Context menus showing configuration options of panels should be improved to avoid a user to suppress an applet by mistake

[antistress]

(NB : This "bug" is basically a GNOME one, but as Ubuntu decided to place the trash can on the panel, this "bug" is more present in Ubuntu)

To empty the Trash can, i can right-click on the trash-icon of the panel and select "empty the trash can" but i can also suppress the icon from the panel in the same move !
If i want to mute the system volume i can right-click on the loudspeaker-icon of the panel but i can also suppress the icon from the panel in the same move !
etc.

Quite dangerous : i can imagine the disapointement of the user who doesn't know how to repair its mistake...

The same matter occurs if i want to eject an audio CD, i can right-click on the icon on the desktop and select "eject" but i can also change the icon size.

The matter is that in the same move (right-clicking an icon) you can choose an action (eject the CD, mute the VOLUME, empty the TRASH CAN) as well as a configuration option (change THE ICON size, suppress THE ICON from the panel).
Action concerns the object (CD, volume, trash can) whereas configuration options concern the icon that represents the object.

We can imagine different ways to improve the situation :

I - Concerning specifically the panel, if the icon is locked on the panel, the "suppress icon from the panel" should appear in grey (not active)

II - An entry in System>Preferences menu should allow to configure theses options

III - Configuration options should appear in a sub menu :
Here is an exemple with the trash can applet context menu :
1. Open
2. Empty
3. Configuration options
 3a. Suppress the icon from the panel
 3b. Move the icon
 3c. Lock on the panel

IV - ...

As far as i'm concerned, I prefer # IV : that idea can apply to all situations (panel icons and desktop icons) and solve the problem (configuration options are not directly accessible anymore and therefore there is less risk for a bad manipulation. Also the presentation of the options is more logic with a clear separation between actions & configuration options) without having to tweak options of each icons on the panel.

Thanks for having read this message in spite of my bad english

[antistress (antistress)]

I mean : i prefer # III

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thanks for the bug report. This particular bug has already been reported, but feel free to report any other bugs you find.