Description: ## Problem: 1. Master Slide is very hidden in the UI and related features are spread across 3 different sections in the UI, namely "view > master slide" (opening and closing), "toolbar" (only closing!) and "sidepane (ALT+F8)" (for further management). 2. I was very confused how to switch back to normal view from Master slide view. I totally missed the "close" button in the toolbar. I had to search on the web to find a solution and I found people with similar problems here: https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/simpress/main0103.html?DbPAR=IMPRESS. That forum thread has 2900 views, so many more people probably must have had that problem. 3. Funny enough, while Master slide view is active, switching to the "normal", "outline" or "notes" tab, will switch between "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes" view. User expectation would be to switch back to "normal", "outline" and "notes" view. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Open 'View > Master Slide' 2. Try to close Master Slide and go back to normal view. Actual Results: 1. User error: Cannot find "Close Master Slide" Button. 2. Clicking on normal, outline and notes in the tabs does not switch back to normal, outline and notes, but will remain in "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes". Expected Results: ## Solution I propose to add "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes" to the tabs menu, which currently only features 'normal', 'outline' 'notes' and 'slidesorter'. That would act like a toggle and the "close" button in the toolbar would not be necessary anymore. ## Advantages - makes Master Slide more prominent in the UI. It is an important feature. - Circumvents the need for a "close" button that is hard to find ## Disadvantages - While Master Slide view is active, pressing the normal, outline and notes view behaves differently than in default view. This would require disentangling. - Adding "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes" would nearly double the amount of tabs from 4 to 7. Sometimes, less is more. Maybe the three Master views could be integrated into one tab, featuring various "sub-tabs". ## Additional solutions considered - Make "Close" button much more prominent in the UI. E.g. increasing size, adding moving close button to tabs, add to bottom of the screen, add close button to left "slide" pane. Reproducible: Always User Profile Reset: No Additional Info: ## Additional info Documentation for "view > master slide": https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/simpress/main0103.html?DbPAR=IMPRESS
Created attachment 198618 [details] Screenshot (In reply to Thilo.Ertel from comment #0) > 1. Master Slide is very hidden in the UI... I beg to differ, see the screenshot with classic and Muffin UI. > I propose to add "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes" to the > tabs menu... The master vs. normal view is orthogonal to normal, outline, notes etc. which all can have a master.
Created attachment 198623 [details] Default LibreOffice Impress 24.8.4.2 tabs menu
Created attachment 198624 [details] Default LibreOffice Impress 24.8.4.2 Fragmentation and hidden state
Heiko, thank you for the response. What you report is confirming what I am pointing out in my bug report. The main point here is to get rid of the defragmentation and achieve feature parity with the other types of views. See my screenshots.
And yes, the tricky part is to somehow deal with normal, outline, notes etc. which all can have a master. I am pointing to a problem and I would be happy, if we could come up with a great solution to the problem. I would be very unhappy, if you treated my problem as "no problem".
Conflating the master view modes with the authoring view modes would make for a terrible UX. Current TB button and clear separation in the View menu serve to delineate the difference in work flows between styling by adjusting the master slide modes versus directly formatting individual slides. Controls for the master slide styling need to be discrete from the views for normal authoring. Placement in UI might be improved sure, but mixing them all together would not help.
What you call fragmentation could be seen as alternative access. Users prefer toolbar, sidebar, or shortcuts and we offer it. You probably see all the View > *modes* as something different than master/edit by various modes ie. normal/notes/handout... Mention the "by" here. Before https://gerrit.libreoffice.org/c/core/+/16274 the master commands where placed in a submenu, however. Discussion on bug 91857 comment 7 ff.
(In reply to Thilo.Ertel from comment #0) > 1. Master Slide is very hidden in the UI and related features are spread > across 3 different sections in the UI, namely "view > master slide" (opening > and closing), "toolbar" (only closing!) and "sidepane (ALT+F8)" (for further > management). A (prominent) menu item, a toolbar button, and access through one of the side bar decks doesn't seen hidden to me. Also, I think you meant: "Toolbar (only opening!)"; and - from the sidebar, you can also edit a master (right-click the thumbnail, it's on the context menu). > 2. I was very confused how to switch back to normal view from Master slide > view. I totally missed the "close" button in the toolbar. Agree that, with some icon themes at least, it doesn't stand out. Attaching a screenshot of an Impress 2024.8.4.2 on Windows 10, while editing a master - It really doesn't stand out IMHO. It does show the pressed state, but so do other buttons, and this button is not unique with its graphic. > 3. Funny enough, while Master slide view is active, switching to the > "normal", "outline" or "notes" tab, will switch between "Master slide", > "Master outline" and "Master notes" view. User expectation would be to > switch back to "normal", "outline" and "notes" view. Could not follow this sentence :-( > Steps to Reproduce: ... > 1. User error: Cannot find "Close Master Slide" Button. > 2. Clicking on normal, outline and notes in the tabs does not switch back to > normal, outline and notes, but will remain in "Master slide", "Master > outline" and "Master notes". What tabs? Remember the tab bar is not visible by default. After enabling them, I actually would _not_ expect a switch back - I would expect to stay on the "Master" side of things, and this expectation is in fact confounded by the "Outline" tab - there is no "Master Outline". So, there's an inconsistency there. Also, (1.) and (2.) are distinct complaints. > I propose to add "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes" to the > tabs menu, which currently only features 'normal', 'outline' 'notes' and > 'slidesorter'. That would act like a toggle and the "close" button in the > toolbar would not be necessary anymore. Don't have a strong opinion about this. What about the tab bar being clearly marked, so it's obvious whether you're seeing the Master-slide-related options or the non-master options > - makes Master Slide more prominent in the UI. It is an important feature. It is important, but it is not used very often. > - Circumvents the need for a "close" button that is hard to find I don't see this as an advantage in itself, and you yourself mentioned the possibility of emphasizing the close button. > - Adding "Master slide", "Master outline" and "Master notes" would nearly > double the amount of tabs from 4 to 7. Sometimes, less is more. Maybe the > three Master views could be integrated into one tab, featuring various > "sub-tabs". This.
The topic was on the agenda of the design meeting. It's a niche request, and changing it would spoil the natural distinction between master and normal mode. And would add another branch to the alleged fragmentation. We recommend to not follow the suggestion.