How many times have you engaged in a conversation over e-mail? Typically, these conversations result in several e-mails that push everything else in your inbox downward. Thats where our Conversation View came into play. In Zimbra 5.0, we’re changing it a bit.
In our very first beta, we introduced the conversation view. The conversation view groups together e-mails by subject that spans folders, so when new communications come in, they are automatically correlated to relevant content.
Let’s take a look at how things are now (click on the image for full size):
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Currently, the conversation view reveals each conversation in a singular line. The reading pane is unavailable, and the number of messages in the conversation is indicated by a "(#)". |
| To open a conversation, the user had to double click on the conversation line. This would open a new view with all messages of the conversation, and the user would have the reading pane. To exit the conversation, the user had to click the "Close" button in the upper right corner. |
Now lets look at the new Conversation View in Zimbra 5.0:
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The new conversation view features an expandable/collapsible box next to each conversation. By clicking on the box, the conversation is then displayed in the same window, only indented.
The user can select the message to view the message, it will appear in the reading pane below. This allows a more streamlined, and productive user experience. |
| Some users don’t like to display the reading pane, so you can now turn it off (or on) for the Conversation view and List View. |
What do you think? Any ideas or suggestions? Give us some feedback@zimbra.com or join the discussion at the Zimbra Forums.
on August 21st, 2007 at 2:32 pm
This new view will address my biggest irritations with the current conversation view. Bring it on! And good work!
Dan
on August 21st, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I really like this new view. I cant wait for 5.0. Thank you!!!
on August 22nd, 2007 at 6:20 am
Awesome. It seems similar to the Hybrid view available on ZCS Desktop, which I really liked.
on August 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Having just done my first Zimbra install for a client, the conversations/reading pane options were the biggest problem, especially for users accustomed to webmail applications that do not support conversations at all.
I honestly still don’t understand it (can you have a reading pane in conversation view without double clicking on the conversation first? I’d love to know). But the 5.0 screenshot looks like a promising step forward. Looking forward to trying it out.
on August 27th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Thanks guys for the positive feedback!
@Roopesh, it’s exactly like the hybrid view. We actually named it hybrid at first, and just had it replace conv view all together.
@Paul When you implement this, let us know how your users like it!
john
on September 13th, 2008 at 1:27 am
I totally agree with Paul -
Seriously - i find it a hassle/annoying to have to double click all the time when i want to view a message. I have my preview pane disabled so that messages open in full screen (similar to non-ajax mode), but am absolutely annoyed by having to always double click.