Bug 62926 - Add option to show 'Apply Style' menu in plain text
Summary: Add option to show 'Apply Style' menu in plain text
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Writer (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Hardware: Other All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
QA Contact:
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2013-03-30 06:45 UTC by Charles
Modified: 2013-07-29 11:58 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
i915 platform:
i915 features:


Attachments
Screen shot of maximised Writer window on 1280x1024 screen (124.86 KB, image/png)
2013-03-30 06:45 UTC, Charles
Details
Screenshot under Crunchbang 11 running TDF/LO v4.1.0.4 (130.21 KB, image/png)
2013-07-29 11:58 UTC, Owen Genat
Details

Description Charles 2013-03-30 06:45:44 UTC
Created attachment 77226 [details]
Screen shot of maximised Writer window on 1280x1024 screen

Thank you for adding previews to the 'Apply Style' drop down menu.  It looks more sophisticated than the old menu.

Please consider adding a configuration option to show the list in plain text.

The reasons for this request are for ease and speed of use:

1. A plain text list fits more items in the same vertical space.  This is faster to use because it requires less pointer movement and fewer pointer device button actions from the user.  On average, a plain text list requires less vertical pointer movement.  On average a plain text list is less frequently too tall to fit the widow so less frequently requires user action to scroll a list.

The list can be too high to fit its window so it has to be scrolled (slower than a plain text list which can accomodate more items in the available vertical space).
 
2. A plain text list presents all the items in the same font size so is more easily legible than a list which represents items in a variety of font sizes.  For example, the Horizontal Line in the current list is not easy to read (screen shot of maximised Writer window on 1280x1024 screen in attachment).

3. Some users find a clean, simple UI easier to navigate and find "eye candy" distractingly normal.  For these users, a plain text list is easier to use.
Comment 1 Charles 2013-03-30 06:50:36 UTC
Sorry for the typos in the original submission.  It should have read:

Thank you for adding previews to the 'Apply Style' drop down menu.  It looks more sophisticated than the old menu.

Please consider adding a configuration option to show the list in plain text.

The reasons for this request are for ease and speed of use:

1. A plain text list fits more items in the same vertical space.  This is faster to use because it requires less pointer movement and fewer pointer button actions from the user.  On average, a plain text list requires less vertical pointer movement.  On average a plain text list is less frequently too tall to fit the widow so less frequently requires user action to scroll a list.
 
2. A plain text list presents all the items in the same font size so is more easily legible than a list which represents items in a variety of font sizes.  For example, the Horizontal Line in the current list is not easy to read (screen shot of maximised Writer window on 1280x1024 screen in attachment).

3. Some users find a clean, simple UI easier to navigate and find "eye candy" distracting.  For these users, a plain text list is easier to use.
Comment 2 Mirosław Zalewski 2013-07-19 15:43:42 UTC
And reason 4: consistency.
User can opt-out of font preview on fonts drop-down list, so there is no reason why user can't opt-out of style preview on styles drop-down list.

Since this is valid enhancement request, I am changing status to NEW.
Comment 3 Owen Genat 2013-07-29 11:58:58 UTC
Created attachment 83197 [details]
Screenshot under Crunchbang 11 running TDF/LO v4.1.0.4

I completely agree with and support this request. An option to revert to plain text entries would be much appreciated. I would also like to add that under v4.1.0.4 the situation is now even worse as the entries are no longer in alphabetical order (refer attached). This is especially bad UI/UX design. If a separate bug is required for what seems a highly-related aspect, please advise and I will open one. Adding myself to the CC list.


Use of freedesktop.org services, including Bugzilla, is subject to our Code of Conduct. How we collect and use information is described in our Privacy Policy.