When I’m using Writer, I’d like to see only documents previously opened by that applicaiton in the recent document list. When I’m in Calc, same; I want to see only spreadsheets on that list. I’m not quite sure why everyone else does not also want it this way!
Is there a way to configure LibreOffice to work in this way?
See this enhancement request:
Bug 56696 - No option to make recent documents list show items for just the currently active LibO module
Just a technical detail.
For LibreOffice, there is nothing in a file that tells LibreOffice what module it belongs to - until LibreOffice actually starts loading it. LibreOffice basically does not take file extension into account - it takes a file and performs a number of tests on it to detect what the file actually is, examining its internal structure, to decide which import filter to use. Certain things (like pre-selecting a filter in File Open dialog box, or specifying a module/filter in command prompt) might limit the program’s set of choices, but that is some explicit actions on the user side; generally, LibreOffice does not know what module to use until it examined the contents of the file.
And LibreOffice does not keep the information which module was used for any file in its MRU list. So you may see, e.g., that if you explicitly used Writer to open a CSV, the CSV would appear in the MRU list, but clicking it would launch Calc - not Writer - that’s because LibreOffice didn’t remember using Writer last time, and used normal detection from scratch the next time.
Possibly the pre-requisite for the RFE would be implementing saving used module (or even specific filter) with the document in MRU; but also extending the list to allow overriding the remembered filter (if user made a mistake)…
That is a good explanation of HOW the current system works (as in fails to allow for them to be differentiated) but not WHY it can’t work. It can work, as there is an extension that provides this ability.
I would simply as that there be an option in the preferences: Keep document types separate by extension, vs include all documents on list. There would be a checkbox to tell it to put CVS extension documents in the S or T list.
This is a problem that needs fixing if we want more people to use LibreOffice instead of the MS Office and others.
LibreOffice is a great program. Calc is much better than the Mac alternative and Writer is as good as anything out there. It’s the little things that can hold you back when trying to get others onto the bandwagon and I can say with 100% certainty that this recent documents list issue is one of the two biggest issues (the other is defaulting to the search bar when trying to type in a filename at save).
LibreOffice should be able to show list of sorted items relevant to the program you are using.
Do not answer a question unless it is a real answer. Yours is not.
In Feb 2024 I just stumbled onto the fact that this is fixed.
I’m answering here as this shows better in my search results than the relevant realse notes did!
By default it now shows the 5 most recent specific files, but you can change an expert settings to get the requested “application exclusive” behaviour.
Edit: I’m going to cite the specific expert setting here, as this topic is well indexed on the web and the setting is non-obvious to remember:
The recent documents picklist under File ▸ Recent Documents now shows the 5 most recent module-specific items first. The list can be configured using the ShowCurrentModuleOnly expert option to show only files that can be handled by the current module.
Hurrah! and thanks to those involved in implementing.
Indeed, this comes up way higher than any other explanation in searches.
I found this thread as I was trying to find a way to turn off the new behaviour. It doesn’t suit the way my brain works and after 20 years plus of using a single list in all manner of applications it’s a big time waster for me and annoying to boot.
If anyone knows a way to turn this off and just present a time ordered recent list I’d be grateful.
Unfortunately, while I can use the expert settings and have no issue doing so, I find it incredibly difficult to find “related” settings to topics I am interested in. Not surprising when you look at what you are changing. Unfortunately the mentioned setting doesn’t help me.
Still love the basic product tho!
…and a plea to UI designers and coders changing this sort of thing. Sure, add things if people are asking for new ways of working but please don’t cut off those that have already invested time and effort with the current UI. Provide options to use both/all methods.
“Feature fixing” on the basis of no of requests in a bug /feature management system is fatally flawed. You can have 10000 votes for a new way of working but you ain’t going to get 20000 votes from the 10,000,000 users saying leave it alone - because if it ain’t broke users aren’t going to go look to see if someone is proposing to change what they use, know and love. We all only look if we want something different because we haven’t got time to give feedback on every minor feature of every applicaiton that we use on each of our devices.
Thanks for listening.