Bug 487648 - Inconsistent use of buttons to navigate to different KCMs in "System Settings" application
Summary: Inconsistent use of buttons to navigate to different KCMs in "System Settings...
Status: RESOLVED FIXED
Alias: None
Product: systemsettings
Classification: Applications
Component: general (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: git-stable-Plasma/6.1
Platform: Arch Linux Linux
: NOR minor
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Plasma Bugs List
URL:
Keywords: qt6
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2024-05-27 21:18 UTC by yellow.dog625
Modified: 2024-06-16 02:27 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Latest Commit:
Version Fixed/Implemented In: 6.2
Sentry Crash Report:


Attachments
Include screenshots highlighting the different button styles used on the "Quick Settings" page and the "Advanced Power Settings" page (1.19 MB, image/png)
2024-05-27 21:18 UTC, yellow.dog625
Details

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Description yellow.dog625 2024-05-27 21:18:42 UTC
Created attachment 169891 [details]
Include screenshots highlighting the different button styles used on the "Quick Settings" page and the "Advanced Power Settings" page

SUMMARY

In the "Quick Settings" page of the System Settings application, there is inconsistent use of buttons that navigate to different KCMs. Two different types of buttons are used to perform the same action, which should be standardized for consistency.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE

1. Open the "System Settings" application.

2. Navigate to the "Quick Settings" page.

3. Observe the different types of buttons used for navigation to other KCMs.

4. Compare this with the buttons used lower on the same "Quick Settings" page and on the "Advanced Power Settings" page.

OBSERVED RESULT

In the "System Settings" application, particularly on the "Quick Settings" page, there are inconsistencies in the buttons used to navigate to different KCMs (KDE Control Modules). Specifically, two different types of buttons are used to perform the same action - navigating to another KCM. For consistency and better user experience, the same type of control should be used for the same action throughout the application.

EXPECTED RESULT

A consistent button type should be used throughout the application for navigating to other KCMs to enhance usability and coherence in the UI.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
Linux/KDE Plasma: 
(available in About System)
KDE Plasma Version: 
KDE Frameworks Version: 
Qt Version: 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This inconsistency can confuse users and disrupt the user experience. Standardizing the button types will provide a more polished and professional appearance for the System Settings application.
Comment 1 Bug Janitor Service 2024-06-13 21:20:23 UTC
A possibly relevant merge request was started @ https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/merge_requests/2310
Comment 2 yellow.dog625 2024-06-14 00:17:44 UTC
Thank you for addressing the issue with the button inconsistencies. 

Just my 2 cents on the matter after having seen the merge request:

1. Button Naming Convention:

To improve clarity and consistency, consider renaming the buttons to match the names of the KCMs they navigate to. 
For example, instead of "Change Wallpaper...", simply use "Wallpaper" to emphasize that the button takes the user to the "Wallpaper" KCM rather than performing the action of changing the wallpaper directly. 

Similarly, rename "More Appearance Settings" to simply "Colors & Themes" to reflect the exact section in the sidebar.
For the same reason, rename "More Behavior Settings" to "General Behavior."

This way, the buttons that navigate to another section of System Settings will have exactly the name of the section they lead to, simplifying user understanding. This convention reflects what is already done in the "Most used" page and in the Powerdevil KCM.

2. Button Style:

Using the flat button style for all buttons that navigate to a KCM might visually lighten the pages and provide a more uniform look.
The raised buttons can be visually heavy, and a flat style could help maintain a cleaner appearance across the application.
Comment 3 yellow.dog625 2024-06-14 16:32:42 UTC
To further support the concepts expressed in my comment, using the proposed names would also make all the buttons the same size. This way, if raised buttons are used, they would be perfectly aligned with those in the layout used by the "Most used pages" section.
Comment 4 Nate Graham 2024-06-16 02:27:15 UTC
Git commit adeb7137ede92f7fbc675e8142b7982c9177f55c by Nate Graham.
Committed on 16/06/2024 at 02:16.
Pushed by ngraham into branch 'master'.

kcms: landingpage: Use raised styling for "most used KCMs" buttons

This KCM has other buttons that take you different KCMs, and they're
raised. But the "most used" buttons are not, they're flat. This is
inconsistent, so make them raised.

I'm not 100% in love with the visual result, but I'm not sure how to
improve upon it without a larger redesign of how we present most used
KCMs here.
FIXED-IN: 6.2

M  +7    -7    kcms/landingpage/ui/MostUsedIcon.qml
M  +2    -2    kcms/landingpage/ui/main.qml

https://invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-desktop/-/commit/adeb7137ede92f7fbc675e8142b7982c9177f55c