Bug 61914 (Start-Center) - [META] Start Center bugs and enhancements
Summary: [META] Start Center bugs and enhancements
Status: NEW
Alias: Start-Center
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: UI (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
4.2.0.0.alpha1
Hardware: Other All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on: 41777 71087 73613 75563 77590 78859 80319 83317 85420 87825 89062 93357 93732 95351 99116 102158 Start-Center-Accessibility 108495 112665 115948 115949 117237 117804 118894 124555 126404 131899 131926 136736 140314 143495 144114 146269 148282 149281 150317 151803 155700 155701 156555 157375 158476 158541 158985 38742 61390 64088 70460 70637 70691 70692 71731 71957 72152 72338 72668 72670 72671 73197 73229 73605 74834 75369 75644 79198 79308 79771 79889 80476 80477 80934 81219 82043 82402 84898 85129 85181 85325 86753 87465 87542 87664 87697 88001 88282 89094 89095 89103 89990 90387 90557 90885 91776 91818 91911 91971 91990 92242 92499 92516 92866 93085 93120 93310 93665 95492 95739 96027 96383 99324 101191 101302 101305 101806 102005 102006 102030 102156 102238 102239 103909 108556 111953 112666 112667 113907 114665 117384 117883 119447 124280 125461 125756 126423 126791 127829 128579 128743 129130 130291 130313 130514 130742 131850 132441 134065 134085 134486 135325 135748 135917 136555 138022 138823 139453 139636 139787 143593 143673 144408 144973 146219 146232 147838 147998 149399 150468 151159 151161 151926 152223 152597 152599 155200 155698 155699 158084 158404 158810 159368
Blocks: UX
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Reported: 2013-03-06 18:12 UTC by Emir Sarı
Modified: 2024-01-25 02:08 UTC (History)
13 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Mock-up 1 (30.60 KB, image/png)
2013-03-06 20:32 UTC, Emir Sarı
Details
Mock-up 2 (30.73 KB, image/png)
2013-03-06 20:44 UTC, Emir Sarı
Details
Mateusz Zasuwik provided 20131015 (106.27 KB, image/jpeg)
2013-11-16 18:04 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
MinHsien provided 20131110 move left (113.16 KB, image/jpeg)
2013-11-16 18:06 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
Mirek2 provided mocup 20131023 (139.69 KB, image/png)
2013-11-16 18:07 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
Astron_post_Design_teamMtg_mockup1_20131110 (72.42 KB, image/png)
2013-11-16 18:29 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
Astron_post_Design_teamMtg_mockup2-empty_20131110 (48.03 KB, image/png)
2013-11-16 18:29 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
Kendy_implemented_StartCenter_LODev420alpha1+_20131114 (70.32 KB, image/png)
2013-11-16 18:30 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
LLyaudet during design mtg 20131110 - move to left (111.02 KB, image/jpeg)
2013-11-16 19:13 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details
StartCenter with recent doucments from LODev TB 42 build 2013-11-18 (63.03 KB, image/png)
2013-11-19 01:37 UTC, V Stuart Foote
Details

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Description Emir Sarı 2013-03-06 18:12:46 UTC
Considering that current start center lacks the functionality of showing recent document previews, and uses pretty much excess screen space (in most cases users mostly maximise the start center window), I thought it would be a cool idea to tweak the new template manager with the functionality of being able to show previews of recent documents, some basic marketing stuff like a small LO logo and implement it as the new start center. 

Speaking as a Mac user, both iWork and MS Office uses this approach - although Office application shortcuts directly open the main window, iWork tends to display a template/recent documents screen every time an iWork application opens. In these windows it is possible to select pre-defined templates and select recent documents from a drop-down menu. What LibreOffice could do is, adding recent document previews (though it would be better to add an option to disable previews) and placing LO components' shortcuts would be great. 

With this approach users will be able to directly select a template and start their work. And on the other hand I am not sure having a start center with lots of excess screen space usage and less functionality looks professional enough. IMHO splash screen is enough to "notify" the user that LibreOffice software is starting. 

The next step would be deactivating the loading progress bar at the bottom of the window, and replace it with something inside the template manager or displaying a smaller one, like the old "Firefox is installing the updates and will launch shortly" type of dialog. 

1. Pages Start Center: http://imgur.com/eOtXYPS,XZWONJS
2. Numbers Start Center: http://imgur.com/itI6uvS
3. Keynote Start Center: http://imgur.com/olRbw80
4. Powerpoint Start Center: http://imgur.com/sUSKHlF

The reason that neither iWork nor MS Office has one unified application startup system, above windows are all mostly concentrated on selecting templates. But Libreoffice would do a better job by unifying both application startups and templates in the same, small, elegant window.
Comment 1 V Stuart Foote 2013-03-06 19:14:47 UTC
Reasonable idea, but please be mindful of over all Accessibility when adding these graphical features to the UI. Bug 61390 is already open against the template manager.
Comment 2 Emir Sarı 2013-03-06 20:32:25 UTC
Created attachment 76042 [details]
Mock-up 1

A first basic mock-up of how it would look.
Comment 3 Emir Sarı 2013-03-06 20:44:43 UTC
Created attachment 76044 [details]
Mock-up 2
Comment 4 Jorendc 2013-03-11 16:29:44 UTC
Marking as NEW. Saw the discussion/ideas passing by on the mailing list.
Comment 5 Emir Sarı 2013-03-12 00:56:41 UTC
Thank you for confirming it Joren. I hope this would get some attention.
Comment 7 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 00:19:56 UTC
If not, guess we could turn this into a META bug to historically track any outstanding design issues on the StartCenter, including some of the GTK+ UI Widget introduced issues of keyboard navigation and accessibility. My last note included the relevant Design and UX-advise ML threads, and I've referenced most the currently active issues regards keyboard navigation in the Widget based UI (Template manager, Sidebar and now StartCenter).
Comment 8 Emir Sarı 2013-11-16 06:23:08 UTC
A Meta bug thread would make sense I think.
Comment 9 marc.parrish 2013-11-16 15:44:40 UTC
I like this idea.  I am quite new to this project so please forgive any missteps in regards to the ignorance I might display in regards to the actual structure of the program.  While looking at the template manager process I noticed that it seemed quite clunky -- perhaps because it opens as a dialog, rather than as a frame.  Debugging the template manager, I have noticed that it seems stitched v. integrated as a core process.  Should we pause here to consider what exactly constitutes a "template" ... On the one hand, long time users have certainly created templates upon which they rely; on the other hand, if templates are incorporated into the start center, there should be a guarantee of content both for established users as well as new users; not merely a link to 'download' templates but rather a distributed library or integration of libreoffice templates online.
Comment 10 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:04:16 UTC
Created attachment 89328 [details]
Mateusz Zasuwik provided 20131015
Comment 11 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:06:17 UTC
Created attachment 89329 [details]
MinHsien provided 20131110 move left
Comment 12 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:07:31 UTC
Created attachment 89330 [details]
Mirek2 provided mocup 20131023
Comment 13 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:29:05 UTC
Created attachment 89332 [details]
Astron_post_Design_teamMtg_mockup1_20131110
Comment 14 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:29:38 UTC
Created attachment 89333 [details]
Astron_post_Design_teamMtg_mockup2-empty_20131110
Comment 15 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:30:57 UTC
Created attachment 89334 [details]
Kendy_implemented_StartCenter_LODev420alpha1+_20131114
Comment 16 marc.parrish 2013-11-16 18:43:31 UTC
(In reply to comment #10)
> Created attachment 89328 [details]
> Mateusz Zasuwik provided 20131015


I like this.  The structure seems very intuitive as the primary focus of the window is hierarchical level tabbing through thumbnails of recent/existing documents by types.  Keeping the create new pane rightmost more closely follows a node/branch paradigm, whereas move left seems to imply drilling down into the node structure of the preview plane... keeping the create new pane on the right seems more intuitive to me
Comment 17 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 18:50:28 UTC
@Krisztian,

A shame you didn't get involved int the last few design meetings where the final cuts were made--but we know how much work you put in over the summer!  Thank you!

Would you care to post up snips of the layouts you worked through for your GSOC project? Or should I pick a couple starting with Mirek's original mockups?

Stuart
Comment 18 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 19:07:03 UTC
@Marc
(In reply to comment #16)
> (In reply to comment #10)
> > Created attachment 89328 [details]
> > Mateusz Zasuwik provided 20131015
> 
> 
> I like this.  The structure seems very intuitive as the primary focus of the
> window is hierarchical level tabbing through thumbnails of recent/existing
> documents by types.  Keeping the create new pane rightmost more closely
> follows a node/branch paradigm, whereas move left seems to imply drilling
> down into the node structure of the preview plane... keeping the create new
> pane on the right seems more intuitive to me

There was some discussion in the design meeting 2013-11-10 regards a right or left sidebar alignment and they decided to move back to left (kind of weakly reasoned), but that ship has sailed and believe the final GTK+ UI widget layout was simply easier to mockup and implement left aligned as an expedient.  

At release, motivated users can manipulate the startcenter.ui code in Glade if they want to shuffle their layout. 

And if additional design and functional review merit the rework as needed--it can be adjusted before final 4.2.0 release.
Comment 19 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-16 19:13:07 UTC
Created attachment 89335 [details]
LLyaudet during design mtg 20131110 - move to left
Comment 20 marc.parrish 2013-11-16 20:04:36 UTC
Thank you for the insight.  Perhaps that ship has sailed for lost ports.  We are here discussing a revamping of the start center; I believe to great benefit, for here we might consider what exactly is a document and whether the application is in the service of the document or the document is in the service of the application.  It is my belief that the manner in which existing documents are presented at start-up should be paramount.  The matter should supersede expedition and be implemented in such a way as to satisfy the requirements of the both the casual and motivated user ...
  

(In reply to comment #18)
> @Marc
> (In reply to comment #16)
> > (In reply to comment #10)
> > > Created attachment 89328 [details]
> > > Mateusz Zasuwik provided 20131015
> > 
> > 
> > I like this.  The structure seems very intuitive as the primary focus of the
> > window is hierarchical level tabbing through thumbnails of recent/existing
> > documents by types.  Keeping the create new pane rightmost more closely
> > follows a node/branch paradigm, whereas move left seems to imply drilling
> > down into the node structure of the preview plane... keeping the create new
> > pane on the right seems more intuitive to me
> 
> There was some discussion in the design meeting 2013-11-10 regards a right
> or left sidebar alignment and they decided to move back to left (kind of
> weakly reasoned), but that ship has sailed and believe the final GTK+ UI
> widget layout was simply easier to mockup and implement left aligned as an
> expedient.  
> 
> At release, motivated users can manipulate the startcenter.ui code in Glade
> if they want to shuffle their layout. 
> 
> And if additional design and functional review merit the rework as
> needed--it can be adjusted before final 4.2.0 release.
Comment 21 Cédric Bosdonnat 2013-11-18 08:27:00 UTC
Removing me from CC: won't have time to work on such a huge change now.
Comment 22 V Stuart Foote 2013-11-19 01:37:57 UTC
Created attachment 89436 [details]
StartCenter with recent doucments from LODev TB 42 build 2013-11-18

As can be seen the new StartCenter as implemented does not give very good clues in the Thumbnail / Icon recent documents view as to document type.  The font size needs to be adjusted down, and the file type annotated in some fashion.
Comment 23 V Stuart Foote 2014-06-27 00:20:56 UTC
adding bug 80477 for accelerator conflicts between Help button on StartCenter UI and the main Menu Bar Help.
Comment 24 tommy27 2014-07-24 18:45:36 UTC
I moved bug numbers from "See Also" to "Depends on" to match to format of meta issues like MAB
Comment 25 Adolfo Jayme Barrientos 2014-07-24 22:57:09 UTC
I’m closing this as the new Start Center has been in place for a year already. The remaining three dependent bugs are non-blocking nitpicks.
Comment 26 V Stuart Foote 2014-07-26 14:16:14 UTC
Going to reopen an comment that this is a meta for tracking issues related to the enhancement of the still developing Start Center feature. It could be retitled if that makes folks more comfortable, but it remains valid to associate the UI and UX issues of the Start Center in one active BZ issue.
Comment 27 tommy27 2014-08-02 15:53:58 UTC
adding Bug 82043 - Start Center green sidebar text is too small
Comment 28 Yousuf Philips (jay) (retired) 2014-10-08 06:34:45 UTC
Adding my list of start center created bugs to the meta bug.

Bug 79889 - Underscore in filename is treated as if it were a period
Bug 80934 - A means to filter the document list by application
Bug 82402 - Missing PPTX thumbnails
Bug 83347 - Thumbnails saved in web layout are too long and undecipherable
Comment 29 tommy27 2014-10-11 09:22:15 UTC
added Bug 84898 - show LibO version in the Start Center
Comment 30 Cor Nouws 2015-02-11 00:34:20 UTC
for convenience of people trying to follow issues primarily via mail ;) it would be convenient when adding an issue, to paste at the same moment the line
 Bug [###]  <summary>
as a comment.

Would that be possible/doable, not causing to much clutter?

thanks a lot,
Cor
Comment 31 V Stuart Foote 2015-02-11 01:00:20 UTC
@Cor, *,

Sorry, I'd added this last week to the meta...

Bug 80319 - Truncated text in Start Center and fix minimum size by localization

and Jay added these through today...

Bug 89062 - Start center and menu bar still accessible when document loading bar running
Bug 89094 - Start centre: clearer separation between templates chooser screen and options arrow
Bug 89095 - Start centre: bigger thumbnails for templates
Bug 89103 - START CENTER: Right-click context menu needed in Templates section
Comment 32 Cor Nouws 2015-02-11 01:18:42 UTC
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #31)
> @Cor, *,
> 
> Sorry, I'd added this last week to the meta...


thanks Stuart!
Comment 33 V Stuart Foote 2015-02-17 14:26:39 UTC
adding bug 72152 -- StartCenter does not respect page orientation of Calc spreadsheets in recent files list

Julien N. has a patch in, might be useful way to address similar issue with Math formulas.
Comment 34 V Stuart Foote 2015-06-09 17:02:44 UTC
added 91971 --  StartCenter minimum size now too small with addition of Recent Files button, the Base Database launch button is truncated at minimum size.
Comment 35 V Stuart Foote 2015-06-09 17:04:57 UTC
s/added 91971/added bug 91971/
Comment 36 tommy27 2015-07-20 04:59:40 UTC
added Bug 81219 - START CENTER: thumbnail for files saved in "web layout" shows whole document not just first page
Comment 37 tommy27 2015-07-27 06:07:48 UTC
added 2 new bugs

Bug 92516 - "x" accelerator and mouse click not exiting StartCenter in "File -> Exit LibreOfficeDev" menu

Bug 92866 - Keyboard command shortcuts don't work in start center
Comment 38 tommy27 2015-11-01 18:57:26 UTC
added:
Bug 90557 - Start Center: Clear List item should more accessible
Comment 39 tommy27 2015-11-11 05:33:43 UTC
added Bug 95739 - Start Center: allow different view modes for recent files list