Videos/User interface/en

Foreword
This video shows an Overview of the Graphic User Interface (GUI, UI for short) in LibreOffice and how to customize it to your needs.

This description refers to the LibreOffice 7.3 version.

Link to the Video
Link to the Video (in German [DE]):

Benutzeroberfläche - LibreOffice 7.3

The UI
The settings start with the selection of the user interface (UI) in LibreOffice.

You can make the settings in the Writer, Calc, Impress and Draw modules.

In this description we choose the way with the help of Writer.

Select user interface variant


Select [[Media:211273_Writer01 Menu View User Interface.png|]] ( UI ) from the menu, with the goal of selecting the user interface of your choice the first time you launch LibreOffice.

The [[Media:211273_Writer02-01 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Choose your preferred user interface" dialog]] appears.

You now have the option to choose from several user interface variants.

The selection is made on the left in the dialog.

On the right side of the dialog there is a preview and below it an explanation of the variant.

Standard Toolbar
The [[Media:211273_Writer02-01 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Standard Toolbar"]] variant is the default setting after installing LibreOffice.

The "Standard" user interface with menu, toolbar and collapsed sidebar.

For users familiar with the classic interface.

Tabbet
The user interface [[Media:211273_Writer02-02 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Tabbet"]] is most similar to the ribbon bars used in Microsoft Offfice.

It organizes the functions in tabs and makes the menu obsolete.

Single Toolbar
The user interface [[Media:211273_Writer02-03 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Single Toolbar"]] is similar to "Standard", but comes with a single toolbar.

Intended for use on small screens.

Sidebar
Corresponds to the user interface Standard with extended [[Media:211273_Writer02-04 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Sidebar"]].

Suitable for experienced users who want to quickly change many different properties.

Tabbed Compact
The [[Media:211273_Writer02-05 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Tabbed Compact"]] variant is based on the Microsoft Office interface, but takes up less space for smaller screens.

Groupedbar Compact
The [[Media:211273_Writer02-06 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Groupedbar Compact"]] interface provides access to functions in groups, with icons for the most frequently used functions and drop-down menus for others.

This compact variant prefers vertical space.

Contextual Single
The [[Media:211273_Writer02-07 Dialog Select Your Preferred User Interface.png|"Contextual Single"]] interface displays functions in a single-line toolbar with context-dependent content.

Note The further description refers to the user interfaces variant "Standard Toolbar".

Return from Tabbet and Tabbet Compact
In the top bar on the far left, select the "Menubar" icon if it is not visible.

Select from the menu.

Click "Standard Toolbar" and e.g.,.

Return from Single Toolbar, Sidebar and Contextual Single
Choose from the menu.

Click "Standard Toolbar" and e.g.,.

Return from Groupedbar Compact
On the top right hand side is the "Menu" selection.

Click on the small black arrow to the right of it and select.

Click "Standard Toolbar" and e.g.,.

Menu in Writer


As in almost every program, you will find a menu in Writer.

It is located at the very top just below the display of the document name and type.

This is also called the "Mainmenu" or just "Menu".

When you click on a menu item in the menu, a drop-down menu opens with several menu items to choose from.

Click File here, for example, and the [[Media:211273_Writer03 Menu File Close.png|]] menu will open.

Only the submenu items that are possible in the current state of the document are offered for execution.

Submenu items that cannot be used in the current situation are grayed out.

In the upper menu bar, each menu item has a corresponding submenu.

The menu is always present in the "Toolbars" user interface variant.

Except in the state,.

Toolbars in general


Writer offers toolbars for different purposes.

Some of them are already switched on the screen by default.

It starts with the [[Media:211273_Writer05 Toolbar Standard.png|"Standard"]] toolbar, which can be used to select the frequently used commands.

The toolbars for [[Media:211273_Writer06 Toolbar Formatting.png|"Formatting"]] and [[Media:211273_Writer07 Toolbar Drawing.png|"Drawing"]] are usually also enabled or can be enabled.

All toolbars can be selected manually from the menu, [[Media:211273_Writer04 Menu View Toolbars Tb.png|]], and thus enabled or disabled.

Toolbars are also automatically turned on or off depending on the situation (context sensitive) and they are placed differently when called.

You can dock and undock toolbars and lock or unlock toolbars.

If you move the mouse over a symbol of a toolbar, in most cases a [[Media:211273_Writer09 Icon Save with Helptext.png|"Help text"]] appears. ( Example: "Save" ) and thus explains the function of the symbol.

Toolbars can be displayed in three different states.

Toolbar in free space
Toolbars in free space are not docked to any of the four sides and have a label bar at the top that contains the name of the toolbar

Toolbar docked with handle


Toolbars can be docked to any of the four edges.

You can dock a toolbar by left-clicking-hold-dragging it to one of the four edges in free space until a gray frame becomes visible.

Now release the mouse button.

The toolbar now has a so-called handle at the front end, which visually consists of six small vertical points.

If you move the mouse over the handle, the cursor changes its shape to an arrow cross.

If you click on the handle, you can also position the toolbar as desired or tear it off again into the free space.

Toolbar locked
You can also lock a docked toolbar.

To do this, right-click on the toolbar and select "Lock Toolbar Position" from the drop-down menu.

The handle is no longer visible and the toolbar is now locked in place.

Toolbar drop-down menus
With a right mouse click in a toolbar the corresponding Drop-Down-Menu appears. ( Example: [[Media:211273_Writer08 Drop-down-Menu Standard.png|"Standard"]] ).

There you can see the name of the respective toolbar and there are possibilities to customize the toolbar.

Status bar


The [[Media:211273_Writer10 Status Bar.png|"Status Bar"]] is located at the bottom.

It can be switched on and off via.

Now look at the status bar from left to right.

It starts with the [[Media:211273_Writer10-01 Status Bar Save Status from Dokument.png|Document storage status]].

Followed by the [[Media:211273_Writer10-02 Status Bar Page and Page number.png|"Page" and "Page number"]] display.

The [[Media:211273_Writer10-03 Status Bar Word- and Character count.png|"Word and Character count"]] follows.

With a left-click here the dialog [[Media:211273_Writer10-03-01 Status Bar Dialog Word Count.png|"Word Count"]] can be opened.

The [[Media:211273_Writer10-04 Status Bar Page Template.png|"Page template"]] is also displayed.

Here you can right-click to select a template from a [[Media:211273_Writer10-04-01 Status Bar Drop-down Default Template.png|"Drop-down menu"]].

Left-click to open the [[Media:211273_Writer10-04-02 Status Bar Dialog Default Page Style.png|"Page template"]] dialog.

The [[Media:211273_Writer10-05 Status Bar Text linguage.png|"Text language"]] follows.

Right- or left-click to select the [[Media:211273_Writer10-05-01 Status Bar Drop-down Text Linguage.png|"Text Language"]].

In the next field the [[Media:211273_Writer10-06 Status Bar Overwrite mode.png|"Overwrite Mode"]] can be switched ON or OFF.


 * ON = Insert mode
 * OFF = Overwrite mode.

This is followed by the [[Media:211273_Writer10-07 Status Bar Selection.png|"Selection"]].

Further on the selection of a [[Media:211273_Writer10-08 Status Bar Digital Signature.png|"Digital signature"]].

Then the selection of [[Media:211273_Writer10-09 Status Bar Page view.png|"Page view"]].


 * Single page view
 * Multiple pages view
 * Book view



Next to it a "Zoom bar" followed by a "Zoom factor" display.

A left-click on the "Zoom factor" display shows the [[Media:211273_Writer10-10-01 Status Bar Zoom and View Layout.png|"Zoom and View Layout"]] dialog.

Right-click on the display shows the drop-down menu, [[Media:211273_Writer10-10-02 Status Bar Drop-down-Menu Zoom factor.png|"Zoom factor" Drop-down menu]].

Some of the status bar functions can be selected with the right and/or left mouse button.

See also: Zoom functions under Windows

Sidebar


If the [[Media:211273_Writer11-01 Sidebar Properties.png|"Sidebar"]], docked by default on the right margin, is not present, it can be turned on with  to turn it on - or can also be switched off (toggle function).

The sidebar is adapted to the current context.

Sidebar functions
On the right side of the sidebar are [[Media:211273_Writer11 Sidebar Icons.png|"Icons" for different functions]].

It starts at the top right with the "Sidebar settings" (Hamburger menu).

These settings basically correspond to the icons below.

The next icon shows the "Properties" that adapt to the corresponding situation.

In the simplest case, the properties and choices for the text are displayed.

Depending on what is currently being edited, properties of e.g. objects and images are displayed.

The next icon on the sidebar selects the [[Media:211273_Writer11-02 Sidebar Styles.png|"Styles"]], e.g. paragraph styles for text bodies and headings.

The icon below it selects the "Gallery".

This can be used to insert ready-made images into the document, e.g. for use for the background.

The next icon calls up the "Navigator".

Below that is the "Page" icon, which shows the settings from the menu.

And below that, a "Style Inspector" icon.

Undock sidebar
The sidebar can be [[Media:220273_Writer21 Sidebar undocked.png|undocked]].

Click-hold-drag the sidebar with the left mouse button.

The sidebar is then free floating and can be placed anywhere on the screen.

The sidebar can be terminated while undocked by clicking on the cross in the upper right corner.

Dock sidebar
The sidebar can be docked again with dragging to the left or right edge.

You may need to drag the sidebar slightly beyond the right or left edge.

[[Media:220273_Writer22 Sidebar with gray frame.png|When a gray frame appears]], release the mouse button.

Docking can also be done with.

Note: If you are using a laptop, you may also need to press the - key.

Hamburger menu


When you click on the "Hamburger Menu" icon, a drop-down menu opens.

Here you can also select the functions located under this icon.

In the drop-down menu you can also undock the sidebar.

Or close the sidebar.

With the menu item [[Media:211273_Writer16 Sidebar Context menu Customisation.png|"Customisation"]] you can deactivate or activate functions.

Documentation / Manuals
Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:

Documentation / Manuals

Any questions?
For questions on this topic go to:

Ask.LibreOffice

Get Involved
Join us today and help us to make it even better!

Get Involved

Donate
LibreOffice is Free Software and is made available free of charge.

Your donation, which is purely optional, supports our worldwide community.

If you like the software, please consider a Donation.