Comment 61 for bug 48671

@kikl:
"One more suggestion: If you mistakenly click the file name, it's difficult to get out of this mode, as far as I remember. You have to turn to the keyboard and press escape or enter or click on some other arbitrary item. That's just something you are not prepared to do, while your clicking through folders. As a default behaviour, a second click on the file-name field should deselect the file name. In this case, users shouldn't be bothered so much."

I disagree. If this feature is to be implemented, it should behave the same as it does elsewhere - bringing Nautilus' behaviour in line with that of other file managers is the whole point of this bug/feature request in the first place. Besides, this would break expected behaviour: In any text input field you assume that clicking into the text allows you to position the cursor, not to trigger any action outside of it.

And I do think this functionality should be implemented. Not because it makes much sense in itself - what in UI design really does? - but because some people find it useful. Personally I think this function sucks and I prefer F2. But I know people who use and love it and who miss it whenever they have to use my Ubuntu laptop. And since, if selectable as an option, it does not break current behaviour, I am all for it.

Regarding the default setting I am not really sure what would be better. Michael Dittmann makes a very valid point in 4.1.1: People who come to Linux from another system have enough work on their hands just getting to know that shiny new OS some nerdy friend set up for them; we should not assume that they would know or easily find out how to change this setting. If it's not there from the start, they may well assume it is not available at all. So I would argue for making the rename functionality the default.

On the other hand I know I'd be very angry if my beloved and well-configured and adapted desktop would start to behave weird after an update. So if this is going to be pushed onto people, they'd better be well informed about what is going on. And I am not talking about one line in the release notes. Would it be possible to display a notice on first activation that explains why the rename mode was entered, how to leave it and where to configure it? Or even better: one that even offers the direct option to disable this feature?

(That is one of my biggest gripes with OpenOffice: When AutoCorrect kicks in it "helpfully" offers an icon that opens the relevant entry in the manual which explains where in the settings you can configure this behaviour, instead of simply opening the relevant settings page. Aggravating, really.)