Our current template offering is somewhat lacking (see recent survey and discussion [1]); but - typically, when a user wants to create a new document, we can expect it to fall into one of the categories covered by templates. For this reason, I believe that - either now, or after our template selection ins enriched further - we should encourage users to prefer using a template in creating a document, rather than starting with a blank. Specifically, in the File > New... submenu - choosing a template should come before the menu entries for blank documents. [1] : https://design.blog.documentfoundation.org/2025/01/13/results-from-a-survey-about-writer-templates/
No objection, so just move to top position but place a separator below the Templates entry before the specific module items. No other changes needed. +1
Or maybe with a nomenclature change on move? Rather than just 'Templates...' as now, perhaps 'From Template...' or 'Using Template...', user knows action would be for a new document, the preceding adverb would clarify.
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #2) > Or maybe with a nomenclature change on move? Rather than just 'Templates...' > as now, perhaps 'From Template...' or 'Using Template...', user knows action > would be for a new document, the preceding adverb would clarify. "From Template..." sounds good
To change the label modify .uno:NewDoc in officecfg/registry/data/org/openoffice/Office/UI/GenericCommands.xcu For the position one needs to change menubar.xml at these paths (not sure all sw variants have the same structure, swriter is the most relevant): sc/uiconfig/scalc/menubar/ sd/uiconfig/sdraw/menubar/ sd/uiconfig/simpress/menubar/ sw/uiconfig/sweb/menubar/ sw/uiconfig/swform/menubar/ sw/uiconfig/swreport/menubar/ sw/uiconfig/swriter/menubar/ sw/uiconfig/swxform/menubar/
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #2) I also agree that 'From Template...' is a good idea.