Re: [libreoffice-design] Styles - thread on styles vs direct format

On 08/08/2025 1:36, Octavio Alvarez wrote:
> However, this is difficult to grasp for some users, especially those 
> more visually-driven than algorithmically-driven. I'd say this is most 
> users, right?

I will challenge the claim, that for most users, it is difficult to 
grasp that DF overrides styles. And I don't agree that this corresponds 
to "visually-drive" vs "algorithmically-driven" - in both kinds of 
behavior, you don't get clear visual indication of the current state of 
affairs.

> So there are some UI tweaks to make it easier for users, 
> especially to easily "reset" inadvertent styles use. For example:
>
> 1. If at the beginning of a blank paragraph a style is chosen, DF is 
> removed for future typing in that position.

This already happens for some settings. For example - paragraph direction.

> 2. If a user applies some DF to a whole paragraph (not part of it) and 
> then applies a style, DF is removed. Highlight the whole paragraph and 
> reapplying Default Paragraph Formatting, removes the highlighting.

I would not be against allowing for this somehow, e.g. via a pref, a 
pop-up context toolbar, or what-not. But by default - I'm against. We 
need our DF.

> #1 can thought as a specific case of #2.
>
> 3. Applying some DF to a part of a paragraph is not susceptible to 
> resetting as mentioned in point #2. If you highlight part of a paragraph 
> and reapply Default Paragraph Formatting, the highlighting is kept.

Paragraph properties mostly apply to the whole paragraph. Also, I'm not 
at all sure I like the inconsistency you're proposing.

> 4. If on a DF-bolded word you click on Bold with the intention of 
> "removing DF-bold", it will not "remove DF-bold". It will, instead, 
> "apply Regular as DF". For some users this is good enough, but this 
> makes the supposedly-reset text to behave according to points 2 or 3.

No clear opinion on this one.

> I am not saying I like or dislike any of these (though I do haha). It's 
> a difficult balance.

Indeed. :-(


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