Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 81846
Alt key menu behavior changed in Linux from 2.2->2.3, and is now inconsistent with Windows
Last modified: 2013-02-07 21:50:49 UTC
In the past, both the Windows and Linux versions of OOo acted the same with regards to the menus and Alt-key presses. This changed with version 2.3, and now the Linux behavior is different. What used to happen on Linux, and what still happens on Windows: Press *and release* the alt key. Focus moves to the menu bar. In (for example) Calc, the key combination e+i+d now performs a "Fill Down" operation. What now happens on Linux: Press *and release* the alt key. Focus moves to the File menu (the incorrect behavior). If you press e+i+d, you're now in completely the wrong dialog box. In other words, the press-and-release behavior of the alt key on Linux now incorrectly activates the File menu instead of the menu bar as a whole. There are any number of other issues about Alt key behavior, some of which may have relevant discussion, but I could not find any referring to this particular Linux regression.
Confirm on Ubuntu 7.10 64-bit with OO 2.3.1 Pro (Infra)
Confirming as per adept.
I have confirmed this changed behavior on OpenOffice 2.4.1 on Linux Ubuntu 8.04. Due to this problem pressing the "Alt" key now produces the SAME result as pressing "Alt+F". This problem is present in Linux versions of OpenOffice 2.3 and 2.4 for all applications (Calc, Writer, Draw, Impress, Base). This behavior is unlike that of most other programs with respect to the Alt key. This changed behavior prevents the user from using memorized key sequences such as Alt > E > E to open the "Delete Cell" dialog box, etc.