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This bug was filed before the changes to Bugzilla on 2011-10-16. Thus it
started right out as NEW without ever being explicitly confirmed. The bug is
changed to state NEEDINFO for this reason. To move this bug from NEEDINFO back
to NEW please check if the bug still persists with the 3.5.0 beta1 or beta2 prereleases.
Details on how to test the 3.5.0 beta1 can be found at:
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/QA/BugHunting_Session_3.5.0.-1

more detail on this bulk operation: http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/RFC-Operation-Spamzilla-tp3607474p3607474.html

Version info was previously LibO 3.3.1. I confirm that this feature request is still relevant to LibreOffice 3.5.0 RC1: the default position for table captions is still below the table. Remembering the position from previous tables would be nice (and probably more acceptable for other users than making 'above' the default). Changing the status from NEEDINFO to NEW.

This is still the case for LO 4.0.3

Another motivation for that change is that in most scientific publications, captions for tables are situated above the table (as opposed to figures).

Giving the user the choice by letting them use the "position" drop-down menu (it is curretly greyed-out) should be a minimum (why is it greyed-out at the moment?).

No change with current build of LODev 4.1.0 beta1, or 4.1 Master, i.e. the default position in the drop list offered in the insert Caption dialog frame remains "Below".

However, the Position drop list IS fully functional for selection [Below|Above]

The Tools -> Options -> LibreOfficeDev Writer -> AutoCaption feature provides some capability in the automated Caption -> Position [Below|Above] can be selected for Writer Tables. 

Unfortunately a Position selection made with AutoCaption applies globally to Writer Table, Frame, Picture, Spreadsheet, Chart, Drawing, Presentation, Formula and OLE objects--when each is selected for AutoCaption by UI checkbox.

What is still needed is a default "Above" Position setting for caption objects. And logic so that within current document the Caption Position (or really any object with a drop list Position attribute) is retained for subsequent Caption objects.

Referring up to UX-design mail list for discussion and validation of behavior when captioning tables.

Created attachment 79822 [details]
Greyed-out position menu

Thanks for the comment, Stuart.

I just want to check if you can see the same as I do in Writer (I am actually using LO 4.0.2.2):

- When selecting a table, there is no option to add a caption (nothing in contextual menu, greyed out in "Insert" menu).
- When selecting an image (as I have to take a screenshot of the table to be able to add a caption to it...), I can add a caption and select the category "Table". However, the "position" menu is greyed out (see screenshot attached).
- In "tools > options > writer > autocaption", I saw that I could use autocaptions for table, and choose between "below" or "above". However (1) this is not easily discoverable for the user, there should be an easier way to add a caption to a frame; (2) one does not always want a caption for every single table that is added in the document.

So we have several problems here, and I might need to find the corresponding bugs/create a new one. I will try to update to 4.0.3 shortly to see if those problems remain.

I just tested it on 4.0.3.3 and the problem remains, exactly as described in my previous comment.

Created attachment 79824 [details]
Works in LODev 4.0.4 pull 2013-05-26

Stephane,

I just pulled down a copy of today's Windows Dev build 4.0.4 -- Version 4.0.4.0+ (Build ID: 5d174f282fadd52f11105e53a816e35e627dd72)

Works for me the same as the 4.1.0beta1+ and 4.2.0alpha, 
Screen clip attached.

But I'll go ahead and dig out a copy of 4.0.3.3 and do an /A Windows install,  And I'll poke at it from a 64-bit Fedora 18. Just to be sure ;-)

I suspect though you may be loosing the focus of the table object when you attempt to add the caption. The table has to be active, i.e. have cursor focus in one of the cells of the table, and then use <Shift>+<F10> to launch the Table context menu. Select "Caption" with point click of mouse.  Just realized that keyboard entry of C's as accelerators is borked because there are too many "C" items on sub-menus.  Another bug to submit.

Stuart

Opened for UX-Advise discussion under thread http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/Position-of-caption-e-g-title-for-Table-objects-should-default-to-the-Above-position-td4057972.html

Functions correctly in 4.0.3.3 final on both Windows 7 64-bit and Fedora 18 64-bit Linux.

Hi Stuart

Thanks for your replies. Actually, everything works fine (even the position menu), the problem is that I intuitively was selecting the WHOLE table (with the corner arrow) before trying to insert a caption. For some reason, this option is not available when the whole table is selected - which to me is a bug of its own :)

Thanks for your efforts to suss this out! :)

I still wonder why we can't change the position of the text when adding a caption to a picture... Any idea?

(In reply to comment #7)
>...  Just
> realized that keyboard entry of C's as accelerators is borked because there
> are too many "C" items on sub-menus.  Another bug to submit.

submitted as fdo bug 65021

moving writer to ux-advise

linked Nabble mail list item