Calibre just destroyed my hard drive data

[jocampo]

I do not know if feel bad or laugh (sorry). But computers and programs are just tools. They do whatever you order them to do.

Yes, this case also remind me the rm command on Unix/Linux. And some entry level DBAs complaining when they delete complete Oracle directories after using the command.

As an advice, please read the manuals! I always do, at least I try for important software commands like delete.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

So that this thread does not go to waste, I've improved the confirmation dialog, see attached screenshot.


Any suggestions on how to make it even clearer are most welcome.

Well, you could say "All Files - not just ebooks"

and also "will be immediately & permanently deleted."

(Your responses to the complaint remind me of Dr. Johnson's: "Sir, I have provided you with an explanation. I cannot provide you with an understanding.")

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by chaley

The first time I saw something like this was in 1975 at Berkeley. A student typed "rm -rf ." in his home directory, then went ballistic when all his files were deleted. He blamed me (the teaching assistant on duty) for letting him do it. He went as far as to complain to the prof for the class about my inattentiveness. The prof told him to go pound sand.

I've no idea what "rm -rf" does, but a fellow student of mine, in the good old DOS age, once did a "deltree *. -y" (or something like that, my dos commands are getting rusty...) on the root of his C-drive... He only blamed himself

Originally Posted by theducks

Only a fool stores the original file on the Desktop

All of the desktop shortcuts can be rebuilt with small pain.
My rule: 'Any file on the desktop is Trash can padding'

My mother used to store her mails in her deleted item folder... Until I found out and explained that that is just the trash can of her email client... She's much better now

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

@CRussel: I'm worried that the longer I make the message, the less likely people are to read it.

@mrmikel: calibre (as of several months ago) does not let you choose a non empty folder when creating a new library. I suspect the OP created his library before that feature was added.

Or you could do what Microsoft does, ask, ask again, ask again because you might have made a mistake the first and second time, and then ask again, to be completely sure. And maybe even ask again after that!

[EowynCarter]

rm is remove.
-r is recursive
-f is force.
I've learned that "pwd" (show the current directory) was my friend before typing this kind of command.

I also remember my boss, in the open space, suddenly saying "oh crap! ." "Mmm, what ?" "I deleted the jBoss folder instead of the tmp one ". That wasn't mush a problem, we got the folder from the other server and copied it over.

[bookfanmd]

I once deleted the only user account on a Windows XP PC that had admin rights. Had to get out the restore disks and start over.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by bookfanmd

I once deleted the only user account on a Windows XP PC that had admin rights. Had to get out the restore disks and start over.

Now that sounds like a bug.
To delete that account, you would have to be using that account, which should have been prohibited as the account was "in use"

[Cyberman tM]

Originally Posted by user_none

How would you fix it? Put a dialog box that informs the user what files would be deleted and have them confirm before doing so?

Forcing libraries to be in a folder that is created by Calibre might be a way to prevent this from happening again.
Calibre not allowing non-empty folders is a good way too. Still, I'd offer a preset folder name that will be created.

Originally Posted by ThR

The sequence should be: read - think about what you have read - understand what you have read - do it.

Good theory, but useless in practice.
Too many programs are showering the user with useless messages, after a while you tend to ignore the messages because you know what to expect from the program.

But, once in a while a program breaks the pattern. Which is when ugly things happen...

Not saying that Calibre did wrong. Just that it obviously wasn't what the user expected.
In this case I'd say it's definitely the users fault, though I too have struggled with Calibre - for some reason I don't like the interface.
(But, it does it's job very well and it's free, so I'm happy to spend a few minutes looking for what I need.)

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

@CRussel: I'm worried that the longer I make the message, the less likely people are to read it.

Correct.

A few words that can be gathered at a glance should be enough.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Or you could do what Microsoft does, ask, ask again, ask again because you might have made a mistake the first and second time, and then ask again, to be completely sure. And maybe even ask again after that!

Yees, and help creating a generation that has only learned that these messages are mere reaction tests.

There needs to be a middle ground between "let the user run into a wall" and "ask him at every step if he didn't forget to breathe".

[kovidgoyal]

OK, since the consensus seems to be to make the message a little more explicit, I've made it

All files (not just ebooks) from

library path

will be permanently deleted.

[CRussel]

Yup, we've all done it, in one way or another. Known in the business as The "Oh, Sh** Moment".

That being said, no power on earth can protect a user who is determined to be stupid.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

OK, since the consensus seems to be to make the message a little more explicit, I've made it

All files (not just ebooks) from

library path

will be permanently deleted.

works for me. If it saves one person from themselves, it's worth it. Especially since it costs no one anything extra in normal operation.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Yup, we've all done it, in one way or another. Known in the business as The "Oh, Sh** Moment".

That being said, no power on earth can protect a user who is determined to be stupid.

Hey! we can get a useful internet acronym out of that. Something gets screwed up, you have an "OSM."

I'll bet a certain internationally known figure had one a couple of days ago...

[VicLavigne]

I have been using Calibre for about 2 years now. Although I would not define it as perfect, or even easy, it has steadily improved over time and it is my single favorite ebook utility. I know I've made a few mistakes in it too, but I own up to my mistakes and don't blame the program or the creator.

Kovid, I think the modified warning message should be more than sufficient for the majority of users. But of course as the saying goes, you can't please them all. Nor should you try.

Vic

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by VicLavigne

I have been using Calibre for about 2 years now. Although I would not define it as perfect, or even easy, it has steadily improved over time and it is my single favorite ebook utility. I know I've made a few mistakes in it too, but I own up to my mistakes and don't blame the program or the creator.

Kovid, I think the modified warning message should be more than sufficient for the majority of users. But of course as the saying goes, you can't please them all. Nor should you try.

Vic

I agree- and how many IT people have to handle this sort of stuff on a daily basis? I know I did! No-one would deliberately put washing powder in their car gas tank or stick nails in the tires to "see what happens", but with computers, anything goes!
Your program is a winner, Kovid, but as Vic says, you can't please everyone and sometimes you just have to live with that small percentage who will never be happy.

[atjnjk]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

@CRussel: I'm worried that the longer I make the message, the less likely people are to read it.

Maybe you could (somewhat) force users to read the message by adding a delay before one could click the yes button.

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by travger

Several warnings will not help. My dvd-recorder always asks me twice about deletions and I still occasionally manage to delete before catching myself. I am just so very sure that I'm deleting the right thing.

Yes, but you don't then go onto the dvd forum and complain and whine because it does exactly what it says it would do.

Awhile ago (seems like years, but probably only 6 months) I came here asking for help mapping my library to dropbox. Kovid warned me, and warned me about having Calibre open on multiple computers at once. Well, I didn't listen, and ended up wiping something out. I came back, and picked up some suggestions about how to fix it, AND I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

Now, I got a personal warning from Kovid, and did it anyway. I don't think extra dialog boxes and bold fonts are going to deter amyone. After all, everyone makes mistakes. You just don't want to make a habit of it.

I don't understand the rm reference, but when I got my first computer, I was unhappy with my initial file structure. So I typed format C: We all have to learn.

Learning you get more flys with honey is a good lesson, also.