Version:            (using KDE Devel)
Installed from:    Compiled sources
Compiler:          gcc 3.3 
OS:          Linux

In the relevantive usability study we discovered a usability problem with the KDE file dialog. We observed that people used the file dialog of OpenOffice in the following way:

They entered a filename and selected the directory they wanted to save the file to. They did not double click to actually change the directory. OOo gave a weird error message (not even a complete sentence). OOo did not save the file, but people still thought the file was saved and even closed the application (ignoring the file not saved warnings...).

So I checked the behaviour of the KDE file save dialog. Well, it is better - but not much. The error messages are at least full sentences, but still the app (I tested with kate) tries to save the file with the name of the selected directory (though the entered file name was different). The error messages doesn't give a hint about the real problem (that the entered name is a directory), but only talks about wrong permissions.

So what can be the solution here? I am not completely sure, but I see several possible solutions for preventing and for solving the problem:

preventing the situation:
1. don't allow to select a directory (like in the open dialog). Is there any meaning in selecting a directory? (selection == marked with a color)
2. change to the directory also with single click, even if double click is configured

solving the situation:
3. save the file to the selected directory and ignore the selection (maybe add a warning?)
4. save the file to the current directory and ignore the selection (maybe add a warning?)
5. don't save and show a correct error message

If the first works it would be best, since it simply avoids a difficult situation. Though people might interprete the box also as selection. Option 2 would be ok too, but I somehow have a strange feeling about it... I think l would need to test it.
Out of 3, 4 and 5 I don't know what I would decide for. 3 has a certain logic, but again it might happen that people selected a directory out of other reasons and then the file is gone. Developers expect 4, but I am not sure about office users. Still it's better than no saving at all. I think I'll go with option 4 here.

Greetings,
eva