Re-adding network manager icon to top panel is undiscoverable due to naming of notifications panel

[Chris Kenyon]

Binary package hint: network-manager

For a user who has lost or accidentally removed the notifications panel and wants to see the NetworkManager connection status in the top panel - the naming and icon use for the "notifications area" makes it extremely difficult to discover that this is indeed the panel widget that needs to be added. I somehow switched off this vital piece of functionality and have been left hunting for it.

Given that WIFI connectivity is such an important use case I would argue that this is a high priority issue that can be solved simply. Even as en experienced user I have had to resort to the forums / mailing lists [1]

Simple fixes:

- Instead of using the somewhat redundant icon with an 'i' on it - could we use the wireless connectivity icon? (I am assuming that my use case is the most common :-) )

- Can we add the word wireless or WIFI or network into the Notification panel description as it appears after you click on 'ADD TO PANEL' ? - At least it would turn up when I type in wireless or Wifi into the applet search box

Larger fixes:

Should the network manager icon by switch-on-able from other locations (preferences or administration)?

[1] - https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-users/2008-March/138682.html

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

Most likely it would be best to make it harder to accidentally remove the notification area. Or teach gnome-panel to ensure that there is at least one notification area somewhere on the panel. Adding gnome-panel task to discuss solutions.

[Brian (rephorm)]

The notification area holds more than just the wireless icon (e.g. volume indicator, bittorrent status information, etc). So, the name and icon are correct for what the applet does.

Perhaps adding the name of the applet being removed to the "Remove from Panel" menu item could be a solution?

e.g. "Remove 'Notification Area' from Panel"

This could be a generic solution that prevents this issue for all applets.

[Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox)]

This is largely covered by the move to an indicator in nm-applet. There's also now a way to disable (with a gconf key) showing the applet, which means you no longer have to remove the notification area (or kill nm-applet). Closing as Fix Released, as anything else would have to be done at the gnome-panel level anyway).