Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Dave Abrahams]

When using org-insert-link, it would be far better for me to have it
show me the _descriptions_ of links (the default link text), rather
than showing me the links themselves.  This is especially true of
email links, which are generally long and unintelligible by
themselves.

I have something set up that stores a link to every email I send, so I
can easily link to follow-ups in my active Org items.  As a result, I
end up with *lots* of stored links, which makes this a real struggle.

Thanks for listening,

-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Bastien]

Hi Dave,

Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:

> When using org-insert-link, it would be far better for me to have it
> show me the _descriptions_ of links (the default link text), rather
> than showing me the links themselves.  This is especially true of
> email links, which are generally long and unintelligible by
> themselves.
>
> I have something set up that stores a link to every email I send, so I
> can easily link to follow-ups in my active Org items.  As a result, I
> end up with *lots* of stored links, which makes this a real struggle.

`org-insert-link' *does* already displays the description of the links
like this:

http://orgmode.org (Org Mode website)
http://orgmode.org/worg/ (Worg website)

The description is within the parenthese.

I think it's good to have both the link *and* the description.

What would be a better way of presenting the description?

-- 
 Bastien

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Dave Abrahams]

On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 7:05 AM, Bastien <bastien.guerry@wikimedia.fr> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:
>
>> When using org-insert-link, it would be far better for me to have it
>> show me the _descriptions_ of links (the default link text), rather
>> than showing me the links themselves.  This is especially true of
>> email links, which are generally long and unintelligible by
>> themselves.
>>
>> I have something set up that stores a link to every email I send, so I
>> can easily link to follow-ups in my active Org items.  As a result, I
>> end up with *lots* of stored links, which makes this a real struggle.
>
> `org-insert-link' *does* already displays the description of the links
> like this:
>
> http://orgmode.org (Org Mode website)
> http://orgmode.org/worg/ (Worg website)
>
> The description is within the parenthese.
>
> I think it's good to have both the link *and* the description.
>
> What would be a better way of presenting the description?


Since you asked: put the descriptions first.  The links I store are
fairly complicated: they bring up a virtual folder containing all the
messages in the thread of the message I just sent, with the message
itself selected.  I'm sure the descriptions don't show up at all
because they get pushed off the right edge of the window.


-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Bastien]

Hi Dave,

Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:

> Since you asked: put the descriptions first.  

The only problem I see with this solution is that it will end up mixing
descriptions (+raw link) and raw links (with no description), this might
be confusing.

Perhaps we can let the user decide how he wants the available links to
be displayed.

I welcome other input about this!

-- 
 Bastien

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Dave Abrahams]

On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 5:17 AM, Bastien <bastien.guerry@wikimedia.fr> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:
>
>> Since you asked: put the descriptions first.
>
> The only problem I see with this solution is that it will end up mixing
> descriptions (+raw link) and raw links (with no description), this might
> be confusing.
>
> Perhaps we can let the user decide how he wants the available links to
> be displayed.
>
> I welcome other input about this!

How about just always showing the link as it will be presented to the
user first, followed by the raw link?  Then everything will be
consistent.


-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Bastien]

Hi Dave,

Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:

> How about just always showing the link as it will be presented to the
> user first, followed by the raw link?  Then everything will be
> consistent.

I don't see how it would prevent the problem I've been mentionning: we
will still have a mix of descriptions and raw links... or maybe I miss
something?

I'm willing to improve the display of links, keep brainstorming!

-- 
 Bastien

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Dave Abrahams]

On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 11:14 PM, Bastien <bastien.guerry@wikimedia.fr> wrote:
> Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:
>
>> How about just always showing the link as it will be presented to the
>> user first, followed by the raw link?  Then everything will be
>> consistent.
>
> I don't see how it would prevent the problem I've been mentionning: we
> will still have a mix of descriptions and raw links... or maybe I miss
> something?

If it's really paramount to avoid a mixture, you must hide all
descriptions, which would be a step in the wrong direction for me.

> I'm willing to improve the display of links, keep brainstorming!

I'm out of ideas.  Leading off with the displayed form of the link is
the best I can do.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Dave Abrahams]

on Tue Feb 15 2011, Dave Abrahams <dave-AT-boostpro.com> wrote:

> On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 11:14 PM, Bastien <bastien.guerry@wikimedia.fr> wrote:
>> Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:
>
>>
>>> How about just always showing the link as it will be presented to the
>>> user first, followed by the raw link?  Then everything will be
>>> consistent.
>>
>> I don't see how it would prevent the problem I've been mentionning: we
>> will still have a mix of descriptions and raw links... or maybe I miss
>> something?
>
> If it's really paramount to avoid a mixture, you must hide all
> descriptions, which would be a step in the wrong direction for me.
>
>> I'm willing to improve the display of links, keep brainstorming!
>
> I'm out of ideas.  Leading off with the displayed form of the link is
> the best I can do.

<bump>

The best is the enemy of the good and all that... is there any reason
this can't be made to work?

-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com

Re: Feature request: Select links by description [7.4]

[Dave Abrahams]

on Thu Sep 15 2011, Dave Abrahams <dave-AT-boostpro.com> wrote:

> on Tue Feb 15 2011, Dave Abrahams <dave-AT-boostpro.com> wrote:
>
>> On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 11:14 PM, Bastien <bastien.guerry@wikimedia.fr> wrote:
>>> Dave Abrahams <dave@boostpro.com> writes:
>>
>>>
>>>> How about just always showing the link as it will be presented to the
>>>> user first, followed by the raw link?  Then everything will be
>>>> consistent.
>>>
>>> I don't see how it would prevent the problem I've been mentionning: we
>>> will still have a mix of descriptions and raw links... or maybe I miss
>>> something?
>>
>> If it's really paramount to avoid a mixture, you must hide all
>> descriptions, which would be a step in the wrong direction for me.
>>
>>> I'm willing to improve the display of links, keep brainstorming!
>>
>> I'm out of ideas.  Leading off with the displayed form of the link is
>> the best I can do.
>
> <bump>
>
> The best is the enemy of the good and all that... is there any reason
> this can't be made to work?

I actually have some fairly detailed new ideas for design changes in
this area if anyone is interested.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
BoostPro Computing
http://www.boostpro.com