https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=164550
Bug ID: 164550
Summary: Apply style by default instead of manual formatting
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 24.8.4.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: medium
Component: Writer
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
As we know, text processing relies on styles. But many users do not use them
and are manually formatting text. This might seem easier but in the end makes
lots of more work as soon as anyone would like to change anything in text
document. Changing manually is against using styles mindset that is basis of
text processing and will cause a lot of unnecessary work, that requires a lot
of time.
Would propose to change shortcut keys by default to apply appropriate style
instead of manual formatting. E.g. all text manual formatting choices found,
that exist in Writer and are found at menu Format->Text, would propose to
replace with appropriate character style. If appropriate style is missing, then
I would propose to create it and then apply appropriate shortcut key by
default.
I would propose to change all places manual->character style, where such manual
text formatting is possible: toolbar, menu (Format->Text), under right-click
menu, etc.
This applies to all other style types as well, not only character styles.
Whenever there are shortcut keys to used for manual formatting, these places I
would propose to replace with applying appropriate style. Whenever appropriate
style does not exist, would propose to create it and then apply appropriate
shortcut key if exist. If there is no shortcut key, this is yet a thing, that
should be considered, whether to apply a shortcut key by default or not.
Whenever text processing in general has well know and widely spread shortcut
keys, these should be used also in Writer and in all other LibreOffice
programs, not only Writer as styles are used also in other LibreOffice
programs.
Also this change should be announced to all users both in release article and
also in Writer itself - help, tooltip, description - whenever possible.
Encourage users to use styles instead of manual formatting, that will waste
time.
When to change also toolbar buttons behaviour, turning off e.g. bold - it
should then turn off character syle for marked text and not manually format
marked text anymore. Same applies to all other toolbar buttons. Then it works
same way as current manual formatting. Same applies to menu choices, etc places
as well, where currently manual formatting is possible.
Possibly people won't even notice difference but anyway it is worth of
acknowledging users about use of style, that makes text processing more
reasonable while reducing manual work via using styles. Instead of changing
manually all places in text, there should be reminded user to change
appropriate style and all places in text will change automatically according
appropriate style change.
Would propose also configurable option, e.g. under:
Tools->Settings->LibreOffice Writer->Formatting aids
[x] Character styles instead of manual formatting
This checkmark I would propose to turn on by default. Then it is always
possible to turn off if anyone would still prefer manual formatting regardless
it promises unnecessary huge work and waste of time. There could be also a
small reminder, while turning off, that by turning this feature off will cause
a lot of manual work, that requires a lot of time as then you should manually
change all places, where manual formatting is applies instead of just changing
appropriate style and all places where used style is present, will changed
automatically at once. Hopefully people will value time and will use more
styles - especially when to encourage users to do so.
E.g.:
CTRL+B to apply Strong Emphasis character style
CTRL+I to apply Emphasis character style
CTRL+U to apply newly created character style, e.g. Underline Emphasis
CTRL+. to remove character style
Rest of shortcut keys for current manual formatting should be yet considered,
what shortcut key to apply. Whenever already are shortcut keys available for
manual formatting - these should be replaced with applying appropriate style.
Then whenever users are familiar with these shortcut keys, appropriate style
will be applied and users can continue of using already known shortcut keys.
But whenever there are not yet shortcut key applied, it should be carefully
considered, which one to apply to make working more smoothly and logical.
Create a new style Underline and apply shortcut key CTRL+U to it.
Steps to Reproduce:
1.insert text
2.apply formatting
3.formatting applied
Actual Results:
Currently manual formatting is applied.
Expected Results:
Appropriate style is applied instead of manual formatting.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: No
Additional Info:
I also noticed, that when I switched LibreOffice language from my native one to
English, my custom character style was gone. When switched back my native
language, still my created charactersstyle was missing.
Also current issue is, that own created styles are stored in particular file
and not globally in Writer. So I have to recreate own styles in every new
document, which is very annoying. Would propose to allow choose, where newly
created style is stored - default I would propose in Writer generally and not
in file. Then these own created styles can be used also in other documents.
This choice, where to store own created style should be in two places: when
creating new style and when editing already created style. As saving new style
only in document will cause a lot of unnecessary work, would propose to save
new style into program by default and not to particular file. But as this could
be a radio button, that can be changed easily whenever needed.
Same applies to all LibreOffice programs, not only Writer.
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