04.3
KDE Neon 5.7
Comment 1 KDE Neon user 2016-08-16 15:47:25 UTC
Created attachment 100625 [details]
Actual result
Comment 2 KDE Neon user 2016-08-16 15:49:00 UTC
Created attachment 100626 [details]
Expected result
Comment 3 Nate Graham 2017-09-03 14:53:11 UTC
IMHO that is even worse. Your "Expected result" view results in a huge amount of awkward and ugly wasted space on the right. The real problem here is that your window is too wide. It doesn't make sense to have a horizontally maximized window in Details view with only three columns. Halve its size and it'll look much better, and you'll have more space available for something else too.
Comment 4 KDE Neon user 2017-09-04 11:48:21 UTC
As I said in the title, "at least when window is maximized." When I opened this issue, I had all window sizes in mind, and focused on maximized windows just because I thought that would do a better job at being convincing and explaining what I wanted.

"Worse" and "It doesn't make sense" are subjective terms. Anyway, it's always up to the developers and project leaders to take or close issues, so I understand that you prefer it the way it is.
Comment 5 Nate Graham 2017-09-04 13:12:06 UTC
Thanks for understanding. There is only a limited pool of development resources, and keeping old bugs that aren't very popular does impose a cost: more urgent or popular bugs get lost; people don't know what to prioritize; patches get missed. As always, patches are welcome.
Comment 6 KDE Neon user 2017-09-04 21:29:09 UTC
I know. I wish I could make a donation or help with the development, but since I'm not a programmer all I can do is open issues. ^^ I'm actualy glad that you picked up all those other issues I had opened about Dolphin. KDE is really a great project and there are just a few things missing from it (for people used to Windows).

Thanks for working hard on it.
Comment 7 Nate Graham 2017-09-04 21:46:11 UTC
In fact you can make a donation! https://www.kde.org/community/donations/

And also, you barely need to be a programmer to make simple code changes. I'm rubbish at C++, but a little logical thinking and pattern recognition helps me make small changes where I'm just substituting one thing for another, or following a pattern to add a new thing.

Here, let me show you how, and we can make your first commit together! The following commit added a new Genre column to Dolphin: https://cgit.kde.org/dolphin.git

There are many other requests for additional columns (two of them made by you!), and most of them amount to the same basic thing: following that pattern exactly, but with a different word ("Bitrate" instead of "Genre", for example).

We have open bugs for:
- "Title": https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=366455
- "Bitrate": https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=368418
- "Release Year": https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=384317
- "Aspect Ratio" and "Frame Rate": https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=366524
- "Width" and "Height": https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=374559

Wanna fix 'em? I was gonna knock these out over the next few days but it would be great practice for you if you want to dip your toes in the world of making KDE Plasma even more awesome!
Comment 8 KDE Neon user 2017-09-04 21:53:52 UTC
I'm currently busy with work but please share those links on reddit.com/r/kde and reddit.com/r/linux . Maybe Hackernews and Slashdot too.

There are a lot of people there (especially /r/kde, obviously) who feel like me and may just need your motivation and help to start contributing. :)
Comment 9 Nate Graham 2017-09-04 22:13:21 UTC
https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/6y3k45/ever_wanted_to_contribute_to_kde_heres_an_easy/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Kubuntu/comments/6y3kfn/ever_wanted_to_contribute_to_kde_heres_an_easy/

I didn't feel comfortable posting this too widely (Most HN, Slashdot, and r/linux users don't use KDE software), but feel free to publicize as you see fit.