Re: [tdf-discuss] LibreOffice UI should be tweaked, not reinvented

Can we compile a list of suggestions on how to improve the defaults?

Is there a wiki where we could compile the list?

-- T. J.
On Tue, Nov 2, 2010 at 3:21 PM, RGB ES <rgb.mldc@gmail.com> wrote:

> A big +1
> That's why I started the thread about better defaults: this will help
> a lot more than a new, shiny but unknown interface.
> OOo/LibO interface IS modern and flexible (contextual toolbars,
> dockers... everything customizable), but it have horrible defaults
> values.
> A couple of fixes here and there (some toolbars do not work well when
> vertical) at it will be just perfect.
>
> 2010/11/2 T. J. Brumfield <enderandrew@gmail.com>:
>  > The OOo team has been working two years on Project Renaissance. And
> there is
> > a long running thread here in the discuss archives of a UI prototype.
> While
> > that particular prototype looks clean/sharp, I think all this dicussion
> on
> > radically altering the UI is unnecessary.
> >
> > One of the advantages of LibreOffice/OOo over MS Office is that the
> > interface is familiar and easy to grasp. And while the Ribbon interface
> has
> > improved from 2007 to 2010, it is still unpopular for a reason. The core
> > ideal of a dynamic interface that shows the most common features sounds
> good
> > on paper, but occassionally you need the lesser used features and you
> can't
> > find them. Menus still provide a familiar and easy to use method of
> > organizing a large number of features.
> >
> > Given the large number of features and complexity of office suites, one
> > needs to consider both use cases. Most of the time we only need a small
> > number of features and we want these conveniently located. Thankfully
> Lo/OOo
> > handles this nicely today with keyboard shortcuts and toolbar icons. And
> the
> > laundry list of other features can be found in the drop-down menus.
> >
> > Most radical refactorings I've seen try to "clean" up the interface, but
> > then hide most of the features. We're asking users to relearn a familiar
> > interface, but why?
> >
> > The Office 2007/2010 interface looks nice largely due to nice use of
> color,
> > gradients, etc. The Lo/OOo interface looks antiquated largedly due to a
> flat
> > pallete. But the "ribbon" itself is an odd mish-mash of different sized
> > icons that look like they were assembled at random.
> >
> > Honestly, if we kept the existing system of toolbars and drop-down menus,
> > wouldn't most of our users be happy? If they had to re-learn a new
> system,
> > might it just drive users to Microsoft's office suite (if you have to
> > re-learn, you might as well learn the system used by the masses)?
> >
> > I truly believe the current approach works and should be maintained, but
> > improved. There might be some slight tweaks in how the menus are
> organized.
> > Toolbar defaults might be optimized. And the overall UI could be shined
> up
> > with some gloss, new icons, gradients, spot color, etc.
> >
> > If anything, I think we should be going the opposite direction. Instead
> of
> > chasing the Ribbon of 2007/2010, I think we should embrace the abandoned
> > Office 2003 UI even more. Perhaps provide an option to all but completely
> > mimic it. People forget, but Microsoft used this tactic themselves,
> allowing
> > an option for Word users to use Wordperfect key-mappings, and provided
> > specific help for Wordperfect Users trying to migrate to Word. Since we
> know
> > most users coming to Lo/OOo are coming from Microsoft Office, shouldn't
> we
> > do our best to ease that transition?
> >
> > It would also be considerably less work than completely redesigning the
> UI
> > from scratch. That is more time that could be dedicated to improving the
> > project in other ways.
> >
> > -- T. J. Brumfield
> > "I'm questioning my education
> > Rewind and what does it show?
> > Could be, the truth it becomes you
> > I'm a seed, wondering why it grows"
> > -- Pearl Jam, Education
> >
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