Allow an independent context menu

[Sam_]

After yesterdays updates a right click, mostly on text files, doesn't display complete context menu. (video)
It displays always e.g. create new file, properties, dis- and enlarge.
It randomly doesn't display e.g. rename, cut and paste.
It doesn't display mostly on text files, rarely on .ogv or .png files.

Update:
The confusion came from a bug fix yesterday, please note Comment #2.
Due to usability issues changed the description to request an independent context menu.
If a file name is very short, for example 'fo' or '1' a user needs to have sufficient target skills in order to access the appropriate context menu via right click.

Expected:
Allow independent context menu otherwise it may be randomly lost.
Leave it up to user which action to select.
It's more confusing to miss context than to right click and have a comprehensive selection offered.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: nautilus 1:3.2.1-2ubuntu5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-7.13-generic 3.2.0-rc7
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-7-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 1.90-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Jan 5 20:13:50 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Alpha amd64 (20111129.1)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: nautilus
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug report, looking at your video I guess you get confused because the context menu is not the same when clicking on the label or icon and on the blank space?

That's the fix for bug #51043, there was nowhere to click before to get the context menu, now if you click on some empty space in a line you will the context menu for the directory which allows to paste in the directory, create new directories, etc

[Sam_ (and-sam)]

Thanks Sebastien. Yes, I remember I've read about this bug yesterday in changelog.
The idea started with the folder in tree view, actually admitting I don't get it, or is it untrivial to just allow a complete context menu independent from where you click and leave it up to the user which action to select? Is too much context confusing the user?
At current state one actually needs to tell a user "click *exactly* on the file name, only then you'll get access to the appropriate context menu". When there is a very short file name for example 'fo' or '1' one needs to have good target skills.
Not sure if this meets comprehensive usa- and accessabilty needs.

Convert this to a request to enable an indepent context menu.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

> The idea started with the folder in tree view, actually admitting I don't get it, or is it untrivial to just allow a complete context menu independent from where you click and leave it up to the user which action to select?

The actions depend of the context, "create a new directory" doesn't apply if a file is selected for example...

> Is too much context confusing the user?

Well, all actions don't apply to all context, and listing all possibles actions all the time would give a busy and confusing menu to use

> At current state one actually needs to tell a user "click *exactly* on the file name, only then you'll get access to the appropriate context menu". When there is a very short file name for example 'fo' or '1' one needs to have good target skills.

No, it doesn't, you can click on the icon or any part of the filename or on the text of other columns, if you aim for the icon you should hit either the icon or the filename and that should be easy enough to do?

[Sam_ (and-sam)]

> actions depend of the context, "create a new directory" doesn't apply if a file is selected for example...

This is true in tight context. The red line is to have a choice or being restricted from it. For example in Firefox when I'd like to copy an url, I can select copy, move to a folder, decide that I need a new folder for it first, create a new folder and paste the url into it afterwards. The context menu doesn't restrict me to only copy and paste an url it offers parallel to create a new folder.

Imagine to select a file and select copy, change your mind to create a folder first, you need to move the mouse somewhere else to get the appropriate context menu. Result, don't click on a file if you'd like to create a new folder, at least don't change your mind after selecting a file - computer restricts brain.

> busy and confusing menu

Thanks, it answers my question if too much context is confusing.

> hit either the icon or the filename and that should be easy enough to do?

True, I guess it's just a matter of getting used to it. The restriction remains.

[psypher (psypher246)]

I get why you would have contextually relevant menus, not a bad feature. But I would like to suggest that a simple compromise be this:
if you have selected files, while holding ctrl or shift and right click anywhere in the window, then the correct menu for selected files should appear. otherwise if you right click in any empty space that context menu appears.

It is really frustrating to loose a bunch of files selected by right clicking on an empty space. An empty space you have been clicking on for the last 10 years. on all kinds of OS's. it's the expected behavior.

But what i also have to say is. For a long time I have wished for the feature that I can create a new folder or file without having scroll down and find empty space. That I like. But please just add, if files are selected and ctrl or shift is down, bring up copy.

[Sam_ (and-sam)]

Actually it doesn't expose only an empty space from user view (it might be technically, but that's not user worry), the click *hightlights the whole line* not text only. A user who doesn't study where it makes sense to click in order to achieve a certain goal views a highlighted line which expresses an overall selection, but the right click doesn't reflect that.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

the issue is fixed with nautilus 3.6 in raring

[cat (netcat-z)]

But will the fix be back ported to gtk 3.4? Or nobody cares about lts users?

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates about stable update, how to get a fix backported, and what bugs qualify for those