Preview Pane

joelpt · 19 Nov 2003, 08:25 AM

How about a Preview Pane in the fastmail interface, similar to the Preview Pane now present in Outlook/OE/MozMail?

The upper half of the screen would be the regular FM interface, and the lower half (adjustable) could load the header/body of each message as it was clicked, with a minimal "action bar" to provide reply/forward/etc. functionality for the shown message.

Double-clicking a message link in the upper interface could open the message full-screen as is currently done with single-clicks. I believe double-click detection is a Javascript event that is well supported by the browsers.

Here's an imaginary screenshot!

http://www.bumpus.org/PreviewPaneMockup.gif

Joel

XB77 · 19 Nov 2003, 09:21 AM

Frankly, I think that I read most of my e-mail on the preview window in OE. So yes.

claven · 19 Nov 2003, 12:05 PM

I'd definitely use the preview pane, particularly if the secure connection feature could be applied to it.

By the way, doesn't this feature already exist in a modified form? If I go to the folders screen, I can set the folder options so that I can get a little bit of a preview. I don't use it because it's a distraction from the straight list, but I have friends who really like the folder preview option!

David · 19 Nov 2003, 12:17 PM

Regarding the preview pane in Outlook.. I used this for many years and thought it to be a great feature... But the current fastmail setup that allows you to view an mail in its entirety, and then view another mail (while moving the previous mail to a different folder) with one single mouse click, allows one to process email faster... So I voted NO

AndreasM · 19 Nov 2003, 04:24 PM

I think, this to be a great advantage in "flying over" the mails!

--
A.

**Gankaku** · 19 Nov 2003, 08:01 PM

If it was an option, it would be ok. However, I wouldn't like this with Fastmail. I use a preview pane in Junglemate and Fusemail. I have to play with resizing the pane during some emails, and you have to scroll lots in that little pane to read your message. Even though I can use it (and actually like using my Junglemate email with the pane), I wouldn't like it with my Fastmail because I truly love the interface as it is now, and I get so many messages at my FM account that it'd be a pain with the pane.

Just my 2cents.

mwild · 19 Nov 2003, 08:17 PM

I'd vote against a preview pane. But (mainly for those of us with large screens) it would be nice to have some multiline preview options in the folder settings, eg "unread 2 lines", "unread 3 lines".

joelpt · 20 Nov 2003, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David
But the current fastmail setup that allows you to view an mail in its entirety, and then view another mail (while moving the previous mail to a different folder) with one single mouse click, allows one to process email faster

That's true, but I don't often find myself using this because I don't typically read my emails in sequential order. I think the key advantage (for me) of a preview pane is that the message list page would be present at all times, and I wouldn't have to constantly be jumping back-and-forth between the message list and message view pages (and waiting through the corresponding load times) caused by my erratic message-reading order.

If this were added I certainly think it should be an option; nobody should be forced to use it, especially if they are satisfied with the current way the FM interface works.

It would also be pretty cool if FM could remember where you had positioned the frame divider-bar for your next session; it seems like it could be done with a little Javascript magic and a cookie (a cookie would be preferable as it would tie the position to a specific machine).

Joel

dougweller · 20 Nov 2003, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mwild
I'd vote against a preview pane. But (mainly for those of us with large screens) it would be nice to have some multiline preview options in the folder settings, eg "unread 2 lines", "unread 3 lines".

Agreed.

Doug

anj · 21 Nov 2003, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mwild
I'd vote against a preview pane. But (mainly for those of us with large screens) it would be nice to have some multiline preview options in the folder settings, eg "unread 2 lines", "unread 3 lines".

There are some options like this. If you go to Options then Folders, you can select preview options. Perhaps there are not enough choices about how many lines?

View Poll Results: Would you use a preview pane on the FM web interface?
Yes, most likely.	18	40.91%
No, probably not.	19	43.18%
I'd have to try it out first.	7	15.91%
Voters: 44. You may not vote on this poll

19 Nov 2003, 08:25 AM	#1
joelpt Essential Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seattle WA USA Posts: 205	Preview Pane How about a Preview Pane in the fastmail interface, similar to the Preview Pane now present in Outlook/OE/MozMail? The upper half of the screen would be the regular FM interface, and the lower half (adjustable) could load the header/body of each message as it was clicked, with a minimal "action bar" to provide reply/forward/etc. functionality for the shown message. Double-clicking a message link in the upper interface could open the message full-screen as is currently done with single-clicks. I believe double-click detection is a Javascript event that is well supported by the browsers. Here's an imaginary screenshot! http://www.bumpus.org/PreviewPaneMockup.gif Joel

19 Nov 2003, 09:21 AM	#2
XB77 Essential Contributor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 365	Frankly, I think that I read most of my e-mail on the preview window in OE. So yes.

19 Nov 2003, 12:05 PM	#3
claven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 184	I'd definitely use the preview pane, particularly if the secure connection feature could be applied to it. By the way, doesn't this feature already exist in a modified form? If I go to the folders screen, I can set the folder options so that I can get a little bit of a preview. I don't use it because it's a distraction from the straight list, but I have friends who really like the folder preview option!

19 Nov 2003, 12:17 PM	#4
David Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada. Posts: 10,355	Regarding the preview pane in Outlook.. I used this for many years and thought it to be a great feature... But the current fastmail setup that allows you to view an mail in its entirety, and then view another mail (while moving the previous mail to a different folder) with one single mouse click, allows one to process email faster... So I voted NO

19 Nov 2003, 04:24 PM	#5
AndreasM Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 68	I think, this to be a great advantage in "flying over" the mails! -- A.

19 Nov 2003, 08:01 PM	#6
Gankaku Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 3,265	If it was an option, it would be ok. However, I wouldn't like this with Fastmail. I use a preview pane in Junglemate and Fusemail. I have to play with resizing the pane during some emails, and you have to scroll lots in that little pane to read your message. Even though I can use it (and actually like using my Junglemate email with the pane), I wouldn't like it with my Fastmail because I truly love the interface as it is now, and I get so many messages at my FM account that it'd be a pain with the pane. Just my 2cents.

19 Nov 2003, 08:17 PM	#7
mwild Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 91	I'd vote against a preview pane. But (mainly for those of us with large screens) it would be nice to have some multiline preview options in the folder settings, eg "unread 2 lines", "unread 3 lines".