[Github-comments] [geany] Alerts in status bar: insufficient visibility (#781)

[J-Dunn]

There are some cases where the status bar is used to display error messages. Using this method rather than a modal dialogue is UI design choice which certainly has it merits. Dialogues demand a user action and block work flow. This can be annoying if over used. 

However, the status bar is on the periphery of vision when attention is usually focused on some user action in the middle of the screen or a menu interaction. Some minor change in black text on a grey background on the periphery of vision may not even be noticed by the user .

One case brought this to my attention recently.  I did a file operation and for some reason it failed but the error was shown in the status bar and I did not notice. It appeared that there was no error but it was apparent from the context that nothing had changed so I tried again.  It was on the fourth attempt that I notices a very discrete message in the status bar telling me the operation had failed. 

I was interacting with the menus on the upper-right section of the screen and the small visual change in status bar was not sufficient to catch the eye. 

I can't recall the exact context so it's possible that a modal may have been better in that situation but remaining with the current design, if errors are to be displayed in the status bar, it needs greater visibility. 

I would suggest flashing background colour to red once or twice or some similar device to attract the user's attention. This remain non disruptive but ensures that it gets noticed. 

This could be wrapped as a status_error() function available to situations where the status bar is being used to display errors that need to be noticed when they happen , rather than status information which is there for reference when the user seeks it . 

I think there is some kind of flash method in toolkit but I can't recall a function name. 



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Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub:
https://github.com/geany/geany/issues/781
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