GNU bug report logs - #62146
26.3; Allow users to get help on y/n prompt

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
To: "bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org" <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org>
Subject: 26.3; Allow users to get help on y/n prompt
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 16:18:52 +0000

See https://emacs.stackexchange.com/q/76235.

Please consider allowing a help character, such as `?' or `C-h', to give
users more info about y/n prompting - info that might help with this
user's confusion (maybe some info such as that offered by NickD's
answer).

Consider, in particular, the context of hitting a key for a disabled
command (the OP's context), and seeing the Help text for dealing with
disabled commands, including a link that is impossible to access while
in the y/n read.

In GNU Emacs 26.3 (build 1, x86_64-w64-mingw32)
 of 2019-08-29 built on CIRROCUMULUS
Repository revision: 96dd0196c28bc36779584e47fffcca433c9309cd
Windowing system distributor 'Microsoft Corp.', version 10.0.19044

Message #8 received at 62146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
Cc: 62146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#62146: 26.3; Allow users to get help on y/n prompt
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 19:34:37 +0200

> From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
> Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 16:18:52 +0000
> 
> See https://emacs.stackexchange.com/q/76235.
> 
> Please consider allowing a help character, such as `?' or `C-h', to give
> users more info about y/n prompting - info that might help with this
> user's confusion (maybe some info such as that offered by NickD's
> answer).

The help info is right above the prompt.

And I don't really understand what that user wanted to do, and why he
tried doing that when prompted for a y/n response.

> Consider, in particular, the context of hitting a key for a disabled
> command (the OP's context), and seeing the Help text for dealing with
> disabled commands, including a link that is impossible to access while
> in the y/n read.

To cancel type 'n' -- this text is right in the face of the user.

Message #11 received at 62146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Drew Adams <drew.adams <at> oracle.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: "62146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org" <62146 <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
Subject: RE: [External] : Re: bug#62146: 26.3; Allow users to get help on y/n
 prompt
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 18:18:15 +0000

> > Please consider allowing a help character, such as `?' or `C-h', to
> > give users more info about y/n prompting - info that might help with this
> > user's confusion (maybe some info such as that offered by NickD's
> > answer).
> 
> The help info is right above the prompt.
> 
> And I don't really understand what that user wanted to do, and why he
> tried doing that when prompted for a y/n response.
> 
> > Consider, in particular, the context of hitting a key for a disabled
> > command (the OP's context), and seeing the Help text for dealing with
> > disabled commands, including a link that is impossible to access while
> > in the y/n read.
> 
> To cancel type 'n' -- this text is right in the face of the user.

I'm guessing it might help to make clear that `n'
will hide buffer *Disabled Command*, but it's not
killed and you can get back to it (e.g. to read it
again, follow the link, or whatever) using `C-x b'.

Another aid might be to not hide *Disabled Command*.

Another aid might be to also point/link to (emacs)
`Disabling', for more information about disabled
commands.  `i disabled command' takes you to that
node, and although the info there is mostly about
disabling (and enabling disabled) commands, it
also explains what a disabled command means etc.

I think the general point is that (1) showing
text that links somewhere, while not letting you
follow the link and (2) hiding that text if you
use `n' (or anything else), introduces unnecessary
confusion.

It's a bit as if the y/n dialog were ignorant of
the text being shown.  That text can invite a
quest for more info, but the simple y/n dialog
prevents that.  I can understand why/how a user
might think/say "Wtf?"

You may disagree that this dialog/info could or
should be improved, of course.

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