RE: [Passwordsafe-devel] Short term tasks

[John B. <joh...@ps...>]

Hi folks.

I originally signed on board to help with PalmOS portability.  (I'd like to eventually see a Palm 
version hotsyncable to the desktop copy.)

Just a short comment regarding Gregg's comments:

> for #5, a collision check could be done and a number appended to entries 
> that were the same.  in the end, it would be up to the user to 
> delete/rename them.  the appended number would make them unique, but also 
> keep them grouped together.  we could also append the notes section to say 
> which file a particular entry came from.

I think this should be an option for the user to choose.

The program should do a pre-scan to see how many collisions will happen.  It should inform 
the user of the collision count and maybe give details on the first 2-3.  The user should have 
the options of:

a) Overwrite copy "1" with copy "2" for this collision only, and continue asking
b) Overwrite copy "2" with copy "1" for this collision only, and continue asking
c) Overwrite all remaining collisions in copy "1" with copy "2"
d) Overwrite all remaining collisions in copy "2" with copy "1"
e) Make unique "split" (as Gregg described above), for this collision only, and continue asking
f) Make unique "splits" for all remaining collisions
g) Discontinue the merge

For each collision (until the user issues one of the "do all" options), the details of each 
collision should be shown.

* * *

This scheme is very similar to the behavior you see when merging two directories of files in 
many file management utilities.  I think it would be intuitive to operate, and would allow every 
user to have the exact behavior they desire, every time.  

I think it would also save the user some effort: 
  * I might choose option (c) if I know I am updating a master list with an update list I carry on 
my laptop.  (I didn't have to manually edit the splits.)
  * I might choose option (e) if I am merging two dissimilar password databases and don't 
expect any collisions.  I might go to option (f) if there turned out to be many collisions.  Or I 
might use (g) and rethink my strategy.


I hope my comments are worth more than...

Just my $0.02 worth,
            -- john baldwin