Enhance usability of "Add Path"

[Leon]

Problem Statement:

When a user adds a new Subversion Path via the "Add Path" dialog, the user must provide the precise path details (example: I do this by browsing to the desired repository path, copy + pasting the path details, and trimming unnecessary characters). If the path is mistyped, or a path is not-precise due to unnecessary characters (example: extra '/' at the end), the path may be invalid.

The plugin interface currently does not provide any techniques to combat or limit the introduction of such user entry problems.

Enhancement:

• In addition to the current technique of going through the "Add Path" process (where a path is just typed in), enhance the interface by providing either:
  1. Validate a Path
  2. Browse for a Path

Discussion of Options:

1. Validate a Path: If a user types a path in, give them the option to "Validate Path"... which would check if the path they entered is valid or not. If invalid, perhaps give the user some output to help diagnose the problem.

Of course, the extent of this 'diagnose output' could be curtailed due to security concerns. Which is why #2 is recommended below since it provides the same functionality as browsing the repository via the Trac web based system. This prevents providing any additional, unnecessary details about the system Trac is hosted on.

OR:

2. Browse for a Path: Currently Trac's "Browse Source" toolbar button takes users to a website where users can browse a repository via their web browser. Using the "Browse Source" idea, the "Add Path" process can become more interactive. If a user wants to "Add Path":
   1. User clicks "Search for Path to Add"
   2. Present a browser popup window/use javascript to use the same window. This lets a user navigate to the desired path
   3. Users selects a path in the browser window
   4. The path selected shows up in the "Add Path" dialog
   5. User pushes "Add" and path is added

Recommendation: Option 2, AKA: "Browse for a Path"

Rational:

• Option 2 can also prevent common mistakes:
  1. When adding a path, users may sometimes not include the "repository" portion of the path entry (when it *is* needed)

Example: suppose there are 2 repositories: svn_repo_a and svn_repo_b

and directories:

a___________directory_in_this_repository (appearing in svn_repo_a) a_different_directory_in_this_repository (appearing in svn_repo_b)

When browsing, the browser window would know the repository name and the directory name the user is currently viewing:

That is, suppose "a_different_directory_in_this_repository" doesn't exist in "svn_repo_a" (for instance). It would be impossible to add a path entry for "a_different_directory_in_this_repository" for svn_repo_a . That is because paths be inferred through the what the user is viewing.

These entries are thus generated and placed into the svn Autz config file:

[svn_repo_a:/a___________directory_in_this_repository]
[svn_repo_b:/a_different_directory_in_this_repository]

[Leon]

I've posted an attachment of the description since Trac altered some of the formatting of the text.

[Leon]

This makes the bug report easier to read.

[anonymous]

you could have respeced the trac wiki formatting ;)

[anonymous]

It is not even clear what sort of path specification is expected. The plugin chokes on .authz file with the [path:/] syntax, for example.