Bring action bar to bottom

[Garfonso]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. Previously it was nice and easy to use K9 Mail one handed on a "usual sized" (i.e. big) Phone. With the "new" UI this does not work anymore. One big drawback of the new UI is that in message view the action buttons are above the message at the top of the screen. So you can not easily reach them with your finders that are at the bottom of the screen.

Describe the solution you'd like Bring the buttons (action bar?) and controls in message view back to the bottom. At least optionally. So I can control the with the fingers that are at the bottom, holding the phone!

Describe alternatives you've considered There are NONE. Either be smart and desing for a phone in one handed mode or don't make phone apps at all. In desktop it is ok to have controls at the top. But not on a phone.

[mjnewton]

I am posting to endorse this request/suggestion. I wouldn't normally do this but I fear that part of the reason for some of the v5.8 changes having been made is because users haven't spoken clearly about things that they liked and hence there's been little reason not to introduce change, even if apparently unsolicited.

Incidentally, I wouldn't regard moving the action bar to the bottom as an 'enhancement' as such, more that moving the action bar to the top (away from your thumb and device hardware controls) in the first place is a human-computer interaction issue - a regression bug even - if you see what I mean.

[johncrisp]

because users haven't spoken clearly about things that they liked

People will certainly complain if they don't like things. If they are generally happy they don't tend to react much. That isn't a reason to change things. I always thought the old interface was extremely well thought out. I had tried other clients and tried to make them work the same way, but they were always a fail. K-9 was by far and away the best. Was.

I cannot get on with the new interface - it is taking far too long to do anything productive with the old, well thought out, minimal and informative intro screen now missing and replaced by a sliding side bar and jumbled info which is not as fast, convenient or effective. And the top buttons are completely unusable.

The colours are hideously bright. No check boxes for fast select. I could go on. Sorry, and and I know there is a lot of hard work there, but I can't work with it.

Even worse is you cannot easily restore the old version due to this Issue so I am going to have to recreate several accounts with all their settings now which will take me a very long time.

https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/5000

Very annoying and frustrating.

All that glisters is not gold.

[Standard8]

As a data point, Firefox for Android reworked the UI last year to have the address bar at the bottom for precisely the usability issue. To me the new UI is nicer, but the usability has dropped significantly.

Even with my big hands, it is now really awkward to use K9-Mail to go through my message list or to access the menus.

Please can this be marked as a bug/regression not an enhancement.

[haraldh]

I hate to post +1 comments, but here we go... This is so annoying, that I just do that... Please move it to the bottom.

[chadszinow]

Like everyone else the action bar at the top is impossible to reach in one handed use. Is there some sort of shortcut alternate to trigger delete email when looking at an email? That's the main use case I use it for and would be an acceptable work around for me.

[dbasa]

I can only agree with the previous comments. First thing i though with the new version: Cool a new version Second thing I though: Why the hell did they move the action bar to the top?!

And what about the quick actions you could trigger by swiping and so on? Could not find them either!

[DasWookie]

This has made it IMPOSSIBLE for those with disabilities to use the app, or require you to set the phone down to be able to use the action bar at the top of the screen. Either move it back to the bottom, or allow users to elect if they want it at the top of bottom.

[robdempsey-esure]

A nice fresh interface.

But the userability on the app has dropped significantly by moving the actions to the top. You now need two hands on a large size phone.

I think most would prioritise userability over a sexy/slick interface

[llucax]

If you want to express you are affected by this issue and you want it fixed, it is usually enough to add a :+1: reaction to the issue description.

Just describing how much you like it in a comment adds no real value and only wastes the developers time (which need to read new comments) and bothers all subscribers with no updates on the issue.

If you want this to be fixed soon, please stop adding this sort of comments, just add a :+1: reaction to the issue.

Thanks!

[robtgmann]

I rolled back to 5600 because of this issue. Am looking forward to coming back when this issue is fixed.

[sebu06]

Hi, also I would like to add that at least for me, moving stuff to a side bar (in addition to the vastly increased number of taps required to do simple things as to get an overview about multiple accounts), has drastically reduced the ability to use the app "one handed"

[supertin]

+1 I've been holding off on criticizing the new interface to try and get to know it first.... But deleting or moving stuff is now quite painful. It shouldn't take 2 hands to achieve.

[Strubbl]

This issue is important to me because my thumb cannot reach the top button bar to tap the buttons.

I rolled back to 5600 because of this issue. Am looking forward to coming back when this issue is fixed.

How is the process to roll back to the old version?

[RalfJung]

In general I really like the new version, but this problem makes it nearly impossible to use K-9 mail with just a single hand on a "normal" (6") phone -- which is unfortunate because that worked fine before. So it would be great to have the option to move the menu bar down to the bottom of the screen. :)

[evilphish]

Can only agree... K9 is no longer usable for me with one hand. This is a serious step backwards. Please at least put an option in to relocate the bar to the bottom.

Also this should not be classified as an enhancement. The change broke usability quite severely.

[stothew]

Googled for a way to get the nav bar back to bottom. Stranded here.. please add the option to put it back down.

[ILoveFOSS]

As a data point, Firefox for Android reworked the UI last year to have the address bar at the bottom for precisely the usability issue. To me the new UI is nicer, but the usability has dropped significantly.

Even with my big hands, it is now really awkward to use K9-Mail to go through my message list or to access the menus.

Please can this be marked as a bug/regression not an enhancement.

I'd see it as an enhancement and not a regression. However, I very much like when the main navigation items are at the bottom of the phone. Other data points are F-Droid and Aurora Store. Especially Aurora Store as they claim to be "Built upon latest Material Design guidelines" (from their GitLab readme).

[commander-keen]

In case someone wants to join the bug bounty: https://www.bountysource.com/issues/100118876-bring-action-bar-to-bottom :-) https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/5657 should be an easy addition after this ticket here would be implemented, if possible.

[DasWookie]

Just adding a "thumbs up" doesn't BEGIN to let the dev team know JUST how badly the new UI has broken things for users with disabilities! I've used K9 for over a decade, and now it's almost impossible to use because of the new UI. Want to mark this comment as off-topic, fine. Whatever. Y'all seriously screwed up with a SERIOUS oversight for usability and all you want is for people to give it a thumbs up? Get real! FIX THIS!

[dhruvtailor7]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how the UI should look like?

[cketti]

There's some things to consider listed in the Material Design guidelines: https://material.io/components/app-bars-bottom

[Strubbl]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how the UI should look like?

The UI before the K-9 version of 26 Jul 2021 (was it the version before v5.8?) was looking good.

[marktn]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how the UI should look like?

Bring the complete upper bar to the bottom.

[robtgmann]

Here’s a screen shot – version 5.6 navigation bar on the bottom (who could possibly want it at the top. I will abandon K9 if 5.6 ceases working and there is no task bar on the bottom working.

I’ve been using version 5.6 for years now – most recently on a Verizon Galaxy s22 ultra, before that on a Note9, before that on a S8+.

It works like a charm, not a single problem. The Ultra is now at Android 12.

[dakshbhardwaj]

Here’s a screen shot – version 5.6 navigation bar on the bottom (who could possibly want it at the top. I will abandon K9 if 5.6 ceases working and there is no task bar on the bottom working. I’ve been using version 5.6 for years now – most recently on a Verizon Galaxy s22 ultra, before that on a Note9, before that on a S8+. It works like a charm, not a single problem. The Ultra is now at Android 12.

Hi, @robtgmann I am not able to see the screenshot could you please check?

[dhruvtailor7]

Bringing the action bar to the bottom would look like this. Is this design ok to proceed further?

[supertin]

Is there any reason not to bring the back button down with it and free up the whole top?

[tobiasBora]

I agree that the back button would be cool to have, but also the "answer" button, as most of the time I want to answer or leave the current message… If its because of a lack of space, I'd prefer to have the answer button than the search button.

[dbasa]

Well I thought exactly the same thing: reply-button. This could maybe be realized via a floating action button (FAB). Either context sensitive:

• "New message" in inbox/folder view
• "Reply" in message view And/or via an expandable button in case of reply, reply all, forward

Am 21. Juli 2022 14:48:45 MESZ schrieb Tobias Bora @.***>:

I agree that the back button would be cool to have, but also the "answer" button, as most of the time I want to answer or leave the current message… If its because of a lack of space, I'd prefer to have the answer button than the search button.

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[robtgmann]

The screen shot was an attachment last time. To reply, there’s an icon in the task bar leading to a choice of reply all, forward, forward as attachment, or share. When sending a new message or replying, the send button is above the top along with other options. If you want more on those, let me know.

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From: Robert Goldmann @.> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 12:24 PM To: 'thundernest/k-9' @.> Subject: RE: [thundernest/k-9] Bring action bar to bottom (#5447)

Here’s a screen shot – version 5.6 navigation bar on the bottom (who could possibly want it at the top. I will abandon K9 if 5.6 ceases working and there is no task bar on the bottom working.

I’ve been using version 5.6 for years now – most recently on a Verizon Galaxy s22 ultra, before that on a Note9, before that on a S8+.

It works like a charm, not a single problem. The Ultra is now at Android 12.

Author: ACT FROM CHOICE

Read the Kirkus and other reviews http://www.actfromchoice.com/sample-reviews-and-press here

Find it on Amazon and other booksellers

Please follow me on Twitter: @actfromchoice

And join me on LinkedIn

---

Robert Goldmann

Clarity & Performance Coaching

Executives, Professionals, Business owners

www.ClarityAndPerformance.com http://www.clarityandperformance.com/

www.ActFromChoice.com http://www.actfromchoice.com/

510.495.4444

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From: DomoticaUser @. @.> > Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 12:01 PM To: thundernest/k-9 @. @.> > Cc: robtgmann @. @.> >; Comment @. @.> > Subject: Re: [thundernest/k-9] Bring action bar to bottom (#5447)

Does anyone have any suggestions on how the UI should look like?

Bring the complete upper bar to the bottom.

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/thundernest/k-9/issues/5447#issuecomment-1190644780 , or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AVBK2XJHE6WPBDRB45TRAH3VVBEH3ANCNFSM5A7QZH6Q . You are receiving this because you commented. https://github.com/notifications/beacon/AVBK2XPLTIIV43H76GB2ZG3VVBEH3A5CNFSM5A7QZH62YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOI334YLA.gif Message ID: @. @.> >

[DasWookie]

I would be happy with just the existing bar, moved to the bottom. If there was any customization, then why not just make it such that you can pick if you want the bar on the top or bottom, and which buttons and shown on the bar and whichever ones are not picked to show on the main bar the rest overflow into the three vertical dots. Move the back arrow along with the rest of the action bar. Basically, keep it all as it is if that makes things easy, but move it from the top of the screen, to the bottom of the screen. It's not a difficult to define ask. The existing design is impossible to use one handed, which makes things VERY difficult for those who have handicaps or have dexterity problems with one of the arms or hands!

[rezazarchi]

I developed bottom bar like Samsung Mail. I think it has nice usability and is good-looking. I can make a pull request for that.

[commander-keen]

@rezazarchi If you succeed pushing your change, feel free to claim the bounty later: https://app.bountysource.com/issues/100118876-bring-action-bar-to-bottom

[rezazarchi]

I developed bottom bar like Samsung Mail. I think it has nice usability and is good-looking. I can make a pull request for that.

What do you think? @cketti

[cketti]

We don't want to add a custom toolbar that looks and feels nothing like a platform component. Again, this is the design document that should be used for orientation: https://m2.material.io/components/app-bars-bottom

Structurally, https://github.com/thundernest/k-9/issues/5447#issuecomment-1191211633 looks close. But we probably don't need a toolbar at the top just to host the back button. The color of the toolbar at the bottom should match the current toolbar. Also, the actions in the toolbar should only contain message view actions.

This example from the material design site looks useful:

[rezazarchi]

We don't want to add a custom toolbar that looks and feels nothing like a platform component. Again, this is the design document that should be used for orientation: https://m2.material.io/components/app-bars-bottom

Structurally, #5447 (comment) looks close. But we probably don't need a toolbar at the top just to host the back button. The color of the toolbar at the bottom should match the current toolbar. Also, the actions in the toolbar should only contain message view actions.

This example from the material design site looks useful:

I understand that. but my goal wasn't to bring the toolbar to bottom. I was looking for implementing useful action buttons on bottom side of the fragment for better usability in long aspect ratio devices. Looks exactly like what in the Samsung mail app mentioned in this comment

[secretmango]

Agree that a material design would be best, and I prefer the last two designs (whats the difference?) A LOT!