Export Inspector: allow selecting of root directory for pvserver configs

This is extracted from #19073 (closed)

step 1: let's get the "export now" working, however clunky. For remote connections, we accept two separate Root Directories, one for client side and one for server side. Data Extracts will export using the server-side root directory while Image Extracts including cinema/png/etc. will use the client side root directory.

changed milestone to %5.8.1

added priority:required project:lanl labels

mentioned in issue #19073 (closed)

added workflow:active-development label

assigned to @utkarsh.ayachit

mentioned in merge request !4117 (merged)

closed via commit c10ab254

closed via merge request !4117 (merged)

added workflow:needs-verification label

removed workflow:active-development label

@utkarsh.ayachit I find the details of this bug awkward. Big picture, it is good. From a functionality perspective, it is good. From a confusion perspective, it is bad.

What I would like is:

• We should clear the directories in the lower left. They don't work, they are confusing.
• Get rid of the "Navagate" or "OK" button. One or the other doesn't belong.
• If I double click on a directory, placing me in the directory, the Navagate and OK buttons go out. I believe we want to select THIS directory.
• You can place yourself in a directory, and chose a subdirectory. Clicking OK will combine them, to our target directory path. This is confusing. We should keep this, but what we want is the previous bullet.
• I would prefer that this dialog isn't so file specific. We are looking for directories here!

@cory.quammen Unless this is considered a prototype, I don't think it is ready for 5.8.1.

the export inspector is a prototype. see new design here #19931 (closed)

your issues here seem specific to how file open dialog in general works. I'd recommend opening a separate issue and we can then discuss what the file open dialog should behave for all cases. Note the dialog here is same as in other places e.g. File | Open or file navigator shown on Properties panel for certain readers like Plot3D. The issue here simply make the prototype export inspector "work" enough so that folks can at least use it to "export now" in client-server mode.

added triage:needs-info label and removed workflow:needs-verification label

Sounds fair. With your comments, I'm OK adding it to 5.8.1.

My issues really are that we shouldn't be using a file dialog to find a directory.

it's probably time to refactor the file dialog and make it work better with files/directories etc.

Agreed. Want me to write up a bug to that affect, so we remember?

never hurts :)