Sender: gobbel@cogsci.ucsd.edu
Message-ID: <32F6AEB2.373C102@cogsci.ucsd.edu>
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 19:36:18 -0800
From: Randy Gobbel <gobbel@cogsci.ucsd.edu>
Organization: Cognitive Science Dept., UCSD
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: submit@bugs.debian.org
Subject: dselect: hyperjump into conflict screen is poor UI design
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Package: dpkg
Version: 1.4.0.7

There is no reason for dselect to jump straight into the conflict
resolution screen as soon as the user types "+" (or whatever).  This is
jarring, confusing, and not even the best way to deal with the
situation.  Much better would be to put some sort of flag on the screen
saying "conflicts".  Oftentimes, I *know* that package X requires
package Y, but package Y is just farther down in the list.  If dselect
wouldn't be so #$* hyper, I would get to the required package, mark it,
and maybe I wouldn't have to see the hated conflict screen at all.

Bottom line: dselect should only put up the conflict screen at the end
of the "select" session.  It should deal with all conflicts then, and
optionally allow the user to go back to "select" mode at that point if
need be.  I think this would go a long way toward easing Debian users'
trauma in using dselect.

-Randy