Bug 113847

Summary: [ErrorHandling] Error dialogs layout should be reconsidered, reporting should be more precise
Product: [Eclipse Project] Platform Reporter: Geert Poels <Geert.Poels>
Component: UIAssignee: Szymon Brandys <Szymon.Brandys>
Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE QA Contact:
Severity: enhancement    
Priority: P3 CC: Geert.Poels, krzysztof.daniel
Version: 3.1.1   
Target Milestone: ---   
Hardware: PC   
OS: Windows NT   
Whiteboard:
Attachments:
Description Flags
The error dialog as it appears
none
All the detail none

Description Geert Poels CLA 2005-10-26 12:18:33 EDT 
As a result of bug https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=113844
(which might have been caused by my own error), I'd like to take the opportunity
to propose a change in the way errors are reported.
Take a look at the two attachments.

I'd like to make a few comments :
1) despite the dialog's big size, I'm still forced to scroll or enlarge the dialog
2) the message hints at what's wrong, yet doesn't precise the error in much detail
3) as were talking about not being able to open a project, the message should be
more straightforward

IMHO, An error/warning dialog should display the following :
1) Description of the error
2) Remedy to the error
3) often missing, present in Eclipse : a detail with MUCH detailed information.

Applying this to our example:

1) The project could not be opened. Error in project definition file.
2) Please check the details if the error can be corrected; Otherwise re-create
your project.
3) The currect information may remain PLUS the technical information 
   => why is the project file corrupt : XML-tag missing, entry missing, no UTF,
.... 

Eclipse is a tool from developers for developers. Their knowledge should be
technical enough not to be 'gripped' by all these details.
The real detail is optional through a button so only visible when the user
specifically wants to see it. Make it useful then : provide all info.
Comment 1 Geert Poels CLA 2005-10-26 12:19:15 EDT 
Created attachment 28804 [details]
The error dialog as it appears
Comment 2 Geert Poels CLA 2005-10-26 12:19:39 EDT 
Created attachment 28805 [details]
All the detail
Comment 3 Dirk Baeumer CLA 2005-10-26 16:50:51 EDT 
The dialog is provided by Platform/UI. Moving...
Comment 4 Kim Horne CLA 2007-06-27 14:43:05 EDT 
Szymon, how much of this is still relevant?
Comment 5 Krzysztof Daniel CLA 2008-02-15 03:50:32 EST 
Kim, 
new Status Dialog is in progress. (see bug 191684).

According to detailed information of the errors: bugs should be logged against particular not helpful messages.

Developing and maintaining central knowledge base is to expensive, however there are some tries, see bug 124964 (well, its rather gathering information).
Comment 6 Krzysztof Daniel CLA 2008-04-24 04:05:31 EDT 
New status dialog allows for passing more information.
If there is no such information, separate bugs should be logged against particular components.
Comment 7 Szymon Brandys CLA 2008-04-24 04:47:53 EDT 
The error dialog has been being discussed in bug 124964.

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 124964 ***