In order to educate users and make global and document options available to users at the same time, we need to separate these options in the Options dialog. Example of how MS does it in their options dialog http://kb.act.com/rnt/rnw/img/enduser/14732_5.gif
@Jay, * Agree, differentiating between the current document and a global default should be provided. But not clear that it must be done in the Tools -> Options panels. I would counter it could be done from the File menu as a new Options or Document Settings dialog, or possibly via an expanded File -> Properties dialog. Believe it would be the same amount of work creating the new commands and reworking a cleaner UI to make it obvious what is applied "to current document" versus the "general settings applied as default". Removing current document settings from Tools -> Options achieves that explicitly. Then functionally, while a bit complex, we would probably want to provide optional linkage some (or all) values set for the current document as new default(s) in the general setting(s).
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #1) > I would counter it could be done from the File menu as a new Options or > Document Settings dialog, or possibly via an expanded File -> Properties > dialog. Since there is a clear link/similarity often between global and file options, my current take is not to put them in different places/dialogs. I'm quite sure there are issues (or comments in issues) mentioning this very problem. What about a [META]* ?
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #1) > I would counter it could be done from the File menu as a new Options or > Document Settings dialog, or possibly via an expanded File -> Properties > dialog. The benefit would be that a user goes to one place to find both related options, rather than two separate places, as Cor also mentioned. (In reply to Cor Nouws from comment #2) > I'm quite sure there are issues (or comments in issues) mentioning this very > problem. What about a [META]* ? Already created it before creating this ticket and you are CCed in it :D (bug 105748).
We talked about account wide vs. document/session related settings in the UX meeting. The idea to make it clear in the options dialog sounds reasonable but IMHO we need also a concept that goes beyond. So we discussed the idea to change properties only per document/session when configured per UI and make it permanent using the options dialog. The discussion was controversially and is not decided yet.
I believe this request is not actionable. Splitting options is way too much effort but also confusing as it duplicates information or rips apart things that belong together. Similar to the Insert/Edit <command> duality at the main menu. My take to the topic is that we should have a rule of thumb: options need to be replicated on some document dialog if modification is stored in the document.
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #5) I would just have it as a separate tab in Document Properties dialog, and have a "default document properties" button in Options, which would open the same tab (in a dedicated simple dialog) which would be specific to set defaults. I believe it's a good request, and don't see why it's closed.