[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 138712] New: Improve Formula visual tool; object hotkey

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=138712

            Bug ID: 138712
           Summary: Improve Formula visual tool; object hotkey
           Product: LibreOffice
           Version: unspecified
          Hardware: All
                OS: All
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: medium
         Component: Formula Editor
          Assignee: libreoffice-bugs at lists.freedesktop.org
          Reporter: grin at grin.hu

Description:
For details see the mailing list:
https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/libreoffice/2020-December/086397.html
and https://mathcha.io/

As it turns out there is an "inactive" experimental visual Formula editing tool
which could really use some love. 
For a brief test it seems to work mostly fine, which checks out some of my
wishes in the referenced mail but my main topic still holds:

(Even) The visual editor now requires plenty of mouse clicking and entering a
formula is slow due to the complicated way to select and enter operators and
markings. Either requires typing the source (lot of typing) or lot of menu
clicking [click on category, search, select, click on operator, click into the
placeholder THEN start typing].


I propose a hotkey (configurable with a default usually not found in formulas,
like @, \, ` or similar, considering also the most common national keyboard
layouts) which would pop up a window, anywhere in the formula.

The window would consist a list of objects (operator, attributes, etc.) with
small visual representation and name, a search field automatically in focus and
a category selection tab-list.

Typing would search objects through their multiple names (like "paren",
"left(", "(" all point to "left(" [as well]...) and ENTER would insert it
immediately (so, for example, if fraction is called "over" and it's the top of
the search then entering a fraction required 3 keys: <hotkey> o <enter>).
The search could be context sensitive to some extent (change ordering based on
context/position).
The search could be sorted by usage frequency of the objects (also change
order, probably within categories).
Category selection list would contain the current categories (Unary ops,
relations, set operators etc.).

So, when someone experienced types, s/he can use "<hotkey> 1-2 characters
<enter>" to select almost any objects (using no mouse at all!); with less
experience one opens the window and search for a name, or browse the top
searches (using search and cursor, or *optionally* mouse); with even less
experience can the user select categories and browse them (with keys or mouse).

Also in mathcha there is a speed trick (LO already uses similar Writer):
writing "+-" became ± (same for != and =/ as ≠ etc) which could be undone by
using Undo/CTRL-Z. Makes typing way faster (but I see some people would switch
this off the same way as in Writer).

I believe if there'd be anyone interested in implementing these the tool could
become the best formula tool available (I have tried an extensive list of
available stuff on Linux and the best was LyX which is far from the ideal,
easy-to-use solution). (And while I am not quote interested it would be useful
to be export it in TeX format, I guess many people would consider using it that
way.)


I can offer to help in more detailed specification or testing but can't help
coding, sorry. 


Steps to Reproduce:
-

Actual Results:
-

Expected Results:
-


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No



Additional Info:
-

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