12

Some time ago I did post another idea, related to (un)pack plasmoids, here
brainstorm.php?mode=idea&i=38956

Well, that may make sense, but right now I prefer to think about the comment this idea received, or something similar. The point is having a store's cart like system, where you can drag files (or simply have an option to "add selected files to compress cart") and finally put all them in a compressed file.

Looking at this other idea
brainstorm.php?mode=idea&i=85620#anchormain
allowing the user to compress files in a standard way or inside a folder may be useful.

An example:

Add file1.txt, file2.mp3 and file3.pdf to the cart, then click on "add a base folder" and choose "myfiles" as name, and finally select from a set of radiobuttons the output file type before compressing.

Results?

A compressed file having one subfolder called "myfiles", and inside you will have your files. Don't need this subfolder? Then disable the "add a base folder" option. Quite simple IMHO.

For me the best way to implement this is providing another panel, because of how much space may be needed. Of course using a bar may be also good, as soon as it provides a way to drop files on it, and you can easily see the contents of the cart at any time.

Regards

This is interesting.
Many times you want to compress files that are in different folders, so this idea can come in handy.

That's the point

Regards

Can't you already do this with ark? Just make the compressed file, then drag and drop the files you want over.

The goal is having an integrated compressing system, easy to use, and having only the 3/4 most basic options. Having an ark part embedded in dolphin may help people to compress files faster, but as you've said dropping files into an open ark window would be almost the same.

Regards

What advantage is there to having it integrated beyond the kio slave level? Ultimately you would still either be opening a window or opening a kio slave, and by default ark already only shows basic options.

From my point of view the idea is have this panel always visible (maybe in the right-bottom corner, for example), and by default it would be a small panel, that you should stretch when you want to compress something.

Related to the minimalistic controls in this panel you only need the add buttons.. nor view neither extract options, just the compress stuff.

Regards

I think that is way overkill for something like compression, and I still fail to see how it is any better than using ark.

I also don't think it is a good way to approach problems and sets what I consider to be a very bad precedent of making a separate panel for every imaginable action. Common tasks should be integrated, on that I agree with you. But I don't consider a separate panel to be "integrated". Service menus are integrated because they expand the normal collection of actions you can take when managing files. Kio slaves are integrated because they become part of the file browser. But panels aren't really integrated in my opinion, they are stand-alone tools that are embedded in the window.

I think for the sort of thing you are describing it would be much better to use a service menu and a kio slave. So you could have a servicmenu entry that gives you the option to create a compressed file in a certain place and then open it in a kio slave split view or a new tab. It would then pop up a small menu letting you set the file type and another couple options, then you click "okay" and the kio slave opens and it becomes a part of your file browser.

Whatever the case, I can practically guarantee you that a request for an entire new panel for a specialized task like this will not be accepted by the Dolphin developers.

guys... this is what plasmoids are for, to scratch that itch for the small use cases that can be handled without drastically changing the operating system.

Plasmoid(on desktop or panel)
-drag and drop files onto plasmoid
-plasmoid creates a link to the file or folder dropped
-after u have all the files or folders u want u hit the "compress" or "archive" or whatever button
-pops up a save as dialog, maybe even have a couple options listed
-the plasmoid follows the links back and adds the files/folders to the new archive
-archive is named and saved in the location specified during the save as dialog

voila. u get what u want, and the rest of us dont have to wonder what the strange "Compress Files" panel is