Written by Ubuwu the 28 Feb 08 at 18:28.

Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #126 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

<i>Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #126 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution.</i><br /> Thanks!

Written by euxneks the 28 Feb 09 at 02:11.

When have you ever typed something and wanted to click at the same time as both hands typing?

Simply detect when more than five or so keystrokes are pressed (or, even better, allow the user to specify this) and ignore mouse clicks or taps from the trackpad, as long as keys continue to be pressed. Moving the mouse shouldn't be disabled and as soon as a movement is detected, immediately enable the ability to click w/ taps.

When have you ever typed something and wanted to click at the same time as both hands typing? Simply detect when more than five or so keystrokes are pressed (or, even better, allow the user to specify this) and ignore mouse clicks or taps from the trackpad, as long as keys continue to be pressed. Moving the mouse shouldn't be disabled and as soon as a movement is detected, immediately enable the ability to click w/ taps.

Written by fde the 29 Feb 08 at 09:54.

Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #1199 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

<i>Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #1199 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution.</i><br /> Thanks!

Written by akurei the 10 Oct 09 at 18:37.

In the open/save dialog you should be able to view items as thumbnails and not only in list-view (CTRL + 1 view in nautilus instead of CTRL + 2).

In the open/save dialog you should be able to view items as thumbnails and not only in list-view (CTRL + 1 view in nautilus instead of CTRL + 2).

Written by billdotson the 4 Oct 09 at 18:42.

Be able to delete, rename, make new files, etc. in the open/save dialog windows in nautilus.

Be able to delete, rename, make new files, etc. in the open/save dialog windows in nautilus.

Written by Lachu the 11 Oct 09 at 09:48.

Add unlock/lock button to open/save dialog for deleting/moving operations. All operations, that can brings lost of data must be done in unlock mode.

Add unlock/lock button to open/save dialog for deleting/moving operations. All operations, that can brings lost of data must be done in unlock mode.

Written by natureflow the 12 Oct 09 at 16:10.

Nautilus has all features you eventually will miss in a normal open/save file dialog. If you bloat the open/save dialog with file management tasks, people will mistake the dialog for the file manager, like people do using Windows Vista. If you click on a file, you expect the file to be opened, but if you accidentally were in a save dialog, you could have overwritten an important file. So I propose to open the file manager instead of the open/save dialog to make things clear. There in the file manager will be a new file in the sidebar. This is your document. You can navigate to your favorite folder and drag and drop your file there or click the "Save file here" button.

Nautilus has all features you eventually will miss in a normal open/save file dialog. If you bloat the open/save dialog with file management tasks, people will mistake the dialog for the file manager, like people do using Windows Vista. If you click on a file, you expect the file to be opened, but if you accidentally were in a save dialog, you could have overwritten an important file. So I propose to open the file manager instead of the open/save dialog to make things clear. There in the file manager will be a new file in the sidebar. This is your document. You can navigate to your favorite folder and drag and drop your file there or click the "Save file here" button. <img src="http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3785/filebrowser.png" width="356" height="220"/> <img src="http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6398/nautilusstreamlinedfile.png" width="606" height="413" />

Written by natureflow the 12 Oct 09 at 16:22.

You click on "Save" and get a little dialog with "Name", "Folder" and "Tags", like you see it if you click on the star in the address bar in the firefox browser. So you can easily rename your document if you want. If you want you can click on a button to get more options. File management tasks confuse the user, keep it simple.

You click on "Save" and get a little dialog with "Name", "Folder" and "Tags", like you see it if you click on the star in the address bar in the firefox browser. So you can easily rename your document if you want. If you want you can click on a button to get more options. File management tasks confuse the user, keep it simple. <img src="http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/img/tignish/features/bookmarks.png" alt="One-Click Bookmarking screenshot"/>

Written by oliver-joos the 25 Oct 09 at 09:52.

I would prefer a button in the open/save dialog next to the "Create new folder" button. This button would open a Nautilus window showing the same folder as the open/save dialog.

This solution only needs two clicks more than #1 (to open & close Nautilus), does not bloat the open/save dialog and follows the DRY design principle ("Don't Repeat Yourself").

I would prefer a button in the open/save dialog next to the "Create new folder" button. This button would open a Nautilus window showing the same folder as the open/save dialog. This solution only needs two clicks more than #1 (to open & close Nautilus), does not bloat the open/save dialog and follows the DRY design principle ("Don't Repeat Yourself").

Written by Lachu the 1 Jan 10 at 17:47.

Write Compiz plugin to shelf(change size) of inactive window with certain class. Some windows should shrinks once user activates other window. It would grow, when user activate it again.

Write Compiz plugin to shelf(change size) of inactive window with certain class. Some windows should shrinks once user activates other window. It would grow, when user activate it again.

Written by dinar the 24 Jan 10 at 06:30.

html only or full selector of save as dialog fo firefox should be in "collapsed" mode of the dialog.

html only or full selector of save as dialog fo firefox should be in "collapsed" mode of the dialog.

Written by afrodeity the 17 Nov 10 at 16:33.

A mini browser that is customisable, anything which acts as a replacement, this would mean allowing some form of input to replace the current open with/save dialogues. Progress in any direction frankly would be worth it. Let's have choices in how we do this.

A mini browser that is customisable, anything which acts as a replacement, this would mean allowing some form of input to replace the current open with/save dialogues. Progress in any direction frankly would be worth it. Let's have choices in how we do this.

Written by Endolith the 25 Sep 08 at 16:48.

We should have a single spell-checking and auto-correct (and predictive text and grammar check and grammar autocorrect?) engine, and it should be available for ANY text input field in ANY program (including single-line forms, search bars, quick find, etc.), with a single centralized dictionary that gets updated on a regular basis, and a single centralized user dictionary for each user. Then I can define new spellings or corrections (or remove ones I don't like) and have that change automatically be used for all apps.

Also, it would be best if users had a trivial way to (optionally) upload their custom-defined words back to the central servers, so that they can be added to the next release and benefit everyone.

We should have a single spell-checking and auto-correct (and predictive text and grammar check and grammar autocorrect?) engine, and it should be available for ANY text input field in ANY program (including single-line forms, search bars, quick find, etc.), with a single centralized dictionary that gets updated on a regular basis, and a single centralized user dictionary for each user. Then I can define new spellings or corrections (or remove ones I don't like) and have that change automatically be used for all apps. Also, it would be best if users had a trivial way to (optionally) upload their custom-defined words back to the central servers, so that they can be added to the next release and benefit everyone.

Written by Shady3D the 7 Jun 09 at 12:24.

this is a suggestion for easy development.

u can use Google Wave's check spelling robot; its open source, i don't know in which language its written probably in Java, but any way, developers can use the code as a reference.

Or maybe work something out with google

this is a suggestion for easy development. u can use Google Wave's check spelling robot; its open source, i don't know in which language its written probably in Java, but any way, developers can use the code as a reference. Or maybe work something out with google

Written by cyanics the 28 Feb 08 at 23:50.

Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #241 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

<i>Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #241 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution.</i><br /> Thanks!

Written by frsantos the 3 Mar 08 at 11:52.

Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #2708 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

<i>Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #2708 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution.</i><br /> Thanks!

Written by davejacobs the 29 Jun 10 at 04:13.

LDAP is too involved for your average Ubuntu user. Maybe some of us *could* figure it out, but for what you gain, it might not be worth it for many people.

EDS does not feel like Linux, in that it's not an orthogonal, compact, separate entity that all applications can feel comfortable referring to.

Apple's Address Book is a decent example of what Gnome needs for this task: it's minimal and universal. It syncs with the cloud. It allows some flexibility with information permitted. And it can export to vCard format.

It would be fantastic if there was a separate minimalist application that acted as a server/databse for contacts across all of Gnome, or perhaps all Debian-based systems.

Akonadi could be promising but is making me install KDE-related files.

LDAP is too involved for your average Ubuntu user. Maybe some of us *could* figure it out, but for what you gain, it might not be worth it for many people. EDS does not feel like Linux, in that it's not an orthogonal, compact, separate entity that all applications can feel comfortable referring to. Apple's Address Book is a decent example of what Gnome needs for this task: it's minimal and universal. It syncs with the cloud. It allows some flexibility with information permitted. And it can export to vCard format. It would be fantastic if there was a separate minimalist application that acted as a server/databse for contacts across all of Gnome, or perhaps all Debian-based systems. Akonadi could be promising but is making me install KDE-related files.

Written by encompass the 28 Feb 08 at 19:51.

Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #175 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

<i>Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #175 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution.</i><br /> Thanks!

Written by CydeSwype the 4 Jan 10 at 20:49.

Rather than relying on evolution-data-server for google and other calendar data, create a standalone application for setting relationships to other iCal calendars that can then be displayed in gnome clock.

Rather than relying on evolution-data-server for google and other calendar data, create a standalone application for setting relationships to other iCal calendars that can then be displayed in gnome clock.

Written by blazemore the 7 Jan 10 at 11:22.

The calendar should still read from Evolution, but Evolution should provide 2-way synchronisation with Google Calendar.

The calendar should still read from Evolution, but Evolution should provide 2-way synchronisation with Google Calendar.

Written by clonejo the 22 Jan 10 at 21:44.

Create an API to which other programs can connect to, like Thunderbird (using an addon), Evolution or anything else. This way it would be more flexible.

Create an API to which other programs can connect to, like Thunderbird (using an addon), Evolution or anything else. This way it would be more flexible.

Written by jman6495 the 20 Oct 09 at 09:31.

Not everyone wants open source software looking like the windows alternative, but i think it's important for OpenOffice!
Look at how many downloads the Internet Explorer 6 themes for Firefox there are, or how many downloads the XP theme for Ubuntu have!

So in this case... I think that we must change OpenOffice to evolve.

Not everyone wants open source software looking like the windows alternative, but i think it's important for OpenOffice! Look at how many downloads the Internet Explorer 6 themes for Firefox there are, or how many downloads the XP theme for Ubuntu have! So in this case... I think that we must change OpenOffice to evolve.

Written by bt90 the 20 Oct 09 at 20:35.

Keep it simple but independent!

Keep it simple but independent!

Written by chuse the 27 Oct 09 at 17:10.

Solution #2 is ok, but doesn't solve the "simplifying problem", if it exists. Is possible to adopt iPod phylosophy, just 3 clicks to get everywhere in the program, so if there's some option beyond the third click, we take it back to

Solution #2 is ok, but doesn't solve the "simplifying problem", if it exists. Is possible to adopt iPod phylosophy, just 3 clicks to get everywhere in the program, so if there's some option beyond the third click, we take it back to <=3.

Written by robertjlee the 30 Oct 09 at 22:03.

Go-oo is a fork of OpenOffice.org which is more receptive of patches.

From the description (http://www.go-oo.org/), “Go-oo's user interface is more familiar, with lots of small pieces of polish”

Go-oo is a fork of OpenOffice.org which is more receptive of patches. From the description (http://www.go-oo.org/), “Go-oo's user interface is more familiar, with lots of small pieces of polish”

Written by Jon Monreal the 31 Oct 09 at 14:04.

OpenOffice.org can stand on its own. However, there is definitely merit in making it easier for users to transition to their new Office Suite, whether they are coming from Windows with a package like MS Office or are coming from the Mac with iWork.

For this reason, perhaps a "beginner mode" with a different template could be added. This template SHOULD NOT be designed to look like Microsoft Word but instead should bring the common functions to the forefront and help new users learn where those functions are normally located, so that they can easily transition to the original interface when they are ready.

Said interface should also include common Office Suite formats outside of the normal drop-box in the save dialog, so that those coming from other suites can save in said other formats for compatibility reasons, although open document should remain the default.

The programs could be (keep in mind, this is just a preliminary idea) launched from a separate subfolder, that could easily be hidden by experienced users.

While this plan might add a little bit of overhead to a default installation, it could also serve to attract many users to Linux that get "too confused" by OpenOffice.org and give up before they have even really tried.

As a Ubuntu advocate, I have seen this before, and I personally believe that making whatever Office Suite Ubuntu should include at any given time more friendly to beginners is one of the most important things we can do, considering the fact that word processing is one of the most common activites that people do on a computer.

OpenOffice.org can stand on its own. However, there is definitely merit in making it easier for users to transition to their new Office Suite, whether they are coming from Windows with a package like MS Office or are coming from the Mac with iWork. For this reason, perhaps a "beginner mode" with a different template could be added. This template SHOULD NOT be designed to look like Microsoft Word but instead should bring the common functions to the forefront and help new users learn where those functions are normally located, so that they can easily transition to the original interface when they are ready. Said interface should also include common Office Suite formats outside of the normal drop-box in the save dialog, so that those coming from other suites can save in said other formats for compatibility reasons, although open document should remain the default. The programs could be (keep in mind, this is just a preliminary idea) launched from a separate subfolder, that could easily be hidden by experienced users. While this plan might add a little bit of overhead to a default installation, it could also serve to attract many users to Linux that get "too confused" by OpenOffice.org and give up before they have even really tried. As a Ubuntu advocate, I have seen this before, and I personally believe that making whatever Office Suite Ubuntu should include at any given time more friendly to beginners is one of the most important things we can do, considering the fact that word processing is one of the most common activites that people do on a computer. If this gets enough attentaion, I shall work on a mockup.

Written by argh0 the 5 Nov 09 at 16:52.

Why not create a new suite, trying to be innovative, implementing concepts and ideas different to the Microsoft ones, and having always in mind ergonomy and simplicity ?

For example, I'd like to see a further implementation of the "what you see is what you mean" concept of LyX. Don't care about layout in a first time, just write down, structure and work. I don't even want to see different pages on my screen. But I don't want either to see ugly tags or wiki code that makes reading a pain. And then do a beautiful layout. That's the concept of LyX for text editing, but can it be generalised, for example, for presentations ?

Like, you write down text elements that will be on your slides, choose medias, images, design relationships between elements, and then perhaps let the program generate (or assist you generating) real and beautiful slides for you... Or like, you draw with your mouse the frames and arrows where those elements will take place, and a form recognition script transforms them in real frames and arrows... Ok, it's blurry.

Other ideas : when draft formulations/sentences are erased, keep them besides the document, invisible but at hand, as it used to be when you "crossed" something in your handwritten draft. Sometimes I write whole paragraphs and then I decide that they don't deserve to be in the final version, but it can be useful to recycle a sentence, or something like that... Well, be closer to the natural creative process, with errors, drafts, combinations, reformulations, go and returns, etc... Also make a non stop saving, as "drafts" in Gmail, and no need to create a document for it starting to be saved.

Why not create a new suite, trying to be innovative, implementing concepts and ideas different to the Microsoft ones, and having always in mind ergonomy and simplicity ? For example, I'd like to see a further implementation of the "what you see is what you mean" concept of LyX. Don't care about layout in a first time, just write down, structure and work. I don't even want to see different pages on my screen. But I don't want either to see ugly tags or wiki code that makes reading a pain. And then do a beautiful layout. That's the concept of LyX for text editing, but can it be generalised, for example, for presentations ? Like, you write down text elements that will be on your slides, choose medias, images, design relationships between elements, and then perhaps let the program generate (or assist you generating) real and beautiful slides for you... Or like, you draw with your mouse the frames and arrows where those elements will take place, and a form recognition script transforms them in real frames and arrows... Ok, it's blurry. Other ideas : when draft formulations/sentences are erased, keep them besides the document, invisible but at hand, as it used to be when you "crossed" something in your handwritten draft. Sometimes I write whole paragraphs and then I decide that they don't deserve to be in the final version, but it can be useful to recycle a sentence, or something like that... Well, be closer to the natural creative process, with errors, drafts, combinations, reformulations, go and returns, etc... Also make a non stop saving, as "drafts" in Gmail, and no need to create a document for it starting to be saved. Because cloning MS Office innovations and ergonomy is not a good idea. It is too much "copying" : in this case I prefer the original to the copy. And in this case Ooo will always be "late". But I'm not sure either trying to make Ooo better would work. Let's face it : OpenOffice is bad. It is terribly unintuitive, it is slow, it is heavy, sometimes it freezes or bugs. It is ugly and makes ugly things (drawings for example). I loose time using OpenOffice. And I hate loosing time trying to make something with a software that "should be easy". Once I tried MS Office, last version. And I had to admit it is terribly better, even used to Ooo I did easily what I wanted. I'm not a developper, but I'm not sure trying to make Ooo code evolve is the good way. [edited 6 november 09 : put ideas before critics of Ooo)

Written by xeniac the 6 Nov 09 at 10:52.

Changing the overall beahaviour of OpenOffice is something Sun and Novell can do. Canonical and Ubunutu have limited resources and the "non-openess" of Suns OpenOffice development makes ist really hard to change non-trivial parts, like the interface.

But Ubuntu-Go-Oo comes with no Templates, and you can spend hours to create a professional looking Page Layout. We could create a small bundle of good and professional Fonts, Templates and Cliparts preinstalled per default to make these things easier.

Changing the overall beahaviour of OpenOffice is something Sun and Novell can do. Canonical and Ubunutu have limited resources and the "non-openess" of Suns OpenOffice development makes ist really hard to change non-trivial parts, like the interface. But Ubuntu-Go-Oo comes with no Templates, and you can spend hours to create a professional looking Page Layout. We could create a small bundle of good and professional Fonts, Templates and Cliparts preinstalled per default to make these things easier.

Written by ementos the 6 Nov 09 at 15:26.

When I see OpenOffice on ubuntu I think the icons are so big!
On OpenOffice on windows or on KDE icons are smaller and i think that why they are nicer! Gnome OOO should be nice too ;)

When I see OpenOffice on ubuntu I think the icons are so big! On OpenOffice on windows or on KDE icons are smaller and i think that why they are nicer! Gnome OOO should be nice too ;)

Written by Mirek2 the 7 Nov 09 at 19:38.

If you have ideas or comments on improving OOo, go ahead and add your voice to the project: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Main_Page .
The team is working on a new UI, complete with a new look: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Renaissance
There's been a lot of thinking and prototyping and arguing about the direction it will go -- and I think, in its current copycat state, it will definitely remain very controversial -- but the UI direction isn't sealed and you definitely have a voice in which way it will go.
And if your ideas remain ignored, then go ahead and try your luck here.

If you have ideas or comments on improving OOo, go ahead and add your voice to the project: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Main_Page . The team is working on a new UI, complete with a new look: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Renaissance There's been a lot of thinking and prototyping and arguing about the direction it will go -- and I think, in its current copycat state, it will definitely remain very controversial -- but the UI direction isn't sealed and you definitely have a voice in which way it will go. And if your ideas remain ignored, then go ahead and try your luck here.

Written by alkx4444 the 11 Nov 09 at 00:05.

I love open office but I keep seeing a whole load of stuff that we don't need and a other things that need a tiny bit of improvement., so what needs to happen is it needs to be more strip down, this i would expect would improve the efficiency of program and would also create less pressure on the computer system., just because technology gets better doesn't mean we have to develop programs that demand more resources.

I love open office but I keep seeing a whole load of stuff that we don't need and a other things that need a tiny bit of improvement., so what needs to happen is it needs to be more strip down, this i would expect would improve the efficiency of program and would also create less pressure on the computer system., just because technology gets better doesn't mean we have to develop programs that demand more resources.

Written by iswan the 7 Feb 10 at 05:57.

Sometimes I only want to write something without configuring them, so I think it is a good idea to have simple mode view that if you click it will hide toolbar (or even menubar) and make Open Office as simple as possible. People will just need to click the icon (should appear somewhere) to put the view back to the normal state when people need the full functionality.

Sometimes I only want to write something without configuring them, so I think it is a good idea to have simple mode view that if you click it will hide toolbar (or even menubar) and make Open Office as simple as possible. People will just need to click the icon (should appear somewhere) to put the view back to the normal state when people need the full functionality.

Written by aliam13_2 the 30 Oct 09 at 11:52.

Implement (possibly using a plugin) the same integration Evolution has with Ubuntu One for Thunderbird.

Implement (possibly using a plugin) the same integration Evolution has with Ubuntu One for Thunderbird.

Written by Darwin Survivor the 30 Oct 09 at 23:50.

Ubuntu one should be made to be more pluggable. That way people could simply write a new plugin for it and thunderbird. Then as long as all the machines they are using have both plugins, it would work.

Ubuntu one should be made to be more pluggable. That way people could simply write a new plugin for it and thunderbird. Then as long as all the machines they are using have both plugins, it would work.

Written by Softwayer the 11 Nov 09 at 18:42.

What about using SeaMonkey and integrating IT with Ubuntu One? This is the child of Mozilla Internet Suite. It would be good to replace Firefox and Thunderbird with SeaMonkey: it works faster and it's the one application, so if you click a link in a letter, no external applications will be launched. SeaMonkey screenshot: http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3905/seamonkey.png

What about using SeaMonkey and integrating IT with Ubuntu One? This is the child of Mozilla Internet Suite. It would be good to replace Firefox and Thunderbird with SeaMonkey: it works faster and it's the one application, so if you click a link in a letter, no external applications will be launched. SeaMonkey screenshot: http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3905/seamonkey.png

Written by kernelOfTruth the 3 Mar 08 at 15:19.

Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #2767 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

<i>Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #2767 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution.</i><br /> Thanks!