Refactor the way to change status

[junglecow]

Current two-step way of changing status is annoying, and not so intuitive. I don't want to decide every time if I'm "Light Away" or "Extended Away" or something else. Instead, I simply want to say "Gone to Dinner" and message and status is set at the same time.

When I set Extended Away mode, it can be many things, but when my message is "Gone to Dinner", status is always Extended Away, and when message is "Be Right Back", status is always Light Away, so it makes more sense to set the message first. In fact the only message I use with more than one status is the empty one.

So I propose:

• Instead of status names, show preset messages in the combobox, and display the status icon that belongs to that message to the left just as we see it now. (Except that there can be more than one Away, more than one Available etc.)
• Of course that means we have to store a status with every preset message.
• To limit amount of items in combobox, we can display only x most recently used items.
• "Change Status Message" → "Custom Status/Message"
• Add combobox for status to current "Status Message" window, so we can set both message and status from one window.

[B.Steinbrink@…]

I'd prefer an additional "Recently used..." submenu in the status menu, in which the recently used Status/Message combinations are listed, while the rest of the menu stays as it is. At least for me, selecting a status first and then a message feels more natural and the "Recently used..." menu would still be a timesaver.

[asterix]

I like B. idea of a recent status submenu, other comments ?

[steve-e]

Asterix: one solution could be to remove the combobo and just put a button
Asterix: which open a dialog
Asterix: and you select everything here
Asterix: first the message
Asterix: when you select message status is automaticaly selected, but can be changed

[steve-e]

Current two-step way of changing status is annoying, and not so intuitive.

I absolutely agree with that.

Status can be set:

• global
• per account
• per group
• per contact

The new method should be the same for all these cases. Just removing the combobox and doing everything in a dialog would interrupt a smooth workflow. Switching status is trivial, we should keep it that easy and fast.

"Recently used" sounds cool but it should only be an addition. If the whole content of the combobox changes frequently, users may get confused and have to search for the status they want.

- Instead of status names, show preset messages in the combobox, and display the status icon that belongs to that message to the left just as we see it now. (Except that there can be more than one Away, more than one Available etc.)

What if the status message is too long? Nevertheless it is better than just saying away etc. I propose to just adapt it to the recently used submenu.

- Of course that means we have to store a status with every preset message.

I thought about appending that to the recently used menu or create a new submenu, but I fear everything gets to bloated. Therefore it could be moved to the new "Status/Message" dialog

- "Change Status Message" → "Custom Status/Message" - Add combobox for status to current "Status Message" window, so we can set both message and status from one window.

Second both.

Do you have any proposals for reflecting current status (and message) for all cases mentioned above?

[roidelapluie]

(In [8161]) (Fix #2416) Close change status windows after 15 seconds of inactivity

[m_gol]

I've just wanted to write a ticket about recent status message submenu but asterix just mentioned it here - I would like it, I would very like it...

In fact, many people often sets a temporary status message and afterwards they (and me, too) want to set their status message back. It would be very useful to have these messages listed instead of writing them again. If this previous message was long, it would be even much more useful...

And I think that this status message list should be one instead of separate lists for every status - I often change status from, for example, XA to DND and I'd like not to change my status message - now I have to copy it, then change status, then paste it. It would be nice if I could set this from a list of recent status messages.

[pavlix]

My suggestion is:

A menu... with online/away/other statuses set immediately (without any dialog... and with default messages set up in preferences).

And a "Change status..." instead of current "Change status message..." that would throw a dialog where you choose everything.

P.S.: Alternatively, the immediate status changes could be fully configurable... so one could add "work" - meaning busy + message="working", "school" - busy + message="school".

[steve-e]

Bump. We need more comments on this as it may become important when PEP support is complete.

[Jim++]

I don't really have an idea of the best way to do that, but I comment to mention one thing.

If we store X lasts status messages (linked to status or not), we should delete the actual preset message functionality, else that would be too much. Keep this in mind.

[steve-e]

I'd like to work on this and also forwarded a proposal to Asterix and nk. This is only a stupid reminder for me to add it here :-)

But before I start any hacking, I want more important changes to be stable. (Modelfilter, ipv6...)

[Jim++]

Features freezing 0.12