https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=172708
Bug ID: 172708
Summary: NotebookBar: Allow full end-user customization to
improve professional workflows
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 26.2.4.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: Linux (All)
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: medium
Component: UI
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
The current NotebookBar provides a modern ribbon-like interface, but it is
mostly static from the end user's perspective.
Professional users often perform repetitive workflows that would greatly
benefit from customizing the interface to match their daily tasks.
Currently it is not possible to:
• Add commands
• Remove commands
• Reorder commands
• Create custom tabs
• Create custom command groups
• Export/import NotebookBar layouts
This makes it difficult to optimize Calc for specialized workflows such as
accounting, finance, engineering or data analysis.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open LibreOffice Calc.
2. Switch to the Tabbed (NotebookBar) interface.
3. Attempt to adapt the NotebookBar to a profession-specific workflow (for
example accounting, finance, engineering or administration).
4. Try to add, remove, rearrange commands or create a custom tab.
Actual Results:
The NotebookBar is mostly static.
End users cannot:
• Add commands
• Remove commands
• Rearrange commands
• Create custom tabs
• Create custom command groups
• Save personalized layouts
The available NotebookBar layouts are predefined and cannot be adapted to
individual workflows.
Expected Results:
The NotebookBar should support full end-user customization.
Suggested capabilities:
• Add commands.
• Remove commands.
• Drag and drop commands.
• Create custom groups.
• Create custom tabs.
• Export/import layouts.
• Restore default layout.
This functionality would allow professionals from different fields to build
interfaces adapted to their daily work while preserving the default NotebookBar
for users who prefer it.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: Yes
Additional Info:
I recently migrated my primary computer from Windows to Linux Mint with the
goal of adopting open-source software as my primary working environment.
To accomplish this, I invested considerable time learning LibreOffice Calc
instead of immediately returning to Microsoft Excel.
My professional work consists mainly of:
• Accounting
• Invoice tracking
• Financial reporting
• Business administration
• Formula-intensive spreadsheets
• Spreadsheet templates reused across multiple projects
During this transition I evaluated several office suites:
• Microsoft Excel 2016
• LibreOffice Calc
• WPS Office
• OnlyOffice Spreadsheet Editor
• Google Sheets
After adapting my workflows and learning Calc, I concluded that LibreOffice's
calculation engine is already capable of handling almost all of my professional
work.
The primary obstacle is not functionality.
The primary obstacle is usability.
The current NotebookBar provides a modern interface but cannot be adapted by
end users.
Different professions repeatedly use different commands.
For example:
An accountant frequently uses:
• Currency formats
• Date formats
• Thousands separator
• Decimal controls
• Conditional formatting
• Borders
A data analyst may instead prioritize:
• Sort
• Filters
• Pivot Tables
• Charts
A teacher may need completely different tools.
Because every workflow is different, a static NotebookBar cannot be optimal for
every profession.
Most modern office suites provide users with ways to adapt their workspace.
Microsoft Excel allows Ribbon customization.
WPS Office also allows users to customize its Ribbon.
LibreOffice already allows customization of traditional toolbars.
However, the NotebookBar currently lacks comparable flexibility.
This proposal is not intended to replicate Microsoft Office.
Instead, it extends an existing LibreOffice philosophy—customization—to its
modern user interface.
Extend the NotebookBar customization system to provide:
• Add/remove commands.
• Drag-and-drop organization.
• Custom groups.
• Custom tabs.
• Import/export layouts.
• Reset to defaults.
The default NotebookBar would remain unchanged.
Customization would be entirely optional.
Benefits include:
• Faster workflows.
• Reduced repetitive actions.
• Better accessibility.
• Easier migration from Microsoft Office.
• Improved professional productivity.
• Better adaptation to different professions.
The proposal benefits all LibreOffice modules using the NotebookBar, not only
Calc.
LibreOffice already has a mature spreadsheet engine.
For many professional users the remaining barrier is no longer functionality.
It is workflow efficiency.
Allowing users to customize the NotebookBar would significantly improve
everyday productivity while preserving LibreOffice's identity and respecting
existing users who prefer the default interface.
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Home | Insert | Data | Review | Accounting | Automation
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Accounting
[$ Currency] [Date] [%] [Accounting] [Borders]
[Conditional Formatting]
[Favorite Macros]
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