[QGIS-Developer] DefaultProxy and ambiguous wording in the options

[Richard Duivenvoorde]

May I draw your attention to an old PR of me:

https://github.com/qgis/QGIS/pull/53424

In that one I proposed to set the default to 'Use system proxy", because if NO proxy defined all works, but IF proxy defined, it also works.

Regards,

Richard

On 3/18/24 9:09 AM, Johannes Kröger (WhereGroup) via QGIS-Developer wrote:
> Howdy!
> 
> Before I make a tiny pull request I better ask:
> 
> There has been confusion here because of the wording around the "DefaultProxy" and default proxy usage in Settings -> Options -> Network:
> 
> - Under the checkboxed "Use Proxy for Web Access" section there is a combobox for the "Proxy type". The first entry is named "DefaultProxy", others are e.g. "HttpProxy" or "Socks5Proxy".
> - Next to the combobox is a text label saying "Default uses system's proxy". This label is always visible. Grey if the checkbox is not ticked, as normal text if it is ticked.
> 
> There is some ambiguity with this:
> 
> - By default the "Use Proxy for Web Access" checkbox is not ticked. So this could mean that by default the system's proxy is used, even if the checkbox is not ticked.
> - If the checkbox is ticked, then by default the first entry of the combobox is activated ("DefaultProxy"). Now it could be read that the default selection of the combobox, the "DefaultProxy", uses the system's proxy.
> - Last, and that is my understanding, "Default uses system's proxy" actually references the name of the "DefaultProxy" comboxbox option so if the user selects "DefaultProxy", then the system's proxy is used. (Same outcome as with the previous one but for a different reason).
> 
> 
> I'd suggest using the actual full name of the combobox entry in the help text: "DefaultProxy uses the system's proxy".
> That would be a simple one-line diff in https://github.com/qgis/QGIS/blob/71583dbc0cd33d85d036bcccef5991bbd2e3b632/src/ui/qgsoptionsbase.ui#L5015
> It would be nicer to have a combobox entry like "DefaultProxy (uses system's proxy" in the combobox itself and drop the help text, but that would be more complex.
> 
> 
> The confusion was worse in a local environment because in the German translation the word "Default" was localized while the "DefaultProxy" combobox entry was not. :o)
> 
> Cheers, Hannes
>