Last modified: 2013-11-14 20:53:50 UTC
When submitting bugs, the 'Show Advanced Fields' option is nestled nicely into the top left corner as plain text surrounded by other plain text. This makes it astoundingly easy to miss because a, it's surrounded by visually similar text, and b, that's just plain not where such things go. Such things go at the bottom of the form. This is where people expect to find them (since 'advanced fields' are a continuation of the stuff already on the page and people tend to read downward on a page), and also where they do not so easily get lost just in general. Can we move it? Is there any chance of getting this fixed upstream (but still moving it ourselves in the meantime because this is a somewhat major usability issue and frankly upstream would probably take years)?
Upstream tickets for "Advanced fields": https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?query_format=advanced;longdesc=advanced%20fields;component=Creating%2FChanging%20Bugs;product=Bugzilla;longdesc_type=substring (In reply to comment #0) > Such things go at the bottom of the form. This is where people expect to find > them (since 'advanced fields' are a continuation of the stuff already on the > page and people tend to read downward on a page), and also where they do not > so easily get lost just in general. If "advanced fields" was a block of fields that is distinct from the non-advanced fields this might work, but advanced stuff is between "Version" and "Summary" and also between "Attachment" and "Submit bug" button. With your proposal a user would fill out non-advanced fields, clicks "Show advanced fields" at the bottom, and then has to scroll up again to find out which previously not shown fields are new now. > major usability issue and frankly upstream would probably take years)? I think instead of moving I'd prefer a different rendering of the "Show Advanced fields" toggle link to make it more distinguishable from the rest of the text, e.g. styling it like a button.
The the entire thing needs to be moved down. It is currently in about the worst possible place, nevermind the appearance.
I've provided reasons why putting it at the bottom might create other problems, and why I consider it slightly worse than the current position.
Hence why I would put forward that the entire block of options should be moved down for the same reason I submitted this bug in the first place - the extra fields do not belong in the middle/top any more than the toggle does.
I'm in for small (maintainable) custom changes (styling "Show Advanced Fields"), but for changing the order of fields in enter_bug.cgi I'd recommend proposing and discussing upstream in bugzilla.mozilla.org as you have valid points that the current design could be improved.
If this is wanted, this should be discussed upstream. I'm against implementing it *specifically for WM Bugzilla* as I don't see any (pro and con) arguments which wouldn't apply also to other Bugzilla instances.
