[Libreoffice-ux-advise] some thoughts on the Sidebar

[Cor Nouws]

Hi David,

dollyp wrote (06-09-13 23:11)

> I don't agree with your comments about the sidebar eating space. Using
> Writer on a widescreen notebook I prefer the option to have things down the
> side of the screen so that the maximum vertical space is available, but with
> Sheet a wider display is preferable.

I can agree with that.
My comment was based that we have now space taken above and at the side, 
both for the same (direct formatting).

> So the first problem with sidebars as
> currently implemented is that sidebar setting is universal, i.e. you can't
> have a sidebar with Writer but not with Sheet (don't do enough with Impress
> to know what would be best).

I thought Regina explained that you can minimize it per module with the 
cross.

> I do agree with you that the sidebar could promote bad habits, but then
> since the buttons on it are the same as the formatting toolbar moving to a
> sidebar is really no more likely to lead to bad habits. Direct formatting is
> less effective than using styles but LO's styles are if anything more
> confusing to the average user than MSO's. I do like your screen shot of a
> styles sidebar layout; even better would be if the styles appeared as
> samples.

Yes, that is just a simple idea for improving.

> I'm so pleased that LO is beginning to improve the UX. Less and less people
> are learning with MSO2003 so there will be fewer MS-educated users prepared
> to move to LO's seemingly outdated UX, and before anyone complains at that I
> am one of those who have moved to LO to avoid the move to the MS ribbon. My
> daughter, still at school, thinks LO is awful compared to what she has
> learned to use. This first sidebar effort has its rough edges but I see it
> as only the first step, and am very happy and grateful to our developers for
> it.

Me too.
Thanks for your ideas,
Cor


-- 
  - Cor Nouws
  - http://nl.libreoffice.org
  - The Document Foundation Membership Committee Member