How Evolution formats top-post replies

[timzak]

Most people I correspond with in email top-post, so I do too.  I don't have a problem with either convention, depending on when each is preferred.  However, when I set Evolution to top-post in replies, I still must manually hit enter a couple of times, then move cursor back up to create space for my reply.  Is there a setting that allows top posting to work properly automatically?  IOW, for the spaces to be inserted and cursor placed above the reply, not on the same line as it.

In case my explanation was not thorough, here is a typical top post reply.  I placed a "*" where Evolution places the cursor in such emails.  It would be preferable if the cursor was placed on the line above.  Otherwise, one must go through the motions described above for each email one replies to.

*On Sat, 2009-06-13 at 17:21 -0400, John Smith wrote:
Hey,
> I haven't forgotten you.  I  just got back from my
> errands and will try to finish up by Sunday.

[Brian J. Murrell]

On Mon, 2009-06-22 at 21:29 -0700, timzak wrote:
> I still must manually
> hit enter a couple of times, then move cursor back up to create space for my
> reply.

You don't in fact have to do that.  You just think you do.

> In case my explanation was not thorough, here is a typical top post reply.
> I placed a "*" where Evolution places the cursor in such emails.

Right.  And if you just started typing at that point, all of your text
would be inserted *before* the "On Sat,...".  As you type, you will
continue to be typing before that text and when you are done typing your
own text, your final return will put that "On Sat..." line on it's own
line.  More returns would insert more blank lines.

Try it.

> It would
> be preferable if the cursor was placed on the line above.

Probably, but not technically necessary.

> Otherwise, one
> must go through the motions described above for each email one replies to.

Not *must*, but can.

> *On Sat, 2009-06-13 at 17:21 -0400, John Smith wrote:
> Hey,
> > I haven't forgotten you.  I  just got back from my
> > errands and will try to finish up by Sunday.

b.



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[Patrick O'Callaghan]

On Mon, 2009-06-22 at 21:29 -0700, timzak wrote:
> In case my explanation was not thorough, here is a typical top post
> reply.
> I placed a "*" where Evolution places the cursor in such emails.  It
> would
> be preferable if the cursor was placed on the line above.  Otherwise,
> one
> must go through the motions described above for each email one replies
> to.

Evo doesn't have a setting for top-posting. What you describe is the
default layout. A year or two ago I objected that this encouraged
top-posting (which I detest on mailing lists but don't mind elsewhere).
It was explained to me that the idea is to encourage people to *edit*
the quoted text instead of just lumping it all into the reply.

poc

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[timzak]

Brian J. Murrell wrote:

On Mon, 2009-06-22 at 21:29 -0700, timzak wrote:
> I still must manually
> hit enter a couple of times, then move cursor back up to create space for my
> reply.

You don't in fact have to do that.  You just think you do.

Good points, Brian.  You're absolutely right.  Evo is just the first email client I've used that does this, so it threw me for a mental loop.  It's amazing how our minds become conditioned in these ways.

Thanks!
Tim

[timzak]

Patrick O'Callaghan wrote:

On Mon, 2009-06-22 at 21:29 -0700, timzak wrote:
> In case my explanation was not thorough, here is a typical top post
> reply.
> I placed a "*" where Evolution places the cursor in such emails.  It
> would
> be preferable if the cursor was placed on the line above.  Otherwise,
> one
> must go through the motions described above for each email one replies
> to.

Evo doesn't have a setting for top-posting. What you describe is the
default layout. A year or two ago I objected that this encouraged
top-posting (which I detest on mailing lists but don't mind elsewhere).
It was explained to me that the idea is to encourage people to *edit*
the quoted text instead of just lumping it all into the reply.

poc

I'm not in front of my computer with Evo on it at the moment, but there is a setting somewhere in Evo with a checkbox that says something to the effect: "Place replies below quoted text".  In effect, if you UNcheck this box, aren't you telling Evolution that you wish to top-post?

[Patrick O'Callaghan]

On Tue, 2009-06-23 at 08:41 -0700, timzak wrote:

>
>
> Patrick O'Callaghan wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 2009-06-22 at 21:29 -0700, timzak wrote:
> >> In case my explanation was not thorough, here is a typical top post
> >> reply.
> >> I placed a "*" where Evolution places the cursor in such emails.  It
> >> would
> >> be preferable if the cursor was placed on the line above.  Otherwise,
> >> one
> >> must go through the motions described above for each email one replies
> >> to.
> >
> > Evo doesn't have a setting for top-posting. What you describe is the
> > default layout. A year or two ago I objected that this encouraged
> > top-posting (which I detest on mailing lists but don't mind elsewhere).
> > It was explained to me that the idea is to encourage people to *edit*
> > the quoted text instead of just lumping it all into the reply.
> >
> > poc
>
> I'm not in front of my computer with Evo on it at the moment, but there is a
> setting somewhere in Evo with a checkbox that says something to the effect:
> "Place replies below quoted text".  In effect, if you UNcheck this box,
> aren't you telling Evolution that you wish to top-post?

That setting was introduced in response to my objection. However it's
not checked by default, and as I said according to the developers the
unchecked position is not meant to indicate top-posting but to encourage
you to edit the quoted material.

You can see the exchange at
http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=535791 and also
http://mail.gnome.org/archives/evolution-list/2008-May/msg00206.html

I do have that setting checked, though :-)

poc

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