Bug 61174 (Recent-Document-List) - [META] Recent Documents List
Summary: [META] Recent Documents List
Status: NEW
Alias: Recent-Document-List
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: LibreOffice (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
Inherited From OOo
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
: 80833 (view as bug list)
Depends on: 56800 65017 80099 94169 97390 99716 100532 118894 131437 144756 146769 155700 155701 158985 159257 159277 160839 162312 38459 38742 39169 51618 51812 56132 56696 60743 76274 80934 85325 89345 90318 101302 101806 121780 125076 143593 154182 154985 155698 155699 159120 160230 161725
Blocks: UX
  Show dependency treegraph
 
Reported: 2013-02-20 16:18 UTC by Johnny_M
Modified: 2024-10-05 17:29 UTC (History)
22 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Example to description item 3.c: Implementation in PDF-XChange Viewer (9.91 KB, image/png)
2013-10-15 22:52 UTC, Johnny_M
Details
List clearing example to description item 3: Implementation in PDF-XChange Viewer (5.81 KB, image/png)
2013-10-15 22:55 UTC, Johnny_M
Details

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Description Johnny_M 2013-02-20 16:18:35 UTC
1. MUST HAVE (minimum requirement):
For privacy reasons, e.g. on shared PCs/accounts, etc, it would be good to have the following option:
- A checkbox "Clear Recently Used Documents on Exit" to prevent remembering of the recently used documents (to prevent them to appear in File > Recently Used Documents) beyond the current LibreOffice session.

2. ADDITIONAL (nice to also have):
- A button "Clear the List" (in the same window as in the point 1 above, or better: at the end of the "Recently Used Documents" list, for a faster and a more easy to find access), for an immediate clearing of the list.

3. IDEAL (the dream implementation):
Implement a more enhanced management of the recently used documents list, similarly to what is done by, e.g., the "PDF-XChange Viewer" and others:
a) Each item in File > Recently Used Documents list could have on its right:
- A pin (possible tooltip: “Pin this document to the Recently Used Documents list (deny removal when total number of items in the list exceeds the limit”)).
- An “x” to remove the item from the list

b) File > Recently Used Documents could show "Manage the List" link at the end of the list (instead or additionally to the "Clear the List in point 2 above), which takes the user to the configuration of the point 1 above.

c) The list configuration could offer following configuration possibilities (defaults correspond to current behavior):
- A checkbox "Restore last session when application starts" (to re-open documents which were opened on closure of LibreOffice (default: unchecked)
- A text field "Maximum items in the list" (i.e. the length of the list; default: 10)
- A checkbox "Show items of current application only" (would show only files which can be opened by the Writer, if File > Recently Used Documents is opened in Writer; and respective in all other applications; default: unchecked). See also bug 56696.
- A checkbox “Move all pinned items to the top of the list” (default: unchecked)
- A checkbox “Ask before removing the items from the list” (default: checked)
- The checkbox "Clear Recently Used Documents on Exit" of the point 1 above (default: unchecked)
- A checkbox “Remove broken or non-existent items on start-up. Note: this may increase start-up time.” (Default: unchecked)
- A button to clear the list
Comment 1 V Stuart Foote 2013-03-08 15:35:52 UTC
All reasonable enhancements, setting NEW and adding bug 62028 (for possible direct port of AOO work adding a "Clear list") to the see also.
Comment 2 V Stuart Foote 2013-03-08 15:37:14 UTC
enhancement should be against entire suite -- all builds, adjusting platform
Comment 3 bfoman (inactive) 2013-03-26 18:35:23 UTC
(In reply to comment #0)
> 2. ADDITIONAL (nice to also have):
> - A button "Clear the List" (in the same window as in the point 1 above, or
> better: at the end of the "Recently Used Documents" list, for a faster and a
> more easy to find access), for an immediate clearing of the list.

Seems commit http://cgit.freedesktop.org/libreoffice/core/commit/?id=0e6a5bf1d9f4106af44996548ab0924ce7e5648c will introduce this.
Comment 4 V Stuart Foote 2013-04-28 18:42:35 UTC
Adding bug 35785 (faulty jump list behavior) to the see also list-- because for the Windows builds work on isolating the various LibreOffice component modules of the soffice.exe will be necessary for more granular control of the Recent Documents Lists and of > Windows 7 "Jump lists" features.

On Windows builds, looks like work for this enhancement will require rework of Windows default SHAddToRecentDocs calls, or the introduction of customized ICustomDestinationList Windows handling of the LibreOffice AppIDs.

Also as this enhancement evolves, conflicts are possible between the Windows OS tracking of recent documents and the LibreOffice registry handling of recent documents. The two mechanisms will need to be adjudicated.
Comment 5 Don't use this account, use tml@iki.fi 2013-04-29 15:04:48 UTC
If you care for privacy, why would you use a shared account? Hard to take this seriously.
Comment 6 V Stuart Foote 2013-04-29 15:14:11 UTC
I kind of scratch my head over that, but I personally have seen classroom, teaching lab and kiosk situations where a shared user account is the norm. Across all OSs--Windows, OSX and *nix.

Would certainly be of use there.
Comment 7 Don't use this account, use tml@iki.fi 2013-04-29 15:17:42 UTC
And? One should not expect privacy in such situations then.
Comment 8 V Stuart Foote 2013-04-29 15:23:55 UTC
Actually yes. So a user must depend on an application to provide a mechanism to clear cached details.  It is common practice for browsers, seems reasonable to implement some measures for use of an office suite.
Comment 9 Don't use this account, use tml@iki.fi 2013-04-29 15:43:44 UTC
Seems totally unreasonable to me.
Comment 10 V Stuart Foote 2013-04-29 16:12:08 UTC
@Tor,

OK concede, so no "Clear Recently Used Documents on Exit" function. Fine, although I think it is short sighted.

Item 2. has already been accomplished, against enhancement bug 62028, commit http://cgit.freedesktop.org/libreoffice/core/commit/?id=0e6a5bf1d9f4106af44996548ab0924ce7e5648c

So the meat of the nut are the elements of Item 3. Could we please focus on those and related from the see also list.  Feel free to close out this issue and restate in a new bug if it would make more sense to a UX enhancement.

Stuart
Comment 11 Johnny_M 2013-04-29 17:20:44 UTC
(In reply to comment #9)
> Seems totally unreasonable to me.

Why? Because of traces left in the recent documents list of Windows? Well that one can be disabled using dedicated registry parameters ("NoRecentDocsNetHood", "ClearRecentDocsOnExit", "NoRecentDocsHistory", "NoRecentDocsMenu"). That would take care of the whole list, including PDF, TXT, JPG, etc. (That's also why I don't see a need for trying to manipulate the Windows list from LibreOffice, to keep the Windows list in-synch with the one of LibreOffice. If someone is interested in the LibreOffice entries the Windows list, they will most likely be interested in its entirety, including the non-LibreOffice files, and can disable the list using the above parameters. To keep things simple, the LibreOffice list could be handled independently of what Windows does with its list, as I suppose it is already done now.)

But while other office programs (e.g. PDF viewers) allow cleaning of their own recently opened file list on program closure (or alternatively disabling of the built-in list entirely), that is currently not possible in LibreOffice. So that its files will still be visible in its own list, even if the Windows list is disabled.

As an alternative to the above "Clear Recently Used Documents on Exit" option, an option to completely disable the Recently Used Documents list of LibreOffice could be provided. I proposed the "Clear Recently Used Documents on Exit" instead (as e.g. the proprietary but free “PDF-XChange Viewer” does it) just to have the list of at least the current session available to the user. But the complete disabling of the LibreOffice list would serve privacy just as well (as most other programs do).
Comment 12 bfoman (inactive) 2013-04-29 17:31:24 UTC
(In reply to comment #5)
> If you care for privacy, why would you use a shared account? Hard to take
> this seriously.
(In reply to comment #6)
> I kind of scratch my head over that, but I personally have seen classroom,
> teaching lab and kiosk situations where a shared user account is the norm.
> Across all OSs--Windows, OSX and *nix.
(In reply to comment #7)
> And? One should not expect privacy in such situations then.
(In reply to comment #10)
> @Tor,
> OK concede, so no "Clear Recently Used Documents on Exit" function. Fine,
> although I think it is short sighted.

Do not concede because just one developer is "And?-ing" you endlessly just because he do not want implement a feature. Another one could be interested and that is what Open Source is about. 
I see use cases for that everywhere, especially for users who are accustomed to private browser sessions or deletion of session's history upon exit available in every recent browser and wanting to use LibreOffice the same way. Have "fresh" LO file menus every time when started.
Comment 13 Jesus Corrius 2013-04-29 20:44:25 UTC
I am not against this feature provided that the default behavior doesn't change. Advanced users should be able to set more strict privacy options inside LibreOffice if they want.
Comment 14 Jesus Corrius 2013-07-25 15:58:08 UTC
Is the implementation in LibreOffice 4.1.0 enough to close this bug?
Comment 15 Gerry 2013-07-25 16:22:01 UTC
@Jesus: In my opinion, the feature request to set recent documents as permanent is an important one. It is not in LibreOffice 4.1
Comment 16 Jesus Corrius 2013-07-25 16:26:58 UTC
(In reply to comment #15)
> @Jesus: In my opinion, the feature request to set recent documents as
> permanent is an important one. It is not in LibreOffice 4.1

Sorry, I meant 4.1.1.

From 4.1.1 onwards the recent documents will be permanent. Unfortunately the fix was too late for 4.1.0.
Comment 17 V Stuart Foote 2013-07-25 16:52:48 UTC
@Jesús,
(In reply to comment #14)
> Is the implementation in LibreOffice 4.1.0 [sic 4.1.1] enough to close this bug?

bug 62028 implemented Item 2. And your work on bug 35785 will really only integrate things better for Windows 7 onward, correct?

So, that still leaves suggested enhancement for Item 1, and the laundry list from Item 3 to accomplish for manipulation of "recent documents" as handled in the LibreOffice registry for ALL the OSs.

Also, I believe this is getting some attention in this years Google Summer of Code. Seem to recall that the Start panel is getting converted to .UI, and that management of recent documents (and their thumb nail views) will need to be looked at. That "easy hack" work is tracked as bug 64088, but has this Wiki entry.

https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Development/Gsoc/Ideas#Use_Widget_Layout_for_the_Start_Center 

So I've added Krisztian and Kendy (his mentor) to this thread.
Comment 18 Johnny_M 2013-10-15 22:52:48 UTC
Created attachment 87704 [details]
Example to description item 3.c: Implementation in PDF-XChange Viewer
Comment 19 Johnny_M 2013-10-15 22:55:50 UTC
Created attachment 87705 [details]
List clearing example to description item 3: Implementation in PDF-XChange Viewer
Comment 20 rezso 2013-11-02 23:06:25 UTC
If any document on the Recent list not exists, LO shows a message about this, instead of removing the not existant file from the list.
Comment 21 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-11 20:29:51 UTC
*** Bug 71349 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 22 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-11 20:58:58 UTC
@Astron, and other UX-Advisors

The OP's "IDEAL" implementation was a good starting point, but additional discussion/UX-guidance on the function and configuration of the Recent Documents menu entry is needed.

StartCenter--pulling from the Recent Documents list (EasyHack bug 64088) has been integrated on master. Currently StartCenter shows considerably more than 10 prior documents (I think it was set to 25).

Going forward, as the function of StartCenter is refined--an ability we seem to need is to control its configuration via the Recent Documents menu (and perhaps also as Expert Config settings).
Comment 23 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-11 22:50:38 UTC
Resetting to NEW from Assigned to Jesús C.
Comment 24 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-12 15:59:10 UTC
*** Bug 71349 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 25 Ken 2014-02-24 20:08:53 UTC
How about the idea of packing LibreOffice with the History Master extension already installed?

extensions.services.openoffice.org/en/project/HistoryMaster

It doesn't necessarily resolve this enhancement, but it could be a worthwhile quick first step.  LibreOffice's current procedure for discovering how to stop remembering Recent Documents is significantly less user-friendly than for most other apps (at least on a Mac):  go through all the Preferences, search through all the Help, google the Web, read through a bunch of not-necessarily-helpful stuff, and finally, learn that there is something called an "extension" and that you have to install one.
Comment 26 Adolfo Jayme Barrientos 2014-07-07 19:43:38 UTC
*** Bug 80833 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 27 V Stuart Foote 2015-02-13 01:24:44 UTC
Adding bug 89345 -- suggestion for sortable MRU with visual indicator of component.
Comment 28 V Stuart Foote 2016-05-15 12:10:53 UTC
Adding bug 99187 Documents listed in the "Load URL" toolbar drop list should update immediately, e.g. after clearing recent documents or opening another document

Functions of the main menu File -> Recent Documents list should probably also apply to the document listing of the Standard toolbar's "Load URL" drop list.

Perhaps not the GUI controls to add/remove or sort, but any refresh and control applied to the menu list should also refresh the listing in the "Load URL" drop list.
Comment 29 Robinson Tryon (qubit) 2016-08-25 05:49:36 UTC
We're replacing our use of the 'ux-advise' component with a keyword:
 Component -> LibreOffice
 Add Keyword: needsUXEval

[NinjaEdit]
Comment 30 Johnny_M 2016-09-14 21:28:45 UTC
Just some related info:
- Although there is no UI option for it, it's possible to prevent the population of the "Recent Documents" list entirely (instead of its clearing *on LO exit* as in point 1 of the this bug report). To do that, change "PickListSize" to 0 in the Expert Configuration. See bug 74834 comment 11 for details. Note: That will also disable the recent documents *thumbnails* in the Start Center. (This option was available apparently as of LO 4.2.x; verified now with LO 5.1.5.)

- As of LO 5.2.0, it is possible to disable the the recent documents *thumbnails* separately, using "RecentDocsThumbnail" in the Expert Configuration. See bug 74834 comment 36 for details.
Comment 31 Heiko Tietze 2017-11-28 14:46:02 UTC Comment hidden (no-value)
Comment 32 Dan Dascalescu 2019-03-20 02:25:56 UTC
Pinning documents would be super useful as a fast way to open frequently accessed documents. The accelerator should be a number key that will not change, so that the user can memory Alt+F, U, 1..9.

Excel supports this.
Comment 33 sdc.blanco 2020-09-22 11:36:17 UTC
(In reply to Johnny_M from comment #0)
> 3. IDEAL (the dream implementation):
> a) Each item in File > Recently Used Documents list could have on its right:
> - An “x” to remove the item from the list
Not in "Recent Documents" list, but in Start Center, this is possible, since at least 6.3.6.2, which also removes the file from the Recent Documents list.