Sender column click behavior nonstandard

[jharris3434]

I realize this is a conscious programmer decision (to have the sender column click event trigger a mail-to). Beyond the initial problem that there are no visual cues for this, the behavior is confusing and nonstandard anyway. Not one user who has tested this software here has expected it or even understood the reasoning behind it once it was explained.

If my suggestion that it be changed finds no agreement, I would highly appreciate information on how this behavior can be changed per installation.

[alec]

my proposition is to use cursor:default (arrow) for whole row and cursor:pointer;cursor:hand for sender column

[jharris3434]

Replying to alec:

my proposition is to use cursor:default (arrow) for whole row and cursor:pointer;cursor:hand for sender column

Unfortunately, that doesn't solve the problem. Users click somewhere arbitrarily on a list row, expecting a selection, as they get with every other mail program (and listbox) on the market. Instead they suddenly find themselves in a compose window, and a harrowing sense of cognitive dissonance sets in :) The problem is compounded by the fact that at some locations, the preferred column order is Sender, Subject. It is nonstandard behavior, and it leads to frustration for users.

[bl]

I agree that this nonstandard behavior is confusing. Every one of my users has complained about this behavior and they all consider it a bug. I propose turning it off by default and adding an item to preferences to allow the behavior to be activated on a per-user basis. IMP (Horde's mail module) deals with the behavior in this way (and their default behavior is to select a message by clicking the senders name, not to compose a new blank message). Changing this behavior would encourage users to add contacts to their address books instead of finding a previous message and clicking the sender's name.

[thomasb]

OK, let's remove the mailto link and wait for the context menu...

[thomasb]

Fixed in r1676