https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=172167
Bug ID: 172167
Summary: Break up the Format menu: It has a many non-formatting
items
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 7.1 all versions
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Keywords: needsUXEval
Severity: normal
Priority: medium
Component: UI
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Blocks: 85811
tl;dr: A large fraction of the items on the formatting menu are not about
formatting. Most of them are about (drawing) objects. We can and should break
off a separate menu for these items.
-------------
longer version:
Character sequences, paragraphs, drawing objects, etc. - these can all be
formatted; and it makes sense for the formatting menu have items and submenus
for formatting them directly or via styles.
However - not every property of a formattable entity is formatting. For
example: The position and size of a drawing object is not its "format", it is
the actual content; and such properties would not be part of an object's style
when saved.
Also, not every action on a formattable entity involves its format. Example:
Moving a list item up or down among the list items.
Now, let us consider the contents of the Format menu in Writer:
Text >
Spacing >
Align Text >
-----------
Clone Formatting
Clear DF
Spotlight
-----------
Character...
Paragraph...
Lists >
Bullets & Numbering...
Theme...
-----------
Page Style...
Title Page...
Comments...
Asian Phonetic Guide...
Columns...
Watermark...
Sections...
-----------
Image >
Text Box & Shape >
Frame & Object >
Name...
Alt Text...
-----------
Anchor >
Wrap >
Arrange >
Rotate or Flip >
Group Shapes >
Interestingly, many of the items here are clearly not about formatting; and
some are ambiguous, or are submenus which may have formatting and
non-formatting items. Some _regard_ formatting somehow, but do not alter, apply
or remove any formatting (e.g. Spotlight).
Let me list the non-formatting items, with ones I find ambiguous marked with
parenthesis. Discarding the separators, and going into submenus as well:
(Spotlight)
Lists >
Move Item Up
Move Item Down
(Title Page...)
Asian Phonetic Guide...
(Columns...)
(Watermark...)
Sections...
Image - most of the submenu
Text Box & Shape >
Position and Size
Frame & Object - the entire submenu
Name...
Alt Text...
Anchor - entire submenu
(Wrap - entire submenu)
Arrange - entire submenu
Rotate or Flip - entire submenu
Group Shapes - entire submenu
There is a clear pattern here. The large majority of non-formatting items on
the Format menu regard drawing objects (incl. images and textboxes). Let's put
them together:
Image >
Text Box & Shape > (yes, including some formatting items)
Frame & Object >
Name...
Alt Text...
Anchor >
Wrap >
Arrange >
Rotate or Flip >
Group Shapes >
These are enough for a separate menu. A "Shape" or "Object" menu. Such a menu
can also be formed in Impress; and in Draw, such a menu exists (although its
contents is a little different than it would be in Writer.)
I realize that this suggested change is quite significant for people who have
been used to the same menu layout already for many versions of LibreOffice.
However - menus have meaning and purpose; and we let ourselves transgress the
meaning and purpose of "Format" again, and again, and again, until the menu
_doesn't even fit on the screen_ quite often. This is not because there's just
too much formatting to offer; it's because we are using it too much like a
kitchen sink.
And - what about the other, non-object/shape-related items? For now, I suggest:
* The parenthesized items be left where they are, for now, since one can make
an argument for their being on the menu, albeit not a super convincing one.
* Mixed-legitimacy submenu items also get a reprieve for now (although maybe
they shouldn't?)
* Two items remain: "Asian Phonetic Guide..." is the subject of bug 172165; and
"Sections..." should move to either Edit or Insert IMNSHO.
Referenced Bugs:
https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=85811
[Bug 85811] [META] Main menu bar bugs and enhancements
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