Give more insights into setup errors

[ChristophWurst]

Feature Request

During setup we use very generic error messages for when the IMAP or SMTP connection fails. We should be able to differentiate between some of them by the error code and thus show more helpful information to the user.

Summary

n/a

[sunjam]

In my case on Mail 1.3.4 on v19.0.0 beta5, it would be helpful to auto-fill the imap server and smtp server with my domain information automatically.

email@example.com
imap server: example.com
smtp server: example.com

I think it is also helpful to have a simple drop-down menu to select common email ports, such as imap 995 or 993 or 465in the automatic configuration menu. Thanks!

[ChristophWurst]

But how? This is a very limiting assumption. For many users this will autofill incorrect suggestions.

I think it is also helpful to have a simple drop-down menu to select common email ports, such as imap 995 or 993 or 465in the automatic configuration menu. Thanks!

We already do that. If you select the security mode we pick the corresponding port. A drop down would limit the set of possible values and there are always some special cases where the user needs the ability to override defaults and use custom combinations.

[sunjam]

But how? This is a very limiting assumption. For many users this will autofill incorrect suggestions.

I think it is also helpful to have a simple drop-down menu to select common email ports, such as imap 995 or 993 or 465in the automatic configuration menu. Thanks!

We already do that. If you select the security mode we pick the corresponding port. A drop down would limit the set of possible values and there are always some special cases where the user needs the ability to override defaults and use custom combinations.

My limited assumption is from testing the app as the port assumed by Mail 995 was incorrect. I see no drop-down method for selecting ports in auto or manual. Everything must be written in manually, or I have this auto menu. Perhaps this feedback is useless and I'm just confused. Keep up the good work. I did sort out my configuration eventually.

[JuliaKirschenheuter]

@nimishavijay @jancborchardt how should we show this error messages? Should we do it in a modal window like this

or like this, but probably on other color?

or as a toast in a right corner (or in the middle)?

[ChristophWurst]

That is an interesting idea. The setup could be a modal in general. Something similar to the new conversation modal in Talk maybe?

[nimishavijay]

Should we do it in a modal window like this

I like the idea of a modal, but I think for this case a modal would be too present. generally modals are used for warning the user about something very important, or an intermediate state in a flow.

or as a toast in a right corner (or in the middle)?

This goes in the opposite direction I'd say, not visible enough, Since it disappears after a while there is a chance the user may not see it, and is then confused about why there is no progress.

or like this, but probably on other color?

I'd say this direction works great. We can make a few changes already:

• Show the loading state: When you click on "Connect" right now there is no feedback. We could show a loading spinner and change the text to "Connecting". This might already help lots.
• In many forms we show the error message below the confirm/submit button (eg. while logging in), doing that over here would also make sense I think.

I checked with changing the color and it looks a bit too present.

So I think we could stick with just --color-text-maxcontrast. What do you think?

More regarding the error messages, right now I am receiving only "Unexpected error during account creation" and "Auto detect failed. Please use manual mode." We could specify more information such as:

• If a compulsory field is not filled, we could give a message, for example, "Please enter an email" near the email field. Similarly for name and password if those are compulsory fields
• If the email format is not correct we could say "Please enter an email of the format name@example.com"
• If there is no internet connection "No internet connection. Please check your connection and try again"
• "Unexpected error during account creation" --> "There was an error while setting up your account. Please try again."

cc @jancborchardt for any more feedback

[JuliaKirschenheuter]

@nimishavijay Thanks for you reply!

In the 'loading'-time all fields will be disabled and have grey color.

Where should we place a "loading spinner"?

[nimishavijay]

@JuliaKirschenheuter inside the button on the left of "Connect" would work. We could also change the text to "Connecting..." :)