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Using Eclipse 3.2 RC3 Working sets used to be simple and would only apply to the current window, but now it seems (quite when, I'm not sure) that you can configure the working sets that apply to the Package Explorer alone. This was something that I found to be very confusing... - The "Working Sets" tool (that does not have a tooltip, by the way) allows you to create, delete and select active working sets that apply to the current window. This is done via the "Select Working Sets" dialog box. All very simple. - The Package Explorer's pull-down menu includes the "Top Level Elements" option that allows you to choose between "Projects" and "Working Sets". - When "Top Level Elements > Projects" is selected the projects that are shown depends on the selections you make in the Package Explorer's pull down menu "Select Working Set..." menu. Here you can choose one of the following radio buttons: - "Window Working Sets", meaning the choices you make in the window "Select Working Sets" dialog are applied. The term "Window Working Sets" is confusing in itself and it is not clear quite what this radio button means. I only figured it out after a lot of trial and error. - "No Working Sets", meaning that working sets are ignored and all projects are shown. This is the default for the Package Explorer. - "Select Working Sets", meaning that only those working sets chosen in the current "Select Working Set" dialog (note, singular "Set", not "Sets") are applied. You then are presented with a list of working sets and the ability to select one or more. - When "Top Level Elements > Working Sets" is selected the window Working Set selection is completely IGNORED. This is very confusing. Instead, the Package Explorer's pull-down menu sprouts a new menu option called "Configure Working Sets..." (that replaces 3 others) that opens a third variant of the "Select Working Sets" dialog. This is where you choose the working sets that should apply. - Although I realize that a working set is not a file/resource, I am a little baffled by the fact that you cannot create a new working set via the File > New menu option. This all adds up to a very confusing UI. Just trying to explain the usage problems in this bug report was tricky enough. The working set story seems to have evolved in a somewhat random fashion, and it seems to be that the user experience really needs to be thought through. I love working sets, and I particularly love the way you can make working sets the top level elements in the Package Explorer... super job. But the variations on the dialog boxes and the way in which the various working set selections apply is just too confusing. I cannot imagine how a new user would cope with this. While writing this bug report I tried to capture the various dialogs, which I'll attach as extra fodder for consideration.
Created attachment 41841 [details] Screen shots This is simply my attempt to show side-by-side the various Select Working Set(s) dialog boxes. These dialogs need to be unified since as they stand today they make Working Sets more complicated than they need to be. Working Sets are simple, and so should the user's experience with them.
Working set per window is new in 3.2. Various views, including the package explorer already had the feaure to filter and group by working set. For backward compatibility we had to keep both as it is very difficult to remove functionality: That's why you now see both modes with the package explorer. The default is 'Use the window working set', except if you started with a workspace from 3.1. The term 'Window working set' seems to clear to me. I agree that it should be used consistently, e.g. on the hover of the toolbar button. The dialogs your pointing out: The middle dialog is from platform.ui, bugs against the inconsisting naming (set, sets) have been filed, against the strange enablment behaviour have been filed but rejected. Agree that dialogs could be aligned. Grouping by workings by working set can't be combined with filtering. If you find better terms ways of separating the functionality in the UI, please let us know. Please don't file too many requests in one bug. E.g. file a separate requests for 'New> Working Set' against platform (I'm not sure that this is a good idea). It is very difficult to simplify things while staying compatible. I think we have to improve terms. Using 'Window Working Set' and 'View Working Set'.
As of now 'LATER' and 'REMIND' resolutions are no longer supported. Please reopen this bug if it is still valid for you.
