KDE's Open/Save dialogs are widely considered to be the best in the Linux world, but there's far more we can do to make them truly exceptional. Here are some ideas.
##Design goal 1: Optimize view modes for common use cases##
We identify two common use search modes for locating files or directories: 1) based on their filenames or metadata, and 2) based on their content or appearance. For the former, a compact optimized list-style view with columns of additional information is ideal. For the latter, a large-icons-style view with previews is ideal. Implementing this will require the following changes:
[x] Always perfectly size and align column widths so that {nav Detailed View} and {nav Detailed Tree View} are actually usable: D11993
[x] Improve grid spacing so that {nav Short View} with "Icons on Top" is actually usable at medium and large sizes: D12306
[x] Show buttons on the toolbar to allow easily toggling between {nav Short View} and {nav Detailed Tree View}: D12077
[x] Fix previews to apply to all supported file types (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=318493): D12389
[X] Make Previews only show up for icons (in any view mode) larger then 24px or so, as they are unusable and useless at such small sizes: D12321
[x] Turn on previews by default: D12328
[x] Make the view modes match the ones in Dolphin (e.g. {nav Icons}, {nav Compact}, and {nav Details}, with an option for "Allow expansion" in the settings menu: D21315
[x] Make `KDirOperator` display {nav Detailed Tree View} by default: D12327
[x] Use recentlyused:/ ioslave in the places panel to display recently accessed files by this application: D7446
##Design goal 2: improve efficiency and safety of overwrite behavior##
(Relevant information: D12346#249638)
[x] Allow the file dialog to trigger overwrite on double click (irrespective of the click setting) without having to additionally click the {nav Save} button afterwards (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=267749): D12538
[x] Make Kate delegate overwrite behavior to the dialog, rather than handling it itself D21401 D21402
[x] When clicking on a filename in the view, the text in the filename field gets replaced, so provide an easy way to undo that if you didn't mean to (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=449038) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1807
##Fix important bugs##
[x] Always save view settings when canceling or closing the dialog: D12227 and D12240
[x] Fix/reduce the scroll speed when icons are very large (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=223937; see also the same problem in Dolphin: https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=386379): D25683
[x] Always save view settings when switching from one view mode to another (e.g. from {nav Short View} to {nav Detailed Tree View} and back. D21459
[x] Fix keyboard navigation with Icons-on-the-side in {nav Short View} (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=148635)
[x] Disable the zoom buttons once the slider reached either end: D12590
[x] Set a minimal size for the zoom slider: D12588
[x] Fix a bug where after every save the places panel got 1px wider: D12592
[x] Perfectly align the name widget to the file view: D12594
[x] Fix the flickering when previews are turned on and icons are resized using the slider
[x] Fix location of progress bar that appears when the file list takes a long time to load (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=194017)
[x] Fix bug that prevented select-filename-on-click from working with double-click: D19849
[x] Save places panel width also after hiding panel: D12593
[x] {key Tab} key only switches between location bar, file view, and text fields in a loop once the file view gains focus (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=466209) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1805
[x] Cannot open files that start with a tilde (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=317513) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kcoreaddons/-/merge_requests/489 - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kcoreaddons/-/merge_requests/489
[x] Cannot save a file named "file".txt (i.e. it includes double quotes) (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=426728) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1834
[x] Fix issue with preview panel showing the wrong file when the cursor passes over another item and leaves the `KDirOperator` viewport without first passing over the background (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=247268)
[x] Save dialog: focus unexpectedly shifts to the filename field after using arrow keys to navigate in the file view (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=466206) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1860
[x] Selection markers not shown when the click mode is Single Click (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=185793) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1850
[x] When multi-selection is allowed, ignore any selected folders, and/or disallow folder selection when any files are already selected)(fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=271400) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1859
[ ] Make sure items' sizing and spacing take into account font size, if changed from its default value
##Generally improve polish and usability##
[x] Make the dialogs open at a large size by default, and scale the default size properly when using high DPI mode (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=411599): D25986
[x] When the dialog displays a combobox of file type options, display the string "File type:" instead of "Filter:" D20964
[x] Move the sorting functionality from the {nav Settings} button to a dropdown menu button on the toolbar to expose this otherwise-mostly-hidden functionality: D12337 (On `file-dialog-improvements` branch)
[x] Allow drag-and-drop to the KDirOperator part of the dialog, not just to the filename field: D20838 (only one file is supported, might want to expand the feature to multiple files drop when dialog is in multi selection mode)
[x] Make sure the return/enter keys are almost always bound to the {nav Save} or {nav Open} button (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=385189)
[x] Improve thumbnail quality (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=345578): D12385
[x] Don't include filename extension when auto-selecting the filename: D12544
[x] Re-word some menu items per T8552#140370 done in D20827
[x] When the view has focus, the {key tab} key should focus the filename field (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=409540) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1805
[x] Support for touchscreen scrolling in the file browser view (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=406513) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1832
[ ] Filter UI (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=179483) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1853
[ ] When sorting by date, show newest first by default, not oldest (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=500512) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1824
[ ] Make toolbar span the full window width and use header styling, like Dolphin's does
[ ] Synchronize toolbar contents with Dolphin's toolbar as much as possible
[ ] Improve default width of embedded {nav Places} panel (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=297217)
[ ] Sort {nav Supported File Types} list alphabetically (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=47750)
##Implement important features##
[x] Reload item in the context menu: D12215
[x] "Rename" item in the context menu (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=189482) D17596 D17595 D17597
[ ] Ability to jump to folders visible in Dolphin (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=412668)
[ ] Implement rubber band selection in list-style views (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=271399)
##Consider moonshot features##
[ ] Implement search (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=164594)
[ ] Add more sorting options (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=155583)
[ ] Allow tagging files when saving them (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=412248)
[ ] Implement Column view navigation: D7929