https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=172258
Bug ID: 172258
Summary: Add Tabbed UI Compact Mode option ("Ribbon
Minimisation") to the Standard Tabbed UI
Product: LibreOffice
Version: unspecified
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: normal
Priority: medium
Component: UI
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
The current Tabbed UI in LibreOffice consumes a significant amount of vertical
screen space, which can reduce the effective workspace—particularly on smaller
screens or when multitasking.
I propose to introduce a toggle or shortcut in LibreOffice’s Tabbed UI that
allows users to minimise the current Tabbed interface into the Tabbed compact
mode, this would be similar (not identical) to the Microsoft Office Ribbon
minimisation feature where only the tab names are displayed. In Libreoffice we
can do better by still reducing the visible height of the panel but allowing a
nice intermediary compromise.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open the Tabbed UI in LibreOffice
2. You need to multi task and want to save some vertical height
3. Realise that you need to enable many mouse clicks to reduce the usable
space.
Actual Results:
Decide that you wish to use a smaller amount of vertical space but still the
Tabbed UI
Expected Results:
When using the standard Tabbed UI that an shortcut that switches to the Tabbed
UI compact (and back) is available.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: No
Additional Info:
With category labels being added to the Tabbed UI in LibreOffice the vertical
height of the panel will increase by a small amount.
Users of the Tabbed UI who prefer a smaller vertical height workspace must
navigate through menus or switch UI modes entirely, which can be unintuitive
and time-consuming.
**Key issues:**
- Limited screen space for document editing
- No quick, intuitive way to collapse the Tabbed UI
- Additional navigation required to change interface configurations
---
## Proposed Solution
Introduce a **Tabbed UI Compact" toggle** that:
- Switches the Tabbed UI interface into the Tabbed Compact UI.
- Includes a persistent toggle button (e.g. arrow icon) or keyboard shortcut
**Optional enhancements:**
- Double-click on tab to toggle compact mode
- Shortcut (e.g. Ctrl+F1 equivalent)
---
## Comparison with Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office provides a well-established pattern where the Ribbon can be
minimised:
- The Ribbon collapses to show only tab names (Home, Insert, etc.)
- Clicking a tab temporarily expands it
- Users can pin/unpin the Ribbon easily
**Benefits demonstrated in Microsoft Office:**
- Efficient use of vertical space
- Faster switching between compact and expanded views
- Reduced cognitive load due to simple toggle behaviour
LibreOffice could adopt a similar interaction model while maintaining its own
UI identity. This would also have the benefit that the current Tabbed UI
compact assemblage could be completely removed as a distinct UI option as it
would become a selectable, but integral, part of the Tabbed UI itself.
---
## Use Cases
1. Users working on laptops or smaller displays needing more document space
2. Advanced users preferring a distraction-free interface
3. Multitasking environments where screen real estate is limited
4. Presentations where UI clutter should be minimised
---
## User Experience & Benefits
### Space Optimisation
- Frees up vertical space for document content
- Particularly beneficial for widescreen and low-resolution displays
### Efficiency
- One-click or shortcut access (no deep menu navigation)
- Faster transitions between UI states
### Flexibility
- Allows users to tailor the interface to their workflow
- Supports both power users and casual users
### Reduced Complexity
- Eliminates need to switch between entirely different UI modes
- Simplifies interaction compared to navigating settings menus
---
## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] A visible toggle button exists in the Tabbed UI to minimise/expand the
interface
- [ ] Keyboard shortcut is available for toggling compact mode
- [ ] User preference persists across sessions
---
## Additional Context
This feature aligns LibreOffice with widely adopted usability patterns from
Microsoft Office while improving accessibility and reducing UI friction.
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