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
##Generally improve polish and usability####Fix important bugs##
[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): D25986Always save view settings when canceling or closing the dialog: D12227 and D12240
[x] Whenx] Fix/reduce the dialog displays a combobox of file type options,scroll speed when icons are very large (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=223937; displaysee also the string "File type:" instead of "Filter:" D20964ame problem in Dolphin: https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=386379): D25683
Filter UI (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=179483)[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] 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` branchFix keyboard navigation with Icons-on-the-side in {nav Short View} (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=148635)
[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)Disable the zoom buttons once the slider reached either end: D12590
[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)Set a minimal size for the zoom slider: D12588
[x] Improve thumbnail quality (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=345578)x] Fix a bug where after every save the places panel got 1px wider: D12385592
[x] Don't include filename extension when auto-selectingx] Perfectly align the name widget to the filename view: D1254494
[x] Re-word some menu items per T8552#140370 done in D20827x] Fix the flickering when previews are turned on and icons are resized using the slider
[x] When the view has focus, the {key tab} key should focus the filename fielx] 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=409540) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1805id=194017)
[] Make toolbar span the full window width and use header styling, like Dolphin's doesx] Fix bug that prevented select-filename-on-click from working with double-click: D19849
[] Synchronize toolbar contents with Dolphin's toolbarx] Save places panel width also after hiding panel: D12593
[] Improve default width of embedded {nav Places} panel (fx] {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=297217)id=466209) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1805
[] Allow rubber band selection in list-style views ] Cannot open files that start with a tilde (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=271399id=317513)
[] Supported File Types list should be sorted alphabetically (f ] 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=47750)
##Add requested features##66206)
[ ] 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)
[x] Reload item in the context menu: D12215
[x] Rename item in the context menu ] Selection markers not shown when the click mode is Single Click (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=185793)
[ ] 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=189482) D17596 D17595 D17597id=247268)
[] Column view navigation: D7929
[] Search (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=164594) ] Make sure items' sizing and spacing take into account font size, if changed from its default value
##Generally improve polish and usability##
[] Movx] Make the Filter functionality into KDirOperator itselfdialogs open at a large size by default, allowing clients to use it and visually connecting it with the view--while also matchand scale the default size properly when using Dolphin's
[] More sorting options (Fhigh DPI mode (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=155583)411599): D25986
[x] When the dialog displays a combobox of file type options, display the string "File type:" instead of "Filter:" D20964
[] Allow tagging files when saving themFilter UI (Fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=412248id=179483)
[] Option to keep focus to the filename field after navigating in the view (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=207750)
##Fix bugs##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] Always save view settings when canceling or closing the dialog: D12227 and D12240Make 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] 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:Improve thumbnail quality (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=38637945578): D2568312385
[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. D21459Don't include filename extension when auto-selecting the filename: D12544
[x] Fix keyboard navigation with Icons-on-the-side in {nav Short View} (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=148635)x] Re-word some menu items per T8552#140370 done in D20827
[x] Disable the zoom buttons once the slider reached either end: D12590When 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] Set a minimal size for the zoom slider: D12588 ] Make toolbar span the full window width and use header styling, like Dolphin's does
[x] Fix a bug where after every save the places panel got 1px wider: D12592 ] Synchronize toolbar contents with Dolphin's toolbar as much as possible
[x] Perfectly align the name widget to the file view: D12594 ] Improve default width of embedded {nav Places} panel (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=297217)
[x] Fix the flickering when previews are turned on and icons are resized using the slider
passing over the background ] Sort {nav Supported File Types} list alphabetically (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=247268)id=47750)
##Implement important features##
[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)Reload item in the context menu: D12215
[x] Fix bug that prevented select-filename-on-click from working with double-click: D19849x] "Rename" item in the context menu (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=189482) D17596 D17595 D17597
[x] Save places panel width also after hiding panel: D12593 ] Ability to jump to folders visible in Dolphin (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=412668)
[x] {key Tab} key only switches between location bar, file view, and text fields in a loop once the file view gains focus (F] Implement rubber band selection in list-style views (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=466209) - https://invent.kde.org/frameworks/kio/-/merge_requests/1805
[] 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)271399)
##Consider moonshot features##
[] When multi-selection is allowed, ignore any selected folders, and/or disallow folder selection when any files are already selected)] Implement search (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=271400id=164594)
[] Selection markers not shown when the click mode is Single Click (fixes https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=185793) ] Move the Filter functionality into KDirOperator itself, allowing clients to use it and visually connecting it with the view--while also matching Dolphin's
[] Fix issue with preview panel showing the wrong file when the cursor passes over another item and leaves the `KDirOperator` viewport without first
[] Make sure items' sizing and spacing take into account font size, if changed from its default value ] 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