Page MenuHomePhabricator

Ignoring differences between profile and browser timezone in Phabricator is hidden away like an Easter egg
Closed, DuplicatePublic

Description

I just changed my timezone to UTC. Instantly I got this yellow notification box:

Your browser timezone setting differs from the timezone setting in your profile, click to reconcile.

The window that pops up informs me that my browser timezone differs from my profile timezone and "You can ignore this conflict or adjust your profile setting to match your client." But this nagging yellow notification, on the face of it, cannot be disabled. If this persistent notification is going to browbeat me into having identical browser and profile timezones, why would I be given me the option to change my timezone at all?

Possible solutions:

  • Just warn the user once (if you must) when they change their timezone setting and never again after that.
  • Allow the user to permanently dismiss the notification box.
  • Deprecate the profile timezone and force everyone to use their browser timezone. (seems like a terrible idea, but that's effectively the status quo the notification box bullies the user into)

Phabrictator timezone jeez.png (359×1 px, 26 KB)

The option to ignore is there. Can you spot it?

.. No, you can't, because it's not in the screenshot. It was a trick question. To ignore the conflict, you must open the timezone drop down, scroll up and select "Ignore Conflict" (what country is that?) at the top and press "Change Timezone" even though you actually won't change the timezone. Some Easter eggs are easier to find, this is just bad design.

The "Ignore Conflict" option really should be a button alongside the "Cancel" and "Change Timezone" button.

Event Timeline

DannyS712 subscribed.

If you click on the yellow notification, one of the options is "Ignore conflict" after which the notification goes away until the next time you change timezones.

If you click on the yellow notification, one of the options is "Ignore conflict" after which the notification goes away until the next time you change timezones.

OMG.

You're technically right.

Phabrictator timezone jeez.png (359×1 px, 26 KB)

The drop down where it says "Europe/Brussels"? Open it, scroll to the top and one would find this very special timezone "Ignore Conflict". I know where my next holiday destination is.. Needless to say, this is absolutely horrific interface design. Some software Easter eggs are easier to find than the "Ignore Conflict" option!

The "Ignore Conflict" option should really be a button alongside the "Cancel" and "Change Timezone" button.

AlexisJazz renamed this task from Changing timezone in Phabricator results in nagging notification to Changing timezone in Phabricator is hidden away like an Easter egg.Sep 4 2021, 11:15 PM
AlexisJazz updated the task description. (Show Details)
AlexisJazz updated the task description. (Show Details)
AlexisJazz renamed this task from Changing timezone in Phabricator is hidden away like an Easter egg to Ignoring differences between profile and browser timezone in Phabricator is hidden away like an Easter egg.Sep 4 2021, 11:19 PM

With the full disclosure that I understand very little of the code that powers phabricator, I tried to look into doing that, but the form for changing the timezone, which is a AphrontDialogView object, doesn't appear to have methods to add custom extra buttons. Maybe we can just clarify the message text?

...Ignoring the conflict is one of the timezone options in the dropdown.

or something

With the full disclosure that I understand very little of the code that powers phabricator, I tried to look into doing that, but the form for changing the timezone, which is a AphrontDialogView object, doesn't appear to have methods to add custom extra buttons. Maybe we can just clarify the message text?

...Ignoring the conflict is one of the timezone options in the dropdown.

or something

Button would be preferable (perhaps add a code comment that in case of a rewrite it should be included), but explaining where the option is in the text would be an improvement over the current state.