Bug 163795 - Redesign "Position" section of "Position and Size" tab of "Position and Size" dialog
Summary: Redesign "Position" section of "Position and Size" tab of "Position and Size"...
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Writer (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
7.4.0.3 release
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: Image-Dialog Frame-Dialog Shapes
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Reported: 2024-11-07 07:59 UTC by Eyal Rozenberg
Modified: 2025-11-25 15:51 UTC (History)
5 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Dialog as of LO 26.2, next to a shape (63.39 KB, image/png)
2025-11-01 17:23 UTC, Eyal Rozenberg
Details

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Description Eyal Rozenberg 2024-11-07 07:59:47 UTC
The "Position" section of "Position and Size" tab of "Position and Size" dialog is recognized as being problematic:

* Some of the values in the drop-down listboxes clash, or their relation is unclear, e.g. "Left" and "From Left".

* The behavior of some items in the drop-down listboxes may be confusing, e.g. 

* The phrases formed by the selected values and the connective labels often don't make sense, e.g. "Position: Horizontal: Left by 0.00 inch to Left page border"

Two suggests for limited suggestions have already been rejected as not resulting in a significant and clear improvement: bug 148593, bug 149407 ; and I do want to acknowledge sdc.blanco@youmail.dk for his effort even if those weren't accepted.

It seems we need a deeper / more comprehensive change of both the set of widgets, the set of values in each selection box, the labels and the positioning.
Comment 2 Eyal Rozenberg 2025-11-01 17:17:56 UTC
(In reply to Dieter from comment #1)
> but what about the help page ... What information is perhaps missing here? 

The help page(s) would be a subject for another bug.

App UI design must not regard anything in the app documentation/help pages - only the other way around. This is both because applications need to be self-explanatory, and because users cannot be assumed to have read the documentation - and in practice, most of them don't read it.

However, if you suggest that we take inspiration from the help pages in redesigning the UI - that's a different matter; but in that case please be more specific.
Comment 3 Eyal Rozenberg 2025-11-01 17:23:47 UTC
Created attachment 203669 [details]
Dialog as of LO 26.2, next to a shape

Screenshot of the Position&Size dialog with the Position&Size tab focused, next to a selected drawing shape in LO Writer 26.2, nightly from 2025-10-24.
Comment 4 Heiko Tietze 2025-11-03 10:14:53 UTC
(In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #0)
> The "Position" section of "Position and Size" tab of "Position and Size"
> dialog is recognized as being problematic...
And you filed a couple of tickets about this. The list comprises of several different topics and I see no clear path to solve it with (another) ticket. Mind to focus on something that has not been addressed on other bugs?