Projects/Usability/HIG/Notifications

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Purpose

A notification is an information that is not relevant to actual workflow. It is displayed via a certain notification mechanism on a panel beneath the taskbar notification area. Notifications inform users about non-critical problems, but they don't prevent them.

Notifications pop-up and overlay all other windows. More than one notification are stacked vertically. Notifications disappear after a short period automatically, but can be closed by the user or keep visible by mouse over (remark: better description necessary). Each notification has its own central configuration which can be reach by a small button with a wrench icon. (remark: icon description is too specific here)

Examples

(remark: pictures only?)

Positive

Email received
New update available
Download completed
Low battery power

todo: picture

(Epic) Fails

Low space on medium (this information becomes relevant for file managers and invoked as modal message in this case)

todo: picture

Guidelines

Do not use notifications for user assistance (consider to use tool-tips or balloons for short information, or refer to help system for extended text.
Do not use notifications for context relevant information that might interfere with the actual workflow (consider to use a message dialog.
Do not add controls to notification.
Do not override system settings. (remark: more specific)
Provide header and content text (remark: not precise enough)
Add origin and topic to the header. For instance: "Amarok: Now playing" or "Konsole: Event"
Notification content must not exceed three lines.
Customize notification with the origin's icon. (remark: word "origin" needs to be replaced; "icon" might be replaced by technical term)
Provide actionable information (e.g. "Low battery power" "Only 13 min (2%) capacity remaining. Please save your stuff now. Your system will get shut down soon.") (remark: should be according actual text)

to be defined: Are all notifications configured in KCM? If not, how to separate?

Code snippets

to be done