Introduction

This page describes the ongoing work of introducing a Notebookbar in LibreOffice.

The goal is to provide an alternative (optional) interface which unifies all the different toolbars and groups them in tabs. It will allow more flexible layout than the toolbars, since Glade will be used to lay out the controls.

The classic menu will probably be enabled by default in environments like Unity and macOS (global menu). In other environments there might be a switch to enable the classic menu.

Development

Some information about implementation can be found here

Try it out

NOTE: the Notebookbar is an experimental and optional feature, and NOT recommended for production use!

Download LibreOffice from https://www.libreoffice.org/download/.

Install and start it.

Enable experimental features: in Tools ▸ Options... ▸ LibreOffice ▸ Advanced check Enable experimental features (may be unstable).

To show the Notebookbar, select View ▸ Toolbar layout ▸ Notebookbar.

Roadmap

Done

Let each module define the tabs for the Notebook individually. Currently there is one huge file, where all tabs are defined.

Implemented a switcher between Toolbar/Notebookbar mode. Select View ▸ Toolbar layout... tdf#101249

▸ tdf#101249 Contextual tabs: Certain tabs should only appear in certain contexts (e.g. when a table is selected, we want to have a table tab)

Ability to have multiple toolbar implementations

Defined widget priorities. Container that hides/shrinks stuff when the screen size does not fit

Simple Theming

Extension Integration: Allow extensions to create their own tabs. See Development/NotebookBar/Extensions

Customization: Allow users to customize tabs, or add custom commands in a certain place

Resources

When designing the different tabs, the following resources can be taken into consideration:

Relevant Bugs:

tdf#80752 - Tabbed single toolbar

tdf#102062 - Meta bug for bugs and enhancements

Similar solution from Sencha ExtJS

How PowerPoint 2013 utilizes both a top bar and a sidebar:

Tabbed toolbars in Zoho Writer:

Alternative UI Ideas