The following two features are part of XXE’s “Save” preferences:
(1) ”Save characters outside encodings as entity references”
(2) “Always save these characters as entity references:
[character-list-area]”
I find their settings/preferences interface confusing with regard to
understanding how these two features are - or are not - interlinked.
Because:
* Firstly, when the first feature is *disabled*, then the (possibly
non-empty) ”character-list-area” becomes grayed out. Also, the
”character list area” becomes locked: As long as the "Save
characters outside …” feature is disabled, it is not, anymore,
possible to edit the list.
* Secondly, however, even if the ”character list area” is grayed
out, XXE continues to save the charaters in that list as entity
references.
This means that for someone who only wants to make use of feature (2),
he/she must first enable feature (1) - in order to be able to edit the
character list. And after the editing, the user must finally disable
feature (1) (in order to make certain that only feature (2) is working).
Also, when something becomes grayed out (and the grayed out area
becomes impossible to edit), to manuy user, a graying out of that kind,
to many of indicate that the entire function has become disabled.
Thus the two features are interlinked in a very confusing way.
Thinking it over, a little bit, I have come to the conclusion that XXE
gives us the right options - it has the right feature(s). It is thus the
interface that needs fixing: In my view, the ”list of characters
area” should *not* become grayed out whenever the ”Save characters
outside …” feature is disabled. And it should thus to be possible to
edit that list even if ”Save characters outside” is disabled.
(However, I guess there are other ways to use the interface to convey to
the users that - and how - these to features are interlinked.)
I include two screenshots to sho how the ”list of characters area”
reacts when the ”Save characters outside …” is enabled/disabnled.
Screenshot of enabled ”Save characters outside …” feature:
Screenshot of disabled ”Save characters outside …” feature:
Leif Halvard Silli
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