Re: [Beaver-devel] Patches

[Stephen Depooter]

On Mon, 2003-08-18 at 01:22, Michael Terry wrote:
> Timothy J. Warren wrote:
> > As for changing the "modified" status of new files: the default behavior
> > of Beaver was to set a new file as modified, whether you had actually
> > made any changes or not.  So, if you opened a blank document, then
> > closed it without making any changes, it asked you if you wanted to save
> > it.  I didn't think that was "good" behavior, so I removed it.  I'm
> > sorry I didn't mention it with the patch submission.
> 
> I think the current behavior is more consistent with user expectations. 
>   (I am responsible for the current code and didn't ask for concensus on 
> the list, so now is a good time to debate it.)  To be clear, we are 
> talking about creating a new file and having it start with a 
> modified-buffer status.
> 
> The modified status is used to indicate any document buffer that is out 
> of sync with the hard drive.  I think that documents that don't exist on 
> the hard drive are out of sync.  Plus, this way you can open a new file 
> and immediately save.
> 
> Often, text editors will not let you save a new file without first 
> typing something (so if you want a blank file, you have to edit it and 
> then delete the text, which is unintuitive).  If they do let you save a 
> blank, new file, they often use a quasi-modified state (one that doesn't 
> have any visible indication nor triggers the 
> 'are-you-sure-you-want-to-close' dialog but will let it be saved).  This 
> is misleading to the user, since it breaks their trust in what the 
> modified flag means.
> 
> The only disadvantage I can think of is that you will sometimes create a 
> new file and not want to save it, thus being presented with a save 
> dialog.  I think the consistency is worth this.
> 
> How do other people feel about this?

I think that a new file that has not been touched, should not be marked
as modified.  However, it should not prevent the user from saving it as
it is, a blank file.  

I can live with the file being marked as modified as long as when I
click save the first time or click close etc, since I haven't specified
any preference for a file name, the Save As dialog appears asking for me
to specify a filename.  Currently, in beaver, in either case, the file
is just saved with it's default name Untitled#<n>.  In any other text
editor I have used, if you have not specified the name yet, instead of
saving as the default name, the user is prompted for a name.  

-- 
Stephen Depooter
<address@hidden>
<address@hidden>

  A. Because it breaks the logical sequence of discussion
  Q. Why is top posting bad?
            -- seen in Neil McGovern's sig