https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=171563
Bug ID: 171563
Summary: Add preference to filter Elements panel by notation
system (Western / Arabic / Persian)
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 26.2.1.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: medium
Component: Formula Editor
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
This is my first time using LibreOffice Math. When I opened the Elements panel,
I immediately saw Arabic and Persian symbols mixed into what is otherwise a
fully Latin interface. My first reaction was that something was wrong with my
installation or my fonts. I spent a significant amount of time trying to figure
out what was broken before I stumbled upon bug 163503 and realized this was
intentional.
I understand the feature was added deliberately in 24.2 (bug 111705, bug
134193) and I am not asking for it to be removed. But I do think the current
implementation creates unnecessary confusion for new users.
It is extremely rare for a Latin speaker to need Arabic math notation. The
reverse is arguably less true, since Arabic speaking students are often exposed
to Western notation. So the mixed panel is not equally useful to all users. For
a typical Western user it is just extra cognitive load with no benefit.
A simple user preference to filter the Elements panel by notation system
(Western, Arabic, Persian, or All) would solve this cleanly. A first launch
prompt would be even better. This does not remove anything from anyone, it just
gives users control over what they see.
There is also a scalability concern here. Right now it is three notation
systems. If more are added in the future, say CJK math notation, Indic notation
systems like Devanagari, or other regional variants, the merged panel approach
is going to get progressively harder to use for everyone, including Arabic and
Persian users who have to visually parse through Latin symbols to find what
they need. Building in a filtering mechanism now avoids a much bigger problem
later.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open LibreOffice Math
2. Open the Elements panel (View -> Elements)
3. Look at the Functions or Operators tab
Actual Results:
The Functions and Operators tabs show Arabic and Persian symbols mixed in with
Latin symbols, with no indication of what they are or why they are there. A new
user with no prior knowledge of bug 163503 or the 24.2 release notes has no way
of knowing this is intentional. The natural assumption is that something is
wrong with the installation or font rendering.
Expected Results:
The Elements panel should either show only the symbols relevant to the user's
locale by default, or provide a preference to filter by notation system. At
minimum there should be a visible section heading or separator that clearly
labels which symbols belong to which notation system, so a new user is not left
confused.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: Yes
Additional Info:
This was reported multiple times by different users (bug 163503, bug 164342,
bug 169699) and was marked NOTABUG. A documentation fix was filed as bug 169729
but documentation alone does not address the UX problem. Users should not need
to read release notes or stumble upon old bug reports to understand why their
interface looks the way it does.
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