Comment 55 for bug 691380

(In reply to comment #49)
> For just showing them, a tooltip would suffice (as in my interactive mockup to
> come, see next comment). For changing them, we need a bit more. Charles
> proposes putting the controls on a tooltip-like floating pane, and show that
> interactive tooltip *on top* of our proposed simple quick filter widget which
> would usually sit on the right of main toolbar.

Erm... don't forget, this propsed new quickfilter widget will be just like the old searchbox - a standalone widget that can be placed anywhere, on any toolbar, so please lets not assume anything about 'where' it will be placed...

Also - I just used the word 'tool-tip' to describe my latest idea, and that may have been a bad choice of words. I've never seen a tool-tip that was interactive, so, think more of like a persistent pop-up 'menu' that opens *above* the searchbox instead of below, and with the list choices offered *horizontally*, instead of vertically - but this list would act just like the current choices on the toolbar - ie, interactive 'push-buttons'...

> So in fact there's empty space
> above that (the right of menu bar, and the window's caption bar (at least here
> on XP). Charles, that sounds like an interesting idea to explore visually...
> (or possibly just tweaking my upcoming xul mockup).

I see above where you suggest I tweak it - I honestly would *love* it if I could - but my programming skills are grossly inadequate - I can barely hack together a working bash script, and wouldn't know a XUL from a XOOL... ;)

> FTR: I am sure that the new Quick Filter Bar of TB 3.1 meets a lot, if not all
> goals of good and modern UI design (and they have a lot of goals, if we are to
> believe bmo's keyword reference, as I was recently informed when I was daring
> enough to propose a new keyword, "customizability"...):

Agreed, with one exception -and honestly, it is the only thing I really 'dislike' about it, other than how much space it consumes, and it happens on larger monitors - there is just too much space between the searchbox, and the 'other' criteria (read/unread, attachments, etc) to the left...

> Seriously, quick filter bar is an excellent tool that has been carefully
> crafted to successfully avoid many usability problems of the past while adding
> valuable functionality at your fingertips. As such, it's great.

While I really disliked it at first, I actually agree with this now, except that *personally* I would still much prefer the standalone widget being discussed here as an option.

> However, some personal observations:
> - in 98% of all searches, I am not using advanced filter criteria (buttons on
> the left side of qfb, like attachment etc.)

+1

> - in 98% of all searches, I am not changing the fields when I search for some
> text. Subject, Sender, and Recipient is an excellent default. (Btw, we should
> look into comment 25's remark about the regression concerning Sent-box
> intelligent search fields behaviour).

+1

> Iow, in 98% of all searches, I'd be happy with something like the good old
> quick search box, where you can just "find as you type".

Precisely. Since the advanced stuff on the toolbar that takes up all the room is only used 2% of the time (less probably in my case) by most people, it just isn't an efficient use of space.