[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 132864] Harmony in position settings of different objects

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=132864

--- Comment #11 from Telesto <telesto at surfxs.nl> ---
This bug is not a regular bug; an incident driven one. It's more about the
"bigger picture"; 'vision'. The defaults for the different 'objects' (like:
(frame;fontwork;images;textboxes))  There is no straight forwarded answer. So
simple bug.. Om looking for the model - reasoning - laying behind all those
choices made (in the past). Are those choices still adequate today (evaluation)

I sometimes get the impression that new objects
(frame;fontwork;images;textboxes) and such where added incrementally over time.
Which did get certain set of insertion defaults. However without consideration
coherence between them (each object being unique). So each object has unique
combination of 'anchor' + "insertion alignment properties + wraps settings. 
Which makes things - unnecessary? - complex :-(. Or their have been 'changes'
for 'default insertion alignment settings in the past, which didn't adapt all
objects. Causing deviations.  

A) Topic Default anchoring
Historically everything got anchored 'to paragraph'. Currently images / charts
are inserted by default 'to character' 
https://cgit.freedesktop.org/libreoffice/core/commit/?id=a7528cd6f17ea5c5b29e7d607e54c62de0d9e7db

However other objects still have the 'to paragraph' anchoring (Frame, Fontwork,
Shape). Whereas the reason for changing it for images also valid for the other
objects, IMHO. I get the impression those where overlooked. Images are
obviously the most common. Or the assumption this would handle all cases? Or
simply didn't look into it, because the main concern being images (but breaking
coherence in the process)

Not the commit above is being followed by one which makes it possible to
'configure' the default anchor for images if desired

---
B) Topic Alignment
Different objects use different settings (comment 0). I don't' see the
advantage of having full range of  of different (default) alignment properties
on insertion time for similar objects. 

It sometimes even possible to argue this being a mistake. Fontwork is
horizontally Aligned against Paragraph *text* area. Whereas a textbox is
aligned at: "to paragraph area". 

There are also inconsistency's for the same object. If you create a Fontwork
inside Draw and paste it into Writer the Alignment settings will differ from
insertion a fontwork in Writer

The whole stuff simply inconsistent/arbitrary. Whereas it practically maybe
less relevance. At least, I drag drop images to right spot. So it goes without
report, but this doesn't mean this being desired

And its impossible to know what is good, without design documentation. I not
even sure if developers have full insights.. 

C) Topic Wrap
Different objects have different wrap settings. Like: Optimal (images,charts),
but bugged, some bug proposing change of default; Through (textbox;fontwork,
shapes). Frame (Parallel)

---
Why does it matter,IMO
* Mixing different anchors across the same document by default for different
objects without decent reason is sloppy (in my view) (no they historically
grown this way isn’t proper reason]. 
* DOCX/DOC doesn't support To paragraph. Which causes conversions to 'to
character'. The bugs related to this, caused to change from 'to paragraph' 'to
character' for images. However the other objects are affected by the same (only
less commonly present) 
* To paragraph and to character anchors have their own particularity's (and
might even differ by object.. maybe caused by 'alignment properties'; didn't
check!. Reported quite a number of ‘anchoring stuff’
* Not every positioning setting is 'properly tested'. And lots of things are
interconnected Wrap + anchoring type/ anchoring position (to character) +
alignment settings (when move an object to next page; how should object A
position against object B.  
* I'm pretty convinced that those to contribute to bugs like bug 143753/ Bug
131737.
* The default insertion position is mostly not equal to position you desire
they object to be (in my view; no data). So not seeing the point having
'unique' alignment settings for each and every object
* A pretty large group -Benjamin? - will likely not be aware of the small
differences related to  different (default) alignment settings. The practically
don't really matter (if you use drag drop or arrows) Those who have specific
wises related to position and size, are aware how those function. And probably
change those anyhow

----
Testing perspective
There are plenty of alignment settings options (next, to wrap & anchoring
options). This by itself generated an immense amount of combinations. Those
will not be tested by QA

You can argue, more using more variants makes bugs more obvious (certainly
true). Or you could argue. Lets have a default configuration for all objects,
which are 'proven' to work good and being properly tested.

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