https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=172709
Bug ID: 172709
Summary: NotebookBar: Provide complete keyboard navigation
using Alt key hints (Key Tips)
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 26.2.4.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: medium
Component: UI
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
The NotebookBar provides a modern ribbon-like interface but currently cannot be
navigated entirely from the keyboard.
Professional users often spend several hours per day working in spreadsheets
and rely heavily on keyboard workflows to reduce repetitive mouse interaction.
LibreOffice already provides extensive keyboard shortcuts and menu
accelerators.
This proposal extends that philosophy to the NotebookBar by allowing every
command to be accessed through temporary keyboard hints displayed after
pressing the Alt key.
This proposal is intended to improve productivity and accessibility rather than
replicate another office suite.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open LibreOffice Calc.
2. Switch to the Tabbed (NotebookBar) interface.
3. Press the Alt key.
4. Attempt to access NotebookBar commands without using the mouse.
Actual Results:
Pressing Alt activates the traditional menu bar.
The NotebookBar itself cannot be navigated efficiently using keyboard hints.
Users must frequently switch between keyboard and mouse.
Expected Results:
Pressing Alt should display temporary keyboard hints over NotebookBar tabs and
commands.
Every NotebookBar command should be accessible using only the keyboard.
Existing menu shortcuts should remain unchanged.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: Yes
Additional Info:
I recently migrated my primary computer from Windows to Linux Mint because I
wanted to adopt open-source software as my primary working environment.
Instead of immediately returning to Microsoft Office, I invested significant
time learning LibreOffice Calc and adapting my workflows.
My daily work includes:
• Accounting
• Invoice management
• Financial reporting
• Business administration
• Formula-intensive spreadsheets
• Reusable spreadsheet templates
During this migration I evaluated:
• Microsoft Excel 2016
• LibreOffice Calc
• WPS Office
• OnlyOffice Spreadsheet Editor
• Google Sheets
After several weeks of adapting formulas and workflows, I concluded that
LibreOffice Calc already provides nearly all the spreadsheet functionality
required for professional work.
The main obstacle is workflow efficiency rather than spreadsheet capabilities.
Professional spreadsheet users execute hundreds of repetitive commands every
day.
Using the mouse for every NotebookBar interaction interrupts keyboard-oriented
workflows and reduces productivity during long working sessions.
Keyboard accessibility is also an important usability and accessibility
feature.
Many modern ribbon-based interfaces provide complete keyboard navigation.
Microsoft Office displays temporary keyboard hints after pressing Alt, allowing
every ribbon command to be activated without using the mouse.
LibreOffice already provides keyboard shortcuts and menu accelerators.
Extending keyboard navigation to the NotebookBar would follow the same design
philosophy while improving workflow efficiency.
The proposal does not request identical key assignments.
It only requests equivalent functionality.
Suggested behavior:
• Press Alt.
• Display temporary keyboard hints over NotebookBar tabs.
• Navigate through commands using letter sequences.
• Execute the selected command.
• Hide hints automatically after command execution or Esc.
This behavior should be optional and fully compatible with existing keyboard
shortcuts.
• Faster workflows.
• Better accessibility.
• Reduced repetitive mouse movement.
• Improved ergonomics.
• Better support for professional users.
• Easier migration from ribbon-based office suites.
LibreOffice already has a powerful spreadsheet engine.
For many users migrating from proprietary office suites, usability has become a
greater obstacle than spreadsheet functionality.
Improving keyboard navigation would enhance productivity without changing
LibreOffice's identity or affecting users who prefer the current workflow.
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