ABP 3.6 BAD Redesign of My FIlter List

[thepipe]

I just noticed that the way ABP presents the "My Filter List" has changed. In the past, it was a single text box that could be edited in place by clicking a link. Since ABP has no search function to allow users to easily find a filter, they could at least edit the list in place or copy all the text in the list, then past it into a text editor with a find/replace function. Once edited, the text could then be pasted back in.

Now, the list is presented like a database or spreadsheet with text in individual fields - in reality, there is only one field though. Other "fields" are included for selection of an item, turning it on/off and some other field at the rar right, which has no label or explanation, for some reason. This new approach to the My Filter List still has no search option. Unfortunately, this new approach introduces some big problems. On my PC, which is fairly quick (i7 with SSD and 16GB RAM) the list scrolls EXTREMELY SLOWLY when using a scroll wheel mouse. You might think you could get around this by clicking and dragging the "thumb" in the vertical scroll bar to quickly get to the point you need to be at, but THERE IS NO SCROLL BAR! This means it takes FOREVER to scroll through a long list. Also, since the list can no longer be copied en masse, you can no longer copy the list and paste it into a text editor to do a search. This really doesn't matter, because once you do find what you want, it would take forever to find it when you return to the ABP settings!

This is a HUGE STEP BACKWARDS!

Please correct this ASAP!

[toughdiamond]

You might think you could get around this by clicking and dragging the "thumb" in the vertical scroll bar to quickly get to the point you need to be at, but THERE IS NO SCROLL BAR! This means it takes FOREVER to scroll through a long list. Also, since the list can no longer be copied en masse, you can no longer copy the list and paste it into a text editor to do a search.

On my laptop I was able to find a scroll bar, though for some reason it's not visible until the mouse pointer is in the body of the list, and it's just a small oblong so it's easy to miss if you don't expect it. The list can be copied en masse but the button for that doesn't show until you check one or more entries to select it / them, so to copy the whole shebang you would check the box in the header field at the top of the list which checks them all, then hit the Copy Selected button that magically appears at the bottom of the list. Methinks all this hiding of important functions is for the benefit of the smartphone people, to give them a bit more screen space on their tiny screens. Funnily enough I'm still resisting getting a smartphone for reasons to do with privacy.

The new My Filter List in 3.6 has just wasted a bit of my time too. I had no idea it had been changed until I was about to import a set of about 20 new items that I had previously saved in a text file. Normally I just paste them into the rectangular box, but that's gone now. Luckily after a bit of trial and error I was surprised to find I can paste multiple items into the single-line-sized box at the left of the "+ADD" button and they all get added. At least I think they all do. It takes longer to check that now because the display now only shows 8 items at a time.

So in my case it looks like I can probably live with the new version, and I suppose the new functionality might be helpful for testing filters (seems slightly better than just cutting one to the clipboard and re-pasting it if I want it back), but the whole design seems more mouse-click or tap driven, rather than responding to keypresses such as Select All, Cut, Copy, and Paste, for efficient working. Not great news if you're still using a "real" computer and don't like mice or touchpads. Again, I suspect these changes are aimed at smartphone people at the expense of people who use physical keyboards. Some control of the order of the list would be nice, to flip between alphabetical and date added. I don't know what order they're in as things stand, but they sure aren't alphabetical. That triangle with the exclamation mark in it, below the "+ADD" button is a mystery to me, as is the tinier solid black triangle next to it, which flips to pointing up or down when you click it, but doesn't seem to change anything.

[temp20190816]

there is no scrollbar.
the list is almost unusable now.
I tested it on win10 1903 and on linux too(debian stable).
I wasn't able to scroll using keyboard either.

[sbell]

Hello!

Thanks so much for your feedback! I will pass this along to the team for consideration in future updates to improve the user experience. In order to see the scroll bar you must first hover over the body of the custom lists. Thanks again for your feedback.

Thanks
Shannon
ABP Support Team

[mags]

I agree with others that the My Filter List is a bad design!
Very difficult to manage and edit items in the list. Desperately needs a text editor interface option added back!
The search function is useless. You have to know in minute detail what you are searching for to be able to find it. Especially if you are trying to find something you just blocked and want to undo!
I don't see a scroll bar when I hover over the body of the list. I see a small floating box that can be dragged up and down to scroll. This is ok once you understand what the little box is for. Which goes to adding instructions and definitions with/near the My List table for how to use it, sort it navigate and edit.

What is the diamond ! mark sort option for?

ABP Support Team