[Users] Setup Host Network dialog - actions availability [ux][BZ#984737]

[Lior Vernia]

On 22/08/13 20:04, Einav Cohen wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> This is about attempting to address the difficulty of finding the edit-action in 
> the Setup Host Network dialog, as documented in "Bug 984737 - usability: webadmin 
> difficulty in assigning client ip, no gateway possible" in bugzilla.
> We have a suggestion from Eldan (see attached "HostSetupNetworks-HoverPopUp.png") 
> which was described in the BZ (comment #3) and seemed acceptable by the reporter 
> (comment #4), however IIUC - one of the main pain points described in the BZ was 
> the fact that the user could not find the option to Edit the connection properties 
> since he was looking in the wrong place, and needed to hover on the correct place, 
> in order to find that option.
> So although the idea is somewhat helpful, my concern is that this solution is not 
> enough (comment #5).
> 
> Another proposal from Malini (comment #6) is to add an "actions" drop-down menu in 
> the form of a small "gear" icon-button - see attached "HostSetupNetworks-DropDownMenu.png".
> This proposal addresses my concern, however I have a question about another concern 
> with this solution:
> would the actions-drop-down menu-items panel be revealed appear upon click or upon 
> hover?
> 
> if it will be upon hover, it might seem weird/be conflicted/be somewhat confusing 
> with the hover functionality that reveals the logical-network details pop-up.

If this proposal is accepted (see my comments below about both
proposals), one solution might be to get rid of the network details
tooltip. Most people probably don't use MTU, and the rest is just
explaining the network role icons; so maybe not that useful.

> if it will be upon click, it means that in order to edit a logical network, two 
> clicks will be required in order to get to the edit dialog, as opposed to one click 
> in the current state and in Eldan's suggestion. 
> maybe having two clicks in order to get to the edit dialog is acceptable, however 
> there may be some solutions for that:
> 
> one possible solution would be to combine both attached suggestions, i.e. the actions 
> within the hover pop-up, as well as the actions drop-down menu, however it means that 
> there will be some redundancy of the actions availability.

That sounds bad to me regardless of the other alternatives.

> another possible solution is to keep only the gear + down-arrow icon (or maybe only 
> the down-arrow icon), without the actual drop-down menu there, just in order to indicate 
> that there are some options available in that area, and have Eldan's pop-up appear when 
> hovering on that icon (or even on the entire logical-network area, as happens today with 
> the current details pop-up)
> 
> thoughts?

I like the gear icon because it's noticeable and easily recognizable.
However, keep in mind that bonds should also have the same icon to keep
a consistent design. Now imagine a configuration with several bonds on
the left-hand-side and quite a few networks on the right-hand-side; I'm
no designer, but it could get cluttered with all those gear icons.

It MIGHT be preferable to use the other design (tooltip with action bar)
and risk the odd person not easily finding it (no disrespect intended,
Jason). I have no idea, however, if it's gonna be just the odd person or
most people. I'd love to hear others' opinions.

> 
> ----
> Regards, 
> Einav
>