[Pidgin] #260: Wrong name for the conversation window with multiple tabs

[Pidgin]

#260: Wrong name for the conversation window with multiple tabs
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  Reporter:  kaddar        |       Owner:  deryni
      Type:  enhancement   |      Status:  new   
  Priority:  minor         |   Milestone:        
 Component:  pidgin (gtk)  |     Version:  2.0   
Resolution:                |    Keywords:        
   Pending:  0             |  
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Comment (by kaddar):

 The issue is this:

 Pidgin is simply more complex a model than other applications.  In many
 other applications, the name of whatever thing you are currently
 interested in is always in the taskbar.  This is what users expect.  In
 pidgin, what you are interested in is whatever you are working on, while
 it is focused, and when it is not focused, what you are interested in
 within the application is whoever messaged you last.

 The problem is that users expect what you are interested in should be in
 the taskbar, and the developers feel that sometimes what you are
 interested in is too complex for you to think about.  In my opinion, it
 should be intuitive, and so it shouldn't be necessary to explain to the
 users, "it should just work".


 I know you guys are pretty against the "confusing" method, but I just want
 to say that I still feel the Taskbar should have the following
 functionality:
 -Give the name of the current user you have focused
 -Also list in order from newest to oldest, names of users of last sent
 unread messages


 Current method:
 Gives the name of current focused user, but reports new messages,
 therefore you think the wrong user messaged you, intuitively.

 Possible changes:
 Reporting no one IM name:
 I feel this reduces functionality that is expected in windowed
 applications.  I really feel alerts should not be required for this
 functionality.

 Reporting more than one IM name, but truncated to 8 characters each:
 First list the current focused user, then list of users who have last sent
 you unread messages.  Do this regardless of whether or not the window is
 focused.  It always works the same and it just works.

 Example:
 Matt Focused, Joe messages you:
 Taskbar reads something like: "Matt [Joe(1)]"
 Matt Focused, Joe and then afterwards, Blargblargblarg messages you:
 Taskbar reads something like: "Matt [Blargbla(1), Joe(1)]"
 Matt focused, Matt messages you:
 Taskbar reads something like: "Matt [Matt(1)]"
 Matt focused, Matt and then Joe messages you:
 Taskbar reads something like: "Matt [Joe(1), Matt(1)]"

 Even if this implementation is wrong and confusing, it is still less wrong
 and less confusing/intuitive than the current implementation...


 Other ways:
 Messages that start a new conversation cannot be placed in current tabbed
 windows if those windows are not focused.  But this spawns way too many
 windows, unfortunately.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/260#comment:14>
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