Suggestion: fewer icons, better readability

[ant]

I started using noscipt some time ago, but the myriad of icons still puzzles me - fewer icons would make things probably more understandable. Unfortunately I can't make a proper screenshot, so I used the example in the FAQ :

---->


Along with the reduction of the number of icons displayed, the status icons could be simplified, too: instead of showing 10+ different statuses (allowed, globally allowed, partially allowed, allowed with untrusted, not allowed, ...), let's just have two clearly distinguishable icons: scripts are allowed or not. OK, probably a third one to warn you when all scripts are allowed. You'll click on the button to see the details anyway... Here is a quick mockup:

- script are allowed:
- script are NOT allowed:
( - all scripts are allowed: )


Furthermore, showing all the sites to allow/temporary allow scripts, can be a bit confusing, and it's a waste of screen space:

Allow server1.com
Temporary allow server1.com
--------------------------------------
Allow server2.com
Temporary allow server2.com
--------------------------------------
Allow server3.com
Temporary allow server3.com
--------------------------------------
Forbid server4.com
--------------------------------------
...

It could look something like this:

--------------------------------------
Currently forbidden - click to allow
server1.com
server2.com
server3.com
--------------------------------------
Currently allowed - click to forbid
server4.com
...

Cheers

[Thrawn]

I started using noscipt some time ago, but the myriad of icons still puzzles me - fewer icons would make things probably more understandable...You'll click on the button to see the details anyway...

The trouble with reducing the number of icons is that you reduce the amount of information available. If some scripts are allowed, and some blocked, then currently there is an icon for that, but under your scheme, the icon would say either 'blocked' (which should mean nothing is running), or 'allowed' (which should mean nothing is broken). If scripts are allowed, but plugins are blocked, similarly. And people who like to toggle top-level site permissions by clicking on the icon (or using a keyboard shortcut) will want to be able to tell at a glance whether or not the top-level site is allowed.

The white 'S' icons, indicating that there are no script elements on a page, might be redundant, since such pages are a vanishing breed...but if that's true, then you'll hardly ever see those icons, so they won't confuse you, right?

Furthermore, showing all the sites to allow/temporary allow scripts, can be a bit confusing, and it's a waste of screen space:

You can hide it if you want, in Options-Appearance. But 'Temporarily Allow' sure isn't going away. It's a very valuable feature.

For saving screen space, it might be better to go with something from this thread.