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Contributor LSenf

Append PDF files is a hard job in Linux  
Written by vcordeiro the 26 Feb 12 at 12:36. Related project: KPDF. New
The current pdf merge tools available are applications that take two pdf files already created and merge them. To use it, we need to create each pdf in separate, start the application, find each pdf and merge them. All this work makes sense when you want to merge more then two files, analize each one, select what pages to merge, split...
However, in the most of times, you just want to append the pdf file being created to an existent one.
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Solution #1: Add append option when printing over an existent file
Written by vcordeiro the 26 Feb 12 at 12:36.
When the user trys to print over an existent pdf file, it is shown a pop-up box saying: "A file named "xxxx.pdf" already exists. Do you want to replace it?". There are currently two options: "Replace" and "Cancel". The idea is just to add the third option "Append". If the user clicks the button "Append", the current file is entirely appended to the existent one.
The pdf printer "PrimoPDF"(for windows only) has this feature and can be used as reference.
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Solution #2: Add editing abilities to evince
Written by LSenf the 16 Mar 12 at 13:43.
Add PDF editing abilities to evince (like pdfshuffler), such as:

* switching pages
* adding / removing / appending new pages
* rotating pages?
* annotations

See the 2 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 17 Sep 12 at 14:03) >>

No feedback for missing shared libraries on GUI apps  
Written by AndrewLuecke the 6 May 12 at 12:36. Related project: Unity. New

When an application/game is missing a shared library, it simply never launches. There is never an error, or any indication why. Those who are tech saavy, will open console and often find Error while loading shared libraries: libSDL_mixer-1.2.so.0". It is most common for commercial games and apps, or older linux apps. Having any program close without saying why, or no feedback on how to fix it is a clear obvious usability fail. Some real-world examples are:
* World of Goo from the humble bundles (deb).
* X-Plane 9 (I haven't tested X-Plane 10).
* Skype

This issue is widespread, and has likely gone unnoticed because the actual problem has never had a generic means of correction (and the solution offered is generally "install library blah blah blah", "oh, it works, thanks", "close bug"). Windows has similar issues, however, at least they show an error that the DLL is missing!
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Solution #1: Monitor the console for missing shared libs errors. Install dependencies
Written by AndrewLuecke the 6 May 12 at 12:36.
When running an app:
1) Capture Stderr.
2) Analyse Stderr for missing libraries problem.
3) If something was missing, scan packagekit for the file, offer to install it. ("Libsdl.so.1 is missing, would you like to install LibSDL?")
4) Relaunch the app.

Benefits:
1) VERY easy to develop
2) Allows Ubuntu to self diagnose app launching problems.
3) Far better backwards compatibility.
4) Tar.gz's will be easier to run.
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Solution #2: Go directly down to the linker
Written by LSenf the 11 May 12 at 13:44.
Just as #1, but instead of monitoring console output, the cleaner solution should be to handle the error directly in the linker (or whatever causes these errors ;) ).

The linker itself could then call another program handling the user dialogs, installation proposals etc.

Furthermore, the second program should also offer a console interface in case the error occurs in a non-graphical environment.

See the 6 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 19 Aug 12 at 07:34) >>

QuickBoot feature like Windows 8  
Written by idude.aldunate the 13 Jan 12 at 14:41. Global category: Others. New
The latest Windows 8 Developer Preview, boots incredibly fast! Wouldn't it be nice to see that speed on our Ubuntu powered machines? From "no power" state to "desktop" it's like less than 15 seconds.
I would really like to see that feature on Ubuntu 12.04 or 12.10...
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Solution #1: Implement the FastBoot feature from Windows 8, or create on alike
Written by idude.aldunate the 13 Jan 12 at 14:41.
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Solution #2: Implement snapshot boot in grub and kernel
Written by LSenf the 14 Mar 12 at 21:03.
Just to make this more specific:

Kernel: Implement kernel hibernation and kernel resume

Grub: Implement snapshot image booting


An example where this was implemented on linux for ARM:

http://www.elinux.org/images/3/37/Snapshot-boot-final.pdf

(Have a look at the diagram on page 19)

See the 5 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 10 May 12 at 13:14) >>

Boost new ideas  
Written by LSenf the 1 May 12 at 15:28. Related project: brainstorm.ubuntu.com. Category: Website structure. New
Currently, the most popular ideas have the most prominent position on ubuntu brainstorm.

However, an idea that already has several hundreds of votes (and practically is already decided) needs less attention than one recently created.

For example, I recently proposed a solution to an idea that now has five votes, all positive. But apparently, it is hardly noticed by anyone else.
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Solution #1: Create a new tab for ideas that need attention
Written by LSenf the 1 May 12 at 15:28.
Instead of only offering the most popular ideas, add a tab for ideas that only have few votes.

Additionally, ideas that are voted about 50-50 and so still need votes for a real decision should also be shown there.

The date an idea was created should not make a difference here.
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Solution #2: Guide the user explicitly through the votes
Written by LSenf the 1 May 12 at 15:33.
Add a feature that "feeds" the user one idea after another, instead of making the user search ideas to vote for.

This should also give priority to new ideas and ideas still needing a clear decision.

It could be implemented either as a new tab, a part of the dash or even the main page.

In case the user is interested in a specific topic project, this should be offered as an optional filter.
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Solution #3: Add a "Not Yet Voted" tab to Brainstorm
Written by HaydenMicallef the 6 May 12 at 01:36.
Simply Add a Scroll Down Option or Tab to Brainstorm that lists all ideas/solutions (newest first) that you haven't yet voted on.

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 8 May 12 at 09:23) >>

Singleclick,Doubleclick settings are in the file browser  
Written by svrom the 9 Mar 12 at 19:35. Related project: Unity. New
The Settings for having single or doubleclick is not in the Ubuntu Mouse Options. It's still set in the file manager which is rather weird for users.

They would look in the system settings for an option like this
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Solution #1: Put Single/Double Click in the System Settings
Written by svrom the 9 Mar 12 at 19:35.
Make Single/Double Click available through system settings and set the nautilus option through gnome registry with it.
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Solution #2: General setting for all applications
Written by LSenf the 19 Mar 12 at 22:08.
Just as #1, but not only for nautilus.

All applications that have a single/double click option should refer to a central option (including file open/save dialogs!!).

This should make the overall user experience more consistent.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 12 Apr 12 at 07:59) >>

The dropdown menus' position should be configurable for better touchscreen exp.  
Written by LSenf the 17 Sep 10 at 15:04. Related project: Gnome. New
When using my touchscreen, my hand often covers the windows' dropdown menus (File/Edit/etc) when selecting them, which is not quite comfortable.

Exporting the dropdown menus to a panel, as it is done in Unity Shell, would not be a sufficient solution, as that would allow comfortable access ONLY to the active window.
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Solution #1: Configurable dropdown menu positions
Written by LSenf the 17 Sep 10 at 15:04.
Offer an option to put the dropdown menus to the bottom instead of the top of the windows, maybe even move the title bar of the windows to the bottom.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 22 Mar 11 at 06:05) >>

Stop scanning the whole filesystem when booting  
Written by fernandoc1 the 13 Nov 10 at 11:44. Global category: System. New
It is too boring having to wait more than 20 minutes to scan my whole file system, for a useless scan.
In operating system literature, filesystem checks are needed only when the filesystem has been improperly shutdown or there are any hardware failure.
This means that there is no need to check your filesystem regularly, unless your operating system have any bugs that do some mess on it.
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Solution #1: Scan only if is really needed
Written by fernandoc1 the 13 Nov 10 at 11:44.
Choose a file system that is stable enough to don't need a regular system check.
Regular filesystem checks produce a bad user experience and it is time loose.
My 1 TB harddisk, takes near 20 minutes to scan and I had never had an improperly shutdown or reboot.
I install Ubuntu to lots of people and the frequently claim that they need to wait for too long when the system checks comes.
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Solution #2: add a comment to fs scannin screen about turnin it off
Written by Goury the 13 Nov 10 at 19:08.
example:
---------------
filesystem scanin...
XX% of /media/hdd1 done

note: you can configure which volumes must be regularely scanned by editing /etc/fstab file (type "sudo gedit /etc/fstab" in terminal and read instructions)
warning: regularely scanning needed for security reasons (to prevt data loss or somethin) and improp editin of fstab file can make your ubuntu unable to boot. be careful and everthng...
---------------
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Solution #3: Force computer to reboot every 30 days to run offline FSCK
Written by Auzy the 15 Nov 10 at 12:16.
A harddisk has equal probability of random corruption (if not less) when turned off, as running.

So if fsck's every 30 mounts really are needed to be safe, then logic dictates that we should force the computer to reboot every few weeks to run a FSCK. Because after all apparently we shouldn't trust Linux filesystem developers?
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Solution #4: Do file system check on shutdown.
Written by nekguy the 2 Dec 10 at 12:12.
Doing file system checks when the user does a system shutdown could avoid the boot wait problem. If the shutdown scan for a disk is successfully completed the boot sequence would skip the scan for the disk. If a problem is detected in the shutdown scan then the problem would be picked up on the next boot sequence.
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Solution #5: Check file system while computer runs on idle
Written by LSenf the 11 Dec 10 at 23:48.
I don't know a lot about file system checks, but if it were possible (is it?), why not perform routine checks while the system is running on idle?

That would avoid any delay during boot or shutdown and, if implemented correctly, not even reduce performance of the running system.

See the 19 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 8 Dec 10 at 09:54) >>

Navigation between windows and applications  
Written by Vahan Harutyunyan the 9 Sep 10 at 19:44. Global category: Usability. New
I want to suggest one function, which makes the navigation between windows and applications more comfortable.
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Solution #1: New function
Written by Vahan Harutyunyan the 9 Sep 10 at 19:44.
It will be good if in Ubuntu (without using Compiz Fusion options) will be added function that allows to display thumbnails of windows when you hover the mouse over the panel, allows to drag and fix on the panel different windows and applications.
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Solution #2: Show window instead of thumbnail
Written by LSenf the 18 Sep 10 at 09:56.
I never really liked thumbnails of windows, as they are often too small to distinguish between similar windows. Instead, the window itself should be shown in full-size and at its current position.

So, I would prefer to temporarily hide all other windows while hovering over the panel. I guess this behaviour would also be easier to use for standard users.
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Solution #3: Use Solution #1 as an optional feature
Written by Vahan Harutyunyan the 18 Sep 10 at 10:32.
Use solution #1 as an optional feature (without using Compiz Fusion options), for those who want to use this opportunity.

See the 1 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Sep 10 at 21:56) >>