Written by Eldmannen the 18 Mar 08 at 02:06.
Category: Look and Feel.
Related project:
Nothing/Others.
Status: Implemented
Rationale
So I right-clicked on a file and selected "Cut" in the context menu.
So that I later could "Paste" the file into another directory.
Make so that when you select "Cut" on a file, the icon becomes dimmed.
Because right now, there are no visual indication, so you don't know it worked.
In Windows there is a visual notification by the icon becoming dimmed.
In Ubuntu there is no visual notification, the icon does not become dimmed. This is confusing.
Even better, dim it AND attach another dimmed icon to the mouse pointer until it is pasted, as if it is carried (like drag and drop in Windows does).
When Copying and Pasting, the original folder would still contain the icon displaying the original lightness, but also an icon attached to the mouse pointer in the dimmed form.
A visual representation of cut/copy/paste would be highly appreciated. Gives you the feeling of actually doing something with the file, and as a confirmation of what files have exactly been cut or copied.
Currently when selecting files/folder and pressing CTRL+X it seems as if its not doing anything at all.
You're just copying Windows. Always try to think of a way to do it BETTER than Windows. :)
Wouldn't it be better if there were an emblem displayed on the icon that showed its state in an obvious way, instead of just dimming the icon ambiguously?
If you cut a file and haven't pasted it yet, put an emblem to indicate that it is "cut" (and dim it too, if you want).
After you paste it, change the emblem to indicate that it is in the process of being moved, and show the destination icon with an emblem showing that a file is being moved there.
If a file is being copied, add an emblem to the original and the copy to indicate this, too.
After the transfer is complete, remove the emblems.
Drawing scissors all over the icon would clutter the UI. A better metaphor and easier to the eye would be if the icon would be actually cut out of its background. See example:
YEah, dim & scissors... don't like the having a ghostly little icon 'attached' to you pointer though, I'm pretty certain that would suck - my memory's not great but I can keep that kind of info in my head.