The Problem
Currently, in the scheduling functionality for sending emails later, strings like “1234” do not trigger any action in the schedule send later feature. However, adding a day of the week or date, such as “1234 Mon”, makes it work correctly. This inconsistency can cause confusion and frustration for users who may expect “1234” to be interpreted as a time to send for later that same day.
Proposed Solution
I propose that we update the scheduling functionality to interpret strings formatted like “1234” as “12:34” of the current day if the day is not specified. This will make the scheduling feature more intuitive and user-friendly as it will automatically convert plain numerical inputs into a valid time for the same day. The functionality will remain the same for inputs that include a day or date, such as “1234 Mon”.
Alternative Solutions
An alternative solution could be to display a prompt or tooltip that guides the user to enter the time in a specific format, such as “HH:mm”, whenever they try to schedule an email. This would help to educate the user on the correct format to use for scheduling emails.
Context
Many users, especially those new to the Mailspring platform, may not be aware of the specific format required to schedule emails. By allowing the system to intelligently interpret and correct the input, we can make the platform more accessible and user-friendly. Additionally, this feature exists in other email products and tools, enhancing usability by offering a similar, intuitive experience.