Re: Column types

On 24/05/2011 20:52, Guillaume Lelarge wrote:
>> It would be nice if the list that displays the columns in a table also
>> displayed the type of each column:
>
> We try to have some consistency.

Even when it clearly impairs usability? :)

Interesting you should say that though, because there are a few
inconsistencies with native OS behaviour — for example, the Context key
doesn’t open context menus. Shift+F10 does though. Normally Shift+F10 is
considered an alias for the Context key.

Would you like me to report more of these as I encouter them? I tried to
find a public bugtracker where I could file them, but all I found was a
reference to this mailing list.

> If we add other properties, then everyone will have his favourites.

Well if you add properties just because someone thinks it’s his
favourite, then of course you’d be impairing usability in the other
direction. Good UI design requires you to strike the right balance —
nobody said UI design is easy :)

A column’s type is not a favourite, it’s essential information. Also a
column in a table is not a J. Random Object, it’s an archetypical
feature of an RDBMS. If anything deserves special treatment, wouldn’t
you agree that this is a pretty good candidate? :)

Timwi