Bug 59920

Summary: Alt hotkeys often conflict with Windowmanager bindings -- alternatives should be considered on Linux
Product: LibreOffice Reporter: off2dr <ot2>
Component: LibreOfficeAssignee: Not Assigned <libreoffice-bugs>
Status: RESOLVED INSUFFICIENTDATA    
Severity: enhancement CC: cno, libreoffice-ux-advise
Priority: medium Keywords: needsUXEval
Version: 3.6.2.2 release   
Hardware: Other   
OS: Linux (All)   
Whiteboard: BSA
Crash report or crash signature: Regression By:
Bug Depends on:    
Bug Blocks: 98259    

Description off2dr 2013-01-27 06:27:20 UTC 
Problem description: 

Steps to reproduce:
1. This is not a technical problem. This is a major usability issue. A lot of key shortcuts (hot keys combinations) are blocked from usage. Note: shortcuts here are concedered to be the same functionality as in Windows Alt + corresonding letter for a section/subsection of a menu from a menu bar, or a tool from a tool bar. For example, in Microsoft Office Word Alt+H+PG - voila, Paragrpahs editing. Takes a short hovering over the keyboard, much faster, than using a mouse. The same for alignments, font editing, windows/open files switching, etc. - almost all functionality. And that is why of the reasons why people like it, professionals and office workers especially.
 
2. Problem: the only way to access a menu bar in LibreOffice Writer in Ubuntu without using a mouse is Alt+f10. After that you need, for example, to reach a Window subsection of the menu, press right arrow key SEVEN times. This is simply, I beg my pardon for the word used, ridiculous. Shortcuts mean to be a tool accelerating productivity. Pressing Alt+F10, then SEVEN times arrow to access a windows switching menu - is not facilitiating at all. 

3. I would be very glad to discover if I was wrong in my comment. Otherwise, I would strongly suggest that implementing such functionality is just essential and crucial for a product to competitive. Shortcuts are no more a feature just for 'geeks', that is something commonplace, and widely used. For instance, I've got it on my trainings for SAP, for some other ERP systems, for Microsoft Outlook and these all just on my workplace induction carried out by IT dep on a regular basis....

Yours sincerely,
Alexey Solonenko
ot2@bk.ru, tab4@live.com              
Operating System: Ubuntu
Version: 3.6.2.2 release
Comment 1 Brenda Granados 2013-02-27 16:36:11 UTC 
Hi, thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback about LibreOffice. I can see how users could benefit from more keyboard shortcuts for easier access to certain features.  I will set this as NEW, and indicate this is an enhancement request.
Comment 2 Adolfo Jayme Barrientos 2015-06-22 07:29:14 UTC 
(Replacing unnecessary language from summary with something useful)
Comment 3 Björn Michaelsen 2016-03-29 23:26:00 UTC 
Ubuntu Unity captures many Alt+XXX combos:

 https://help.ubuntu.com/community/KeyboardShortcuts

This is not uncommon, many window managers do so.

Remapping keybindings per platform requires a systematic approach, thus blocking this on the metaissue tdf#98259 and setting component to ux-advise and NEEDINFO.
Comment 4 Cor Nouws 2016-03-30 08:26:34 UTC 
Hi off2dr,

(In reply to off2dr from comment #0)
> Problem description: 
> 
> Steps to reproduce:
> 1. This is not a technical problem. This is a major usability issue. A lot
> of key shortcuts (hot keys combinations) are blocked from usage.

It would be really helpful to improve the situation if you can be very specific. What combinations do you need that do not work?
(Assuming that you work with LibreOffice under Ubuntu Unity)

> Note:
> shortcuts here are concedered to be the same functionality as in Windows Alt
> + corresonding letter for a section/subsection of a menu from a menu bar, or
> a tool from a tool bar. For example, in Microsoft Office Word Alt+H+PG -

Alt+O+A does it for me.
(One glitch, the underline for A is not visible without touching the arrow key - Ubuntu 15.10 / LibreOffice 5.0.5.2 Build ID: 1:5.0.5~rc2-0ubuntu2 Locale: nl-NL (nl_NL.UTF-8) )


> 2. Problem: the only way to access a menu bar in LibreOffice Writer in
> Ubuntu without using a mouse is Alt+f10. After that you need, for example,

Pressing Alt and then the marked shortcuts, just opens the menu.. Is that not the case for you?

> 3. I would be very glad to discover if I was wrong in my comment. 

Please try again in the current version.
At the moment, I do not see the issue you mention. If there is anything I miss, please explain.
Thanks
Comment 5 Robinson Tryon (qubit) 2016-08-25 05:49:34 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 6 Heiko Tietze 2017-01-10 15:35:08 UTC 
(In reply to Cor Nouws from comment #4)
> Pressing Alt and then the marked shortcuts, just opens the menu.. Is that
> not the case for you?

No reply within half a year > ISUFFICIENTDATA. The issue relates to the OS/DE and is not a general problem. If Unity (or any other windows manager) blocks some shortcuts you should consider to configure this tool correctly. Alt+<character> has to be always reserved for the application, IMHO (> NOTOURBUG). And finally it just WORKSFORME to change the LibO shortcuts.