https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=78033

          Priority: medium
            Bug ID: 78033
          Assignee: libreoffice-bugs@lists.freedesktop.org
           Summary: : Smart bar for finding tools, features and help
          Severity: enhancement
    Classification: Unclassified
                OS: All
          Reporter: rh_li...@bmharding.freeserve.co.uk
          Hardware: All
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
           Version: (See in Summary)
         Component: UI
           Product: LibreOffice

WHAT, WHY, WHAT IS SIMILAR, ENHANCEMENT, HOW NOT TO DO IT :D

WHAT?
Implement a smart text box to allow people to find functions in LibreOffice or
tutorials and help without hunting through the menus.

WHY?
To improve usability and productivity and to help users discover functions in
various LibreOffice applications.

MAKE IT FAMILIAR: WHAT IS SIMILAR?
(i) The Smart address bar in most web browsers allows the user to start typing
and see items from their browsing history, bookmarks or a smart auto-suggested
web search. If they don’t find it, they can use a web search to do so. (e.g.
Chrome, Firefox smart bars)
(ii) Windows 7’s Start Menu will search for installed programs, documents,
other files, emails, control panel items etc.

POTENTIAL ENHANCEMENTS?
• If no results come up, offer a web-search based on, for example, LibreOffice
Writer + search term which might throw up tutorials which use a different form
of words than is used in the feature or function’s name or description.
• Allow the user to pin favourite functions next to the smart box (icon +
mouse-over tooltip) and/or display recently found functions. Only power users
will find the Customize menu options.
• Context-aware results – e.g. if the cursor is in Writer table and the user
starts typing ‘COL’ they might want things to do with Background COLOR or Font
COLOR or table COLUMN-width. If in non-table areas, they might be interested in
Font COLOR or COLUMNS text layout. If in a multi-column area they might want to
insert a COLUMN-break.
• Indicate where to find the feature via the pull-down menu structure.
• Make common suggestions based on cursor context all the time without
requiring input. E.g. if selecting text in a table, display “type here or see
suggested functions” and when cursor is there, offer select cell, select
current row, select current column, select whole table. 

HOW NOT TO DO IT: Don’t implement this as an annoying animated paper clip that
appears in front of the text you’re typing!!!

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