Bug 308918

Summary:	Welcome open/template dialog prevents immediate use of application
Product:	[Applications] calligracommon	Reporter:	Paul Gideon Dann <pdgiddie+kde>
Component:	usability	Assignee:	Calligra Bugs <calligra-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Severity:	normal	CC:	cbo
Priority:	NOR
Version:	2.5.3
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Arch Linux
OS:	Linux
URL:	http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/pdgiddie/Shared%20Screenshots/words_zps0d7b5774.png
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Paul Gideon Dann 2012-10-24 08:45:02 UTC

When starting any Calligra application, you are greeted with an open dialog / template selection screen.  Apart from the fact that many of the template icons are blurry and could do with a touch of colour (Stage is slightly better), the presentation of the dialog itself leaves me with an immediate sense of frustration, because I have to think (actually quite hard!) in order to figure out what I have to do to start using the application.

When starting Words or Sheets, I see a significant expanse of empty space and a tiny little "Use this Template" button hidden away in the bottom-right-hand corner.  When Words or Sheets starts, I would expect to immediately see an empty document or spreadsheet that I can start using.  The application needs to be instantly useful.  The question of templates and opening documents needs to be dealt with elsewhere, either in a sidebar or toolbar.  At least on startup, Calligra needs to get out of the way of the user a bit more in order to prevent that first frustration.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Start a Calligra application
2. Feel frustrated that a dialog is preventing you from using the application.
Actual Results:  
Frustration.

Expected Results:  
Glorious bliss.

Great work on Calligra.  I'm routing for you guys and really want Calligra to succeed!

Comment 1 Paul Gideon Dann 2012-10-24 08:48:41 UTC

In case anyone missed the example image I submitted: http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/pdgiddie/Shared%20Screenshots/words_zps0d7b5774.png

Comment 2 Camilla Boemann 2012-10-24 08:51:30 UTC

Though I personally agree with you the opinions are divided on this issue

May I suggest that you just select a basic template and click the "always use this template" checkbox

from then on it will behave as you wish

Comment 3 Paul Gideon Dann 2012-10-24 08:56:55 UTC

Could you point me to the discussion?  Or can we at least least leave the bug open so the blurry icons, empty space, and tiny button can be dealt with?  I suspect this is a serious issue that is turning users away.  I really want to love Calligra, but this pretty much turned me off as soon as I saw it.

At the very least, get a usability expert to look at that dialog.  It's a big problem.

Comment 4 Camilla Boemann 2012-10-24 09:23:21 UTC

The discussions happened on irc and back on the old koffice-devel mailing list

And it supposedly was a usability expert that designed this - I have my doubts - and agree with you it's really bad, but I'm not going to have a bug open that has already been decided on.

I suggest you send a mail to calligra-devel to reopen the discussion. You can link to this bug in the mail.