Bug 167647 - [RFE] Find & Replace dialog: Add tabs and make it default
Summary: [RFE] Find & Replace dialog: Add tabs and make it default
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: UI (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
26.2.0.0 alpha0+ master
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords: needsUXEval
Depends on:
Blocks: Find&Replace-Dialog
  Show dependency treegraph
 
Reported: 2025-07-23 11:34 UTC by Sahil Gautam
Modified: 2025-07-31 15:26 UTC (History)
6 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
find tab (47.50 KB, image/png)
2025-07-26 20:17 UTC, Sahil Gautam
Details
replace tab (47.69 KB, image/png)
2025-07-26 20:17 UTC, Sahil Gautam
Details

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Description Sahil Gautam 2025-07-23 11:34:25 UTC
Description:
We have a feature-rich search and replace dialog that users avoid, are confused or simply don't understand that it's possible to use it for searches (that is not solely for replacements)

We need to change the "Find and Replace" dialog so it has 2 tabs. To :

- Reduce the number of buttons (Search button; Replace button -> to -> Find button)
- Increase the discoverability of advance find options while keeping it simple (2 tabs, less competing items) and avoid confusion (I just want to find something using this advance options why do I need to fill the replace textbox?) and by making it the default in non Writer apps
- Be more consistent with what people expect and are used to

Steps to Reproduce:
1. press <CTRL+H> in writer or click on the magnifying glass button on the toolbar which shows a tooltip "Find and Replace".


Actual Results:
the user got intimidated by all the options and the find-n-replace edit boxes and closed the application.

Expected Results:
the user should not be confused/intimidated by the ui.


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: Yes

Additional Info:
Version: 25.2.4.3 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 520(Build:3)
CPU threads: 32; OS: Linux 6.12; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3
Locale: en-US (en_US.UTF-8); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded
Comment 1 Roman Kuznetsov 2025-07-25 18:29:54 UTC
I still don't see any benefit

UX-team?
Comment 2 Adolfo Jayme Barrientos 2025-07-26 19:55:14 UTC
@Roman: “Still”? Sahil just posted his rationale!
Comment 3 Sahil Gautam 2025-07-26 20:17:19 UTC
Created attachment 202014 [details]
find tab

this is how the dialog looks now by  default
Comment 4 Sahil Gautam 2025-07-26 20:17:58 UTC
Created attachment 202015 [details]
replace tab

when you click on the replace button, the replace controls show up.
Comment 5 Roman Kuznetsov 2025-07-26 23:22:00 UTC
(In reply to Adolfo Jayme Barrientos from comment #2)
> @Roman: “Still”? Sahil just posted his rationale!

We had some discussion about it in the Telegram, therefore "still"
Comment 6 Sahil Gautam 2025-07-27 00:20:34 UTC
(In reply to Roman Kuznetsov from comment #5)
> (In reply to Adolfo Jayme Barrientos from comment #2)
> > @Roman: “Still”? Sahil just posted his rationale!
> 
> We had some discussion about it in the Telegram, therefore "still"

I see only one comment (other than Ring's) in the telegram discussion by (Jandit), don't know if that's you. The comment says

"""
- I agree that it makes sense to split search and replace (currently replace is implicitly triggered by putting text into replace)
- It does not make it look simpler (still a lot of features that need buttons and whatnot) but it will most likely reduce mistakes

I think because having search and replace in one window mixes two different features ("modes") in the same place. So while it might be "less UI elements" it can be more confusing as it is now
"""

i would like to know "how it would be more confusing" and the argument goes in circles, makes sense -> will reduce mistakes -> having in same window mixes the two -> less elements ==> more confusion. i presented my views in favor of the change, i can't make sense out of what's being said here.

if you are not this person then please quote yourself from the discussion, or if you are then please state some solid reason reason like "i still don't see any benifit because ....so....and.....so....".
Comment 7 Heiko Tietze 2025-07-31 07:48:15 UTC
(In reply to Sahil Gautam from comment #0)
> We have a feature-rich search and replace dialog that users avoid, are
> confused or simply don't understand that it's possible to use it for
> searches (that is not solely for replacements)
Two issues: Users don't understand the F&R dialog as something to search (I don't see it) and the dialog is overly complex (I agree, but the tabs won't fix this issue - and make the interaction more complex). Another reason for tabs is familiarity with MSO - and I disagree with this reason.

A solution for simple searches is the sidebar - I'd rather put more effort in this UI.

(In reply to Sahil Gautam from comment #3)
> this is how the dialog looks now by  default
Commented on Gerrit: The toggle buttons are not tabs, and the content is not properly placed.
Comment 8 Heiko Tietze 2025-07-31 07:49:38 UTC
Same topic: Bug 156493 - Split search for text and for style into two tabs in Find and Replace dialog
Comment 9 V Stuart Foote 2025-07-31 14:06:53 UTC
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #7)

> Commented on Gerrit: The toggle buttons are not tabs, and the content is not
> properly placed.

Already in place for COOL but -WIP on master against 26.2 in
https://gerrit.libreoffice.org/c/core/+/188305