[feature request] panel status indicator

The taskbar of backintime or in the panel?
There is an indicator at the moment that notices you if it is taking a
snapshot...

Cheers,
Bart

2009/11/10 kabanta <email address hidden>

> New question #89434 on Back In Time:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/backintime/+question/89434
>
> it would be nice if "back in time" had the following:
>
> - option to add "back in time" indicator to taskbar
>
> - application indicator visually indicates two possible states:
>
> 1) whether the backup destination is available (e.g., if it is
> removable storage, whether it is attached or not)
>
> 2) whether it is currently creating/updating a snapshot
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Back In Time.
>

in the panel.

yes, if i have BIT open, it does indicate when a snapshot is being performed. but i am thinking of the case when we have BIT closed, but it is running scheduled snapshot. (an additional nicety would be if the status indicator also indicated the case when a scheduled snapshot was being attempted but the destination was not available. i don't mean a popup, but some gentle flashing of the notification icon that would allow a user to notice and, say, plug in the external destination drive.)

It should be visible too when the application is closed. It should display
an icon in your notification area

2009/11/11 kabanta <email address hidden>

> Question #89434 on Back In Time changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/backintime/+question/89434
>
> Status: Answered => Open
>
> kabanta is still having a problem:
> in the panel.
>
> yes, if i have BIT open, it does indicate when a snapshot is being
> performed. but i am thinking of the case when we have BIT closed, but it
> is running scheduled snapshot. (an additional nicety would be if the
> status indicator also indicated the case when a scheduled snapshot was
> being attempted but the destination was not available. i don't mean a
> popup, but some gentle flashing of the notification icon that would
> allow a user to notice and, say, plug in the external destination
> drive.)
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Back In Time.
>

ah, yes i see that an icon appears.

however, from a usability point of view, it still seems as if it would be cleaner and easier if it was possible to add an actual quickly launch icon to the launch panel -- and to have the behavior of the app reflected by animating that icon. (i don't think it is necessary or desirable to copy everything about apple's time machine, but in this case, their status/launch icon seems like a good way to go.)

This means that the application should be running all the time or to create a panel applet.

Or you have a notification icon that stays there, like the network icon in
ubuntu or something. Should be possible to turn it off though...

Well we could add it to the wishes to improve the notification icons...

2009/11/13 Dan <email address hidden>

> Question #89434 on Back In Time changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/backintime/+question/89434
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Dan proposed the following answer:
> This means that the application should be running all the time or to
> create a panel applet.
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Back In Time.
>

I agree, the existing icon isn't very helpful. The icon doesn't need to be there all the time, but if BIT is running it should indicate what it's doing, and it should definitely indicate if there's a problem finding the removable media. Also, the icon could be more specific; right now, it's just a floppy disk icon, which is unclear (what is it supposed to mean?) and inappropriate (who backs up to floppy disks?).

Also, clicking on the icon should display a meaningful status dialog box. Right now, clicking on the icon provides a very terse and confusing message.

It says "Back In Time. Take snapshot (rync: /path/to/file). OK Cancel"

It's not clear if the program is asking me a question or giving me information, and it's not clear what effect the OK and Cancel buttons have. It's also confusing that the dialog displays what file is being copied at that instant, but is not updated continuously. It would be nice if this window displayed a complete running log of the backup process.

So, that was my two cents.

About your opion about the floppy disc: it uses the icon used for storage
(similar to the save button) so the appearance is dependent on your distro.
In my case (ubuntu 9.10) it turned into a harddisk, which is I agree with
you more appropiate...

2009/11/15 John Baptist <email address hidden>

> Question #89434 on Back In Time changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/backintime/+question/89434
>
> John Baptist proposed the following answer:
> I agree, the existing icon isn't very helpful. The icon doesn't need to
> be there all the time, but if BIT is running it should indicate what
> it's doing, and it should definitely indicate if there's a problem
> finding the removable media. Also, the icon could be more specific;
> right now, it's just a floppy disk icon, which is unclear (what is it
> supposed to mean?) and inappropriate (who backs up to floppy disks?).
>
> Also, clicking on the icon should display a meaningful status dialog
> box. Right now, clicking on the icon provides a very terse and confusing
> message.
>
> It says "Back In Time. Take snapshot (rync: /path/to/file). OK Cancel"
>
> It's not clear if the program is asking me a question or giving me
> information, and it's not clear what effect the OK and Cancel buttons
> have. It's also confusing that the dialog displays what file is being
> copied at that instant, but is not updated continuously. It would be
> nice if this window displayed a complete running log of the backup
> process.
>
> So, that was my two cents.
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you are an answer
> contact for Back In Time.
>