cocoaforge

I really don't see the issue. Metacontacts are really a power-user issue, and I see no problem with having option-drag make this happen. Having a separate mode while the info window is open is also asking for trouble, as it does not obviously have anything to do with the contact list.

However, some menu item like "Create Metacontact" might make sense -- choosing it would offer a selection of contacts to which you could add the current contact.

I don't think it's a power-user issue at all; it's one nearly every user will face. In fact, the problem was the whole reason I found this forum.

I disagree with the following statement, but it turns out to be a non-issue:

"Having a separate mode while the info window is open is also asking for trouble as it does not obviously have anything to do with the contact list."

Actually, it does, and it already works the way I suggested -- drag a contact from the Contact List into the sidebar pane of someone's info window, and it combines the users. (I didn't drag it to the right place when I tried before.)

I don't think we're in disagreement that there should be a menu item or some other visible way to connect these users, and that the Help menu should document it as well.

However, I think there is a problem with saying "Create metacontact" -- most people will say "what the heck is a metacontact?" I think the command might be clearer if when you select multiple contacts in the contact list, a menu item because active that says "Combine contacts" or "Join contacts" or "Display as single contact".

That drawer isn't normally visible for single contacts though IIRC, so it's a rather moot point in that sense. You can't drag to a drawer that isn't enabled until you've created a metacontact.

oh... then i think it would make sense for the drawer should pop out when you drag a contact over a single contact's info window, much like the drawer pops out in other apps (like when you drag a message in Mail.app).

Of course, I don't mean that the menu item must say "Create Metacontact" -- some other, better wording is fine. Dragging a user onto another's info window strikes me as REALLY unintuitive -- but having the drawer always visible would probably clear that up.

What I thought you meant was -- when the info window is open, dragging a contact around on the contact list would merge contacts into metas, instead of rearranging. THAT would be truly evil. But, your idea as you explained it does make sense to me.