Bug 47114

Summary:	ability to swap "open document" file dialog with file manager
Product:	LibreOffice	Reporter:	Maciej Pilichowski <bluedzins>
Component:	UI	Assignee:	Not Assigned <libreoffice-bugs>
Status:	RESOLVED WONTFIX
Severity:	enhancement	CC:	jmadero.dev, libreoffice-ux-advise, sasha.libreoffice
Priority:	lowest	Keywords:	needsUXEval
Version:	3.5.0 release
Hardware:	All
OS:	All
Whiteboard:
Crash report or crash signature:		Regression By:
Bug Depends on:
Bug Blocks:	102732

Description Maciej Pilichowski 2012-03-08 12:37:11 UTC

I am talking not about something permanent, but the ability. I have in mind something which is rather hidden, but user would be able to switch -- something like about:config in Firefox, or even raw xml file. Because this feature is for weekend-users, but to understand the rationale you have to have some experience with users and UI.

Now, let's focus on a file dialog -- here I am talking only about main file dialog, which let's you open the document, not file dialog for inserting file into currently edited document.

RATIONALE: I observe that because of consistency of the dialogs, for office users (90% time spent in LO), LO is the central point of work, and:
a) they would control entire computer from LO, at best
b) they don't see the differences between for example adding attachment to mail and opening the document in LO -- the file dialog is too similar

THE IDEA (for such users): admin-user would set the (wished for) option in LO for swapping the file dialog. Now, with such option on, user chooses to open the file.

* currently -- she/he has to recognize the filetype of the document, if it is LO, open it, if not, use another program, this is very frustrating for such users as described above (remember: LO is everything)

* with this option on -- transparently file manager kicks in, thanks to consistency there is very little change in UI, whatever user chooses to open, it is opened, if it is LO document, user will get back in LO, if not, in some other program, but the workflow is fluent

PLAN B: or, LO file dialog could serve as mini-file manager, i.e. whatever user clicks on (images, audio files) appropriate application is launched. If this would be LO, the behaviour would be as it is now.

Comment 1 sasha.libreoffice 2012-05-31 01:42:02 UTC

Thanks for new idea
> feature is for weekend-users
Strange. Never seen people, using office in weekend

Comment 2 Mas 2012-09-16 08:42:01 UTC

This function is built into the operating system already. The OS Determine which application to use for the file when is opened. If a user clicks on a Writer file then LO will launch and open the file. 
Please provide additional information if I am not understanding you correctly.

Comment 3 Maciej Pilichowski 2012-09-16 10:02:08 UTC

@Mas, you are thinking in reverse:

You -- open file manager, pick a file, double click on it, the appropriate module will be launched with selected file

Me -- launch empty module (no file), PICK A FILE

And this (upper case) stage is entire point. Currently for picking a file LO file selector is used. And this report is about possibility to use other file selector -- like file manager.

Comment 4 Joel Madero 2013-11-24 15:49:17 UTC

While I don't think I'd ever use this, seems like a valid request. 

Marking as 
NEW (confirmed)
Enhancement
Lowest (not going to save a ton of time, you could really just leave a file browser open and navigate directly) 

What's being asked for is essentially just the ability to open a file browser by going to File->Open in LibreOffice. In general I would actually put this as WONTFIX but enhancement requests we are quite liberal about accepting ideas :)

Comment 5 Buovjaga 2021-04-14 08:32:57 UTC

Design team: this needs re-evaluation

Comment 6 Heiko Tietze 2021-04-14 10:14:20 UTC

Joel recommended WF and I agree. The file browser filters for only those files that can be read by the application. Swapping dialogs would be rather confusing for the "weekend users".