Server: File explorer: actions hidden behind "..." menu now

[mathiasconradt]

NC14 cloud.nextcloud.com

Why is there a "..." menu for the actions, requiring two clicks to trigger the action, when there is enough space on the screen, especially when this action bar is only visible when at least one file is selected, so the many action items don't actually pollute the screen during regular usage?

This is a step backwards to as it was before, where the actions were available right away. This "..." menu should only show on small screens.

[nextcloud-bot]

GitMate.io thinks possibly related issues are https://github.com/nextcloud/server/issues/3584 (File actions menu entries too light), https://github.com/nextcloud/server/issues/3183 (Mimetype detection for hidden files), https://github.com/nextcloud/server/issues/10749 (Copy File Name context menu option), https://github.com/nextcloud/server/issues/4557 (Missing tooltips in contacts menu actions.), and https://github.com/nextcloud/server/issues/189 (Hide hidden files from UI).

[jospoortvliet]

@nextcloud/designers I must admit I also spend a bit of time looking for the move action... maybe only hide if needed? It only shows when relevant anyway.

[skjnldsv]

@jancborchardt :)

[MorrisJobke]

@jancborchardt :)

🏓

[jancborchardt]

1 action should indeed be shown directly, and in this case that's "Move or Copy". (Same pattern as for the Share function and 3-dot-menu in the file list.)

[microfx]

@jancborchardt I have plenty of space so it should only be hidden when necessary.

Is this something that will stay now like this?

[jancborchardt]

@microfx as said:

1 action should indeed be shown directly, and in this case that's "Move or Copy". (Same pattern as for the Share function and 3-dot-menu in the file list.)

The necessity of hiding things does not depend on the available screen space, but on the mental load that showing everything at once would cause.

[tomasz-grobelny]

1 action should indeed be shown directly, and in this case that's "Move or Copy". (Same pattern as for the Share function and 3-dot-menu in the file list.)

I agree that one action may be a primary one, but why should it be "Move or Copy"? Maybe for some people the "Download" option will be the most used one?

How about some configuration option? Ok, just joking - I know how evil they are. But maybe some simple machine learning to select most used one based on different factors (folder location, primary folder contents, folder age)?

[jancborchardt]

I agree that one action may be a primary one, but why should it be "Move or Copy"? Maybe for some people the "Download" option will be the most used one?

We simply have to decide on one. If we would have sharing in multiselect, that would be the one. So right now it’s just the entry that’s first in the list. We could also say that "Move or copy" is related to Nextcloud, while "Download" is not.

Anyhow, details. The only real issue here is that someone needs to implement it. :)

How about some configuration option? Ok, just joking - I know how evil they are. But maybe some simple machine learning to select most used one based on different factors (folder location, primary folder contents, folder age)?

Sure that’s a nice concept, but a _lot_ of overhead for such a simple thing. And as @ChristophWurst will be able to tell, machine learning is not proper here since you need a huge data set as base. :)

[tomasz-grobelny]

How about some configuration option? Ok, just joking - I know how evil they are. But maybe some simple machine learning to select most used one based on different factors (folder location, primary folder contents, folder age)?

Sure that’s a nice concept, but a _lot_ of overhead for such a simple thing. And as @ChristophWurst will be able to tell, machine learning is not proper here since you need a huge data set as base. :)

ML is certainly not the first choice here and requires some design/coding that will not happen of itself overnight. Sure. But I am not sure what you mean by "huge data set"? Note that each click may provide data for the model.

[jancborchardt]

We’re getting off-topic here. :)

[skjnldsv]

What shall we do then? Close this issue? Let's not leave issues open for nothing I'd say :)
Let's take a position? What do you think?

[juliushaertl]

I think this enhancement proposal by @jancborchardt is still valid:

1 action should indeed be shown directly, and in this case that's "Move or Copy". (Same pattern as for the Share function and 3-dot-menu in the file list.)

[janis91]

It'd also be very nice for app developers to be able to register file actions in that menu. As far as I see this is only possible for single files, yet. Regardless of the design it would be a big benefit, because then app developers can just register the action and even if design and arrangement changes over time (eg. most used option will be shown or something like this), this will not force devs to adjust their code.

[janis91]

It'd also be very nice for app developers to be able to register file actions in that menu. As far as I see this is only possible for single files, yet. Regardless of the design it would be a big benefit, because then app developers can just register the action and even if design and arrangement changes over time (eg. most used option will be shown or something like this), this will not force devs to adjust their code.

Ok nevermind. I just found out, that not only design has changed. OCA.Files.App.fileList.multiSelectMenuItems can be used to register (by pushing) an action.