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Bug 242664 - settings.xml icon in Projects should convey soft link
Summary: settings.xml icon in Projects should convey soft link
Status: REOPENED
Alias: None
Product: projects
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Maven (show other bugs)
Version: 8.2
Hardware: PC Linux
: P4 normal (vote)
Assignee: Tomas Stupka
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2014-03-07 15:55 UTC by massimo
Modified: 2016-07-08 18:00 UTC (History)
0 users

See Also:
Issue Type: ENHANCEMENT
Exception Reporter:


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Description massimo 2014-03-07 15:55:05 UTC
The settings.xml file icon appearing under Project Files of a Maven project is very handy (smart choice). It allows you to open your ~/.m2/settings.xml file right from the project view.

However, i found that to Maven beginners it looks confusing, and they do have a point, because that file does not exist under that particular maven project like that icon would seem to mean.
Of course, it is part of any maven project, so i do understand the argument of showing it there like that, but still, it is not located there, not even close.

The icon that i think would be not confusing is perhaps a soft link icon, like one of those with an arrow badge, conveying the fact that that is a pointer to a file living somewhere else.

Would it make sense to add a badge arrow to it?

Its tooltip does not help the user either, because it just says 'XML Document': maybe that should be changed as well to the path to that file.
Comment 1 Martin Balin 2016-07-07 08:39:06 UTC
This old bug may not be relevant anymore. If you can still reproduce it in 8.2 development builds please reopen this issue.

Thanks for your cooperation,
NetBeans IDE 8.2 Release Boss
Comment 2 massimo 2016-07-08 18:00:41 UTC
Yes, it is still relevant, checked the latest build (July 8, 2016).
This is not a bug, by the way, it is an enhancement, i think.
You will not believe how many people think that settings.xml lives in their maven project.
A badge icon or a link visual icon of sort would resolve the issue (because settings.xml is a project file, but does not live there: that is a link to a file, not a file).
Change priority if you want, but seems to me should not take more than an hour to fix.