Bug 87842 - Writer zoom at "page width" view without grey space
Summary: Writer zoom at "page width" view without grey space
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: ux-advise (show other bugs)
Version: 4.3.4.1 release
Hardware: Other All
: low enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
QA Contact:
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Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2014-12-29 21:37 UTC by orion
Modified: 2014-12-30 05:53 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
i915 platform:
i915 features:


Attachments
Writer margin (24.05 KB, image/png)
2014-12-30 04:40 UTC, orion
Details
Pages margin (15.60 KB, image/png)
2014-12-30 04:41 UTC, orion
Details
Pages margin II (24.75 KB, image/png)
2014-12-30 05:53 UTC, orion
Details

Description orion 2014-12-29 21:37:42 UTC
The "page width" view in zoom leaves a small grey space at the edge of the Writer window, but the whole point of that view is to only see the page, so why keep the grey? I suspect it's a legacy thing, something most of us don't even see any more, but it's there, taking up space. I say, remove it.
Comment 1 V Stuart Foote 2014-12-30 04:03:02 UTC
@orion, *,
(In reply to orion from comment #0)
> The "page width" view in zoom leaves a small grey space at the edge of the
> Writer window, but the whole point of that view is to only see the page, so
> why keep the grey? I suspect it's a legacy thing, something most of us don't
> even see any more, but it's there, taking up space. I say, remove it.

More precise steps to reproduce and perhaps a test document?
Also a screen shot with annotation would be helpful as well...

Q: is this on OS X builds only?  

Windows and Linux builds simply show reasonable margins between the document's "page" and window (or widget--e.g. ruler, scroll bars) edges. If it is simply that margin, it offset is providing useful visual composition queues for page layout. 

Q: does the "Optimal View" zoom level, rather than "Page Width" zoon level, provide acceptable full width representation and make "better" use of space?
Comment 2 orion 2014-12-30 04:40:53 UTC
Created attachment 111503 [details]
Writer margin
Comment 3 orion 2014-12-30 04:41:26 UTC
I haven't Linux, but it's definitely on PC and Windows. It's a standard feature. 

I'm attaching a screen shot of Writer to show you what I mean, but I think we're talking about the same thing: the 'reasonable margins' that you refer to. They don't provide useful information, at least to me, so I'd like a view setting that eliminates them. 

'Optimal View' cuts off some of the page itself (about half the margin space), which I do think is useful visual information because it tells you how close you are to the page's edge. 

For comparison, I'm also attaching a screen shot of Pages, which eliminates that margin. It's a huge improvement in terms of both reclaiming screen space and visual clutter. It doesn't have to be the only or even the default mode, but I'd love to have the option.
Comment 4 orion 2014-12-30 04:41:47 UTC
Created attachment 111504 [details]
Pages margin
Comment 5 V Stuart Foote 2014-12-30 05:16:14 UTC
@orion, *,

Thanks for the clips. Shows no implementation issues as the UI for OS X builds is consistent with those of Linux and Windows builds.

That said, with LibreOffice's page layout, the "gutter" created between document margin settings (that hold text, tables and graphics) and page edge is kept clearly identifiable. In the LibreOffice Writer UI that is consistently achieved at all zoom levels, including the "Page Width" zoom level, by providing a *scalable* percentage sized margin between page edge and visual elements of the writer frame.

Frankly Apple iWork Pages gets it wrong as they completely eliminate the page edge.

Setting scope to All builds.

Passing on for UX-advise:

Q: would it be worth development effort to provide option to set a 0% margin, eliminate delineation of page edge?

Q: to retain a clear delineation of page edge, would simple reduction of calculated margin be better UX?

Q: and if so, apply it only to "Page Width" zoom, or make it available globally across all zoom levels?
Comment 6 orion 2014-12-30 05:53:18 UTC
Pages does not fully eliminate the margin. They just make it invisible by default (see attachment). A similar option for Writer would be great for those of us who like minimalist UI. 

Also, increasing the zoom until it's the same size as the window is finicky because you have to line them up manually, and it doesn't increase/decrease incrementally (i.e., you can't just pull the window bigger and retain the effect). 

Finally, on a touch mouse or touch pad, it's very easy to accidentally slide the page to the left or right, thus ruining the whole effect.
Comment 7 orion 2014-12-30 05:53:33 UTC
Created attachment 111505 [details]
Pages margin II


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