Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 20676
Want cleaner template interface
Last modified: 2013-02-07 22:33:03 UTC
This is a summary of a discussion on discuss@openoffice.org a while back. It may also be releated to issue 16924. There seems to be general agreement that the OOo's interface to template management is confusing and could use a redesign. Some suggestions (in rough preference or development order): 1. Remove redundand functionality like "File...", "Printer Settings", "Import Template" and "Export Template" from Template Management. As for import and export, the tasks are achieved more easily via a combination of the normal file selector and Templates->Edit or Templates->Save. 2. Replace "Address Book" in Template Management and "Address Book Source" in File->Templates with a single menu item under File or Tools. 3. Remove "Documents" (and selection menu) from Template Management. If a quick way to list the contents of well known document directories is wanted, the functionality might be added to the file selector instead (maybe allow the user to bookmark directories.) 4. Remove "Documents" from Templates and Documents, too. 5. Merge remaining functionality of Template Management and Templates and Documents into a single template (only) dialog. 6. Make Templates->Edit... symmetric with Templates->Save..., or simply remove the item (the template dialog may be used instead.) 7. Consider including entry for (new) template button as well as what else is left of File->Templates directly under File. 8. Relax the distinction between built-in document types and templates. Allow addition to File->New of entries for (user) template based document creation, and perhaps also built-ins to be move do different categories or disabled completely. I'm sure there was more, but I can't remember it right now ;-)
reassigned to bh
I needed to work with templates last days and I can confirm that this issue includes many very useful hints. I exgree with everything, except for removing the "Import Template" and "Export Template" functionality. It is good to have a possibility to easily import/export templates to/from the existing structure from/to any other location on the disk. The combination of Templates, Documents and Address book is really confusing for me. If we split the functionality, the dialogs could be easier, better undestandable, ... Regarding the point 6., it seems that File/Templates/Edit is the only possibility to open a template for editing from any location on the disk. It can be done another way. For example, the dialog could show the same template structure as File/Templates/Save and there could be additional button "Open..." to open the file from any other location on the disk. You can see such button for example in the dialog File/New/Database Are there any plans to solve this issue, to redesign the whole template stuff?
Reassigned to requirements.
I agree, cleaner (and usable) interface is must have enhancement.