Bug#3991: dselect has confusing and bizarre interface
Package: dselect
Version: 1.12.2
dselect is more complicated than it needs to be. Anyone who has used
the package selector for RedHat can understand why people like it so
much. I like having a versatile interface such as the one dselect
offers, but it shouldn't be so incompatible keystroke-wise with other
common interfaces.
1. A consistent key should be chosen for the `quit' function, to exit
the current task. It's `q' here, space there, and enter there.
Space and enter should do something else. In most applications,
such as `dialog' enter selects, it doesn't quit. Space is also
usually a selection or toggle options, but never exit.
It's really bizarre and confusing that space and enter would do
these things.
2. A consistent key(s) should be chosen for the `help'. I suggest F1
and Ctrl-h throughout. (Like DOS or Emacs)
3. Using `/' for search forward makes me want to use `?' to search in
reverse. I hit it often enough to get really frustrated.
(`?' in `less' and `vi')
4. `/' should remember the last search instead of requiring a separate
keystroke, `\'. (`/' in `less' and `vi')
5. The package list browser should not start in help mode. There is a
reason that Emacs has an inhibit-startup-message variable.
6. The EIOM columns are not very intuitive. Remove the short
description (or move it over) since a long one is displayed below
and extend these toggles such that they are understandable.
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