Wireshark · Ethereal-dev: Re: Re: [Ethereal-dev] "usability extensions"

[Ulf Lamping <ulf.lamping@xxxxxx>]

Guy Harris <gharris@xxxxxxxxx> schrieb am 02.09.02 21:34:28:
> On Mon, Sep 02, 2002 at 01:58:58PM +0200, Ulf Lamping wrote:
> 
> > 1.  Introducing a new submenu item at File, with a "Recent Files" list
> > (below print and above exit, I think).  The number of files kept in the
> > list should be in the preferences, with a default of 8 maybe.
> 
> Sounds reasonable.
> 
> > This would introduce a new file in the home directory maybe called
> > "recent".
> 
> Note that at least some desktop environments (Windows, perhaps GNOME and
> KDE, perhaps MacOS X Aqua) might provide mechanisms to support this.

Do you mean a special mechanism for the recent things, or a more general mechanism
for all kind of preferences?

> 
> Currently, Ethereal doesn't use that desktop environment code (the
> Windows version just uses GTK+-for-Windows and a *few* native Windows
> interfaces), but it might be interesting to see whether we could arrange
> to use them if we did have native-Windows, GNOME, or KDE versions, and
> whether doing so would provide any advantages (over and above using
> common code with other applications for that desktop).

I think that the common code has really it's advantages, as this results in fast development,
I can implement a thing on win32, and it could run on a linux platform without changes.

> 
> > 2.  Keeping the recent display filter settings after program exit.  The
> > recent filter list at the bottom of the window is currently discarded at
> > program exit.  This information could also be kept in the "recent" file
> > mentioned above.  The number of filter strings kept in the list should
> > also be in the preferences, with a default of 8 maybe. 
> > 
> > 3. Currently the settings of filters, colorizing and such will simply
> > be discarded at program exit, if not explicitly saved by the user.
> 
> What are you referring to when you say "settings of filters"?
> 
> Are you just referring to the stuff in item 2?
> 
> Or are you referring to something else?
> 
> For example, are you saying that, if when you exit Ethereal, a certain
> display filter is in effect, that display filter should be applied, by
> default, to any capture you read in the *next* time you run Ethereal? If
> so, I'd consider that an error - a display filter, in and of itself,
> isn't a permanent preference setting; you might use different filters on
> different captures, depending on what you're looking for in that
> capture, and you might use different filters at different *times*.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to set a filter the next time running Ethereal,
actually I didn't see a use for this.
But I didn't like each time I quit Ethereal and have forgotten to save the filters
I have changed, they are gone.

> 
> > This is very confusing for (at least) windows users.
> 
> I'll have to check, but I think the Windows-based Network Monitor packet
> analyzer (from a company that does have *some* familiarity with Windows
> :-); they're located in Redmond, Washington, USA) doesn't save filters
> unless you explicitly say to do so.

Well, maybe we should compare with the best, not with some people living in Redmond ;-)

> 
> That application, at least as I remember, also requires you to do an
> explicit "save settings" to save the current color scheme as well.  As
> Ethereal lets you have multiple named color schemes, I'm not sure what
> saving the current color scheme would mean.

multiple named color schemes? How do you do this? I only have one color settings file with multiple settings in it. Do you mean that?

> 
> I don't know what all the "and such" to which you're referring are, but
> the fact that protocol preferences have to be saved explicitly is
> *quite* deliberate, as, like a display filter, you might want different
> settings for different captures, and even different settings during the
> *same* capture.

ULFL
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