Author Topic: How do I configure floating side-bar items?  (Read 4337 times)

StR

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How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« on: September 01, 2015, 04:33:57 am »
Is it possible to configure which items are on the floating side-bar?
I thought I've seen it, but I cannot find it.
(or was it for a different menu?)


There reason why I am looking for this is that I was surprised recently by the following inconsistency:

Message list view.
(1) I choose one image.  The floating side bar has 6 icons: {Number of selected messages, [move-to-]folder, star, envelope [mark read or unread, depending on the state of the message], cross/trash can [delete, depending on the option]  }
(2) I choose two images (one read, another unread). "Folder" (move to folder) icon does not show anymore, but instead, two "mark read" and "mark unread" icons show up.

I understand that other people's usage pattern can be different from mine, but I very seldom (if it all) use "mark read", "mark unread" buttons/commands. However, I use "move to folder" all the time. (And I'd guess more people use move-to-folder than "mark unread/read").
So, I'd like to keep "move to folder" icon on that side bar for quick access at all times.
And if that configuration is available, for myself, I'd probably remove the "mark read/unread" or the "star" from that bar (moving them to the ":" menu).

Kostya Vasilyev

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2015, 11:19:26 pm »
I've checked the settings screens -- and didn't find one for this...
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StR

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2015, 04:20:40 am »

Let apply your logic borrowed from another thread (which I understand and agree with). May I?
No, because a lot of people don't even understand the distinction, and I'll be getting questions about why it's "sometimes like that and sometimes like this" (existing draft content showing "quoted" for formatted vs. dumped right into the edit control for plain text).

Here it is "sometimes like that and sometimes like this". And the "[move to] Folder" icon disappears.  :'(

;)

Kostya Vasilyev

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2015, 03:30:41 pm »
The actual icons are dependent on the messages you have selected.

AquaMail doesn't show "mark read" if all the selected messages are already "read".

Same with "mark unread", "star", etc.

Make sense?
Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

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StR

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2015, 06:49:55 pm »
Kostya,

I understand how it works. I suspect, I was not clear about my main concern.

My point is that the "move-to-folder" icon disappearance provides inconsistent behavior: I choose the messages I need to move to a folder, - and sometimes I can use that icon, and sometimes I must go into the menu.
It would be nice to have it consistent through whichever way, so, that I don't have to look if that icon there or not. This is the ergonomics issue: when you are moving files to 1-2 folders several times a day, - you develop a muscle memory, and do not [need to] look at what the button is today.

Ability to configure which icons appear on the floating side bar was just one possible solution that I can think of. If you can find something else, - that would be fine too.

Kostya Vasilyev

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2015, 07:07:12 pm »
I did understand your concern.

Did you understand my explanation?

Should I bother explaining anything at all, if my explanations lose to "but I want" every time?

Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

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mikeone

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2015, 08:14:18 pm »
I did understand your concern.

Did you understand my explanation?

Should I bother explaining anything at all, if my explanations lose to "but I want" every time?
Kostya:
I also fully understand your statements.

However, just a (friendly) suggestion from my side:

I guess that the action "Move to folder" will be used more often than "Star/Unstar"...
> therefore it could be an elegant solution to "just" chance the icons "Star"  <> "Move to folder".

I am aware that this modification could end in another (endless chain) issue as previously mentioned:
("where is this "Star" icon, sometimes it is available, sometimes not... Why did you change this?)

What opinion have other users here in the forum... and Kostya as our genius developer of course?

Kindest regards
Mikeone



StR

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2015, 08:15:59 pm »
I did understand your concern.

Did you understand my explanation?

Should I bother explaining anything at all, if my explanations lose to "but I want" every time?

Kostya, I understood your explanation. I just thought my initial description was not clear enough, as I started this thread from a different question.
E-communications miss important channels, and there are frequent misunderstandings, so, I prefer to err on the more explicit side (even if occasionally at the expense of someone's getting annoyed with my questions). Thank you for your patience, and please, accept my apology for that.


As for the specific problem of ergonomics, I think I've found some sort of solution for myself. I disabled that floating bar. (Thanks for keeping that option!)  Although it removes the benefit of that bar (now I have an extra click all the time, not just sometimes), it keeps consistent where I always find "move to folder": it is always in the menu, and doesn't disappear from there.


PS. And please, excuse me for one more followup thought:
For what it's worth, - most software solve the issue of toggling the state of multiple elements (that are in different states) with a single button: the first click makes them all uniform one way, and the second, - toggles all of them.
I am sure you are aware of this behavior. (The first of numerous examples that comes to my mind is font attribute formatting in MS Word, e.g. "Bold", "Italic")
I suspect that the native Android ways might not provide possibility to implement that. (I think I've seen it once or twice in Android, don't remember the app(s) now. But I suspect that may have been done "artificially".)
Either that or something else, - whatever the reason you chose to have constantly changing the floating bar, - I understand now that it's your conscious choice, and let's leave it at that.

Kostya Vasilyev

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2015, 10:55:56 pm »
-- I guess that the action "Move to folder" will be used more often than "Star/Unstar"...

Maybe, but maybe not.

-- I disabled that floating bar

Sure. I thought it was an improvement, given all the complaints about the difficultly of reaching all the way across the glorious 5.7" screen of my new Samsung.

-- I am sure you are aware of this behavior

Yes I am. The pattern breaks down if you select several messages, some starred, some not starred (or read and unread).

And not to point out something obvious or unpleasant but the floating bar has that famous "three dots" icon too.

And just like with the usual action bar, any commands that didn't make it as icons, are pushed into this overflow affordance.

( and I took care that the drop-down menu behind those "three dots" shows near the context bar, not some place that's more difficult to reach )
« Last Edit: September 02, 2015, 10:58:05 pm by Kostya Vasilyev, Aqua Mail »
Creating debug logs for diagnostics: https://www.aqua-mail.com/troubleshooting/

The official FAQ: https://www.aqua-mail.com/faq/

Лог-файлы для диагностики: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/troubleshooting/

Вопросы и ответы: https://www.aqua-mail.com/ru/faq/

mikeone

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Re: How do I configure floating side-bar items?
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2015, 11:09:48 pm »
>> Sure. I thought it was an improvement, given all the complaints about the difficultly of reaching all the way across the glorious 5.7" screen of my new Samsung.

Yes,  really great solution and for me, one of the best improvement  -  right after the swiping features and...  and...  and... and...  :)

Splendid app,  Kostya!