Re: File Useability question

[Enrico Sersale]

On 2004-02-21 16:37:26 +0200 Dennis Leeuw <dleeuw@made-it.com> wrote:

> Enrico Sersale wrote:
> > On 2004-02-21 12:51:22 +0200 Dennis Leeuw <dleeuw@made-it.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Just had a little discussion with my girlfriend about the GNUstep 
> > > useability. And she was wondering why there was in the GWorkspace menu an 
> > > entry for File -> New File without the ability to associate this file with 
> > > a certain program.
> > >
> > > And I couldn't answer that question...
> >
> >
> > Well, because you associate it renaming it!
>
> Yep, I do understand that... but imagine an ignorant user. It is not 
> intuitive. He/She creates a file and has an empty file that is of no use. 
> Wouldn't it be nice (more useful) to ask what kind of file is meant and which 
> program the user wants it to be associated with?
>
> I mean what is the use of an empty file? 

To rename it with a .m or .h extension and add a new file to your project :)
(Instead of opening your editor, create a new document and then go until the 
directory where you want to save it).
But this is valid only for text files; GW can't create tiff, pdf, jpeg, and so 
on files.
For this you need an editor for the file type.
Probably, "File->New File" is a mistake; simply, it should not be there. I've added it 
because I work mainly with text files; for me, "File->New File" represents a usefull 
feature, because with a command N and a double click I get the new file opened with the nedit wrapper in 
the right directory.
But I've not considered the users...
I think that I'll rename it "File->New txt file" or, even better, I'll put only 
a key equivalent for it.

> Would be nice to have GWorkspace (or 
> any "browser" for that matter) to have an option to create a file and link it 
> to an application (or file type).
>
> More or less like I can start vi with just 'vi' or I can start it like 'vi 
> filename'. I think the user would gain in useability. Certainly since the 
> FileViewer is the "always open app". It makes the FileViewer the access-point 
> (starting point) to the system.
>
> Just "brainstorming" right now.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
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