How to make outline level buttons larger in calc in Windows 11

English
#1

This version info is a copy/paste from the About box, it says Windows 10 but I’m using Windows 11 (see below)
Version: 24.2.0.3 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: da48488a73ddd66ea24cf16bbc4f7b9c08e9bea1
CPU threads: 16; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 22631; UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: CL threaded

My version of windows:
Windows 11 Pro, 10.0.22631 Build 22631

I’m looking to fix these itty bitty grouping level buttons. They overlap and are near impossible to click on. The numbers in the screenshot say 1 2 3. In order to click, I need to click the upper left pixels of the button.

I did some searching around and couldn’t find anything other than toggling Skia but that didn’t change anything. I have an older LibreOffice on my Windows 10 and the whole side margin is much wider and regular buttons.

image

Thanks for any suggestions!
Scott

#2

Please enter the file type in which the file is saved. Thank you.

Edit a copy of your file so that it contains 2-3 pages and any personal data is removed, but the problem you described is still present. Please upload this file here.

#4

On the same computer, LibreOffice 6.4.7.2 appears the same size as 24.2.1.2
OutlineButtons6-4vs24-2
It seems that the scale or resolution on the older computer is different, Start menu > Settings > System > Display > Scale & Layout

AFAIK there isn’t an easy, user defined way to change the size of the Outline buttons in LibreOffice.

#3

Hi, here is the example doc in xlsx format
Outline levels issue.xlsx (11.5 KB)

Screenie from excel. So my other laptop (don’t have a screenie with that one just yet), looked very similar to excel where there was a lot more space and bigger buttons.
image

Thanks for the help!
Scott

#5

Unfortunately, there isn’t a built-in way to directly increase the size of the outline level buttons in LibreOffice Calc, even on Windows 11. Here’s what we know from the information you provided:

  • This seems to be a specific issue with LibreOffice version 24.2.0.3 on Windows 11 with Skia rendering enabled.

  • Older versions on Windows 10 might have a wider margin , making the buttons easier to click.

Here are some options you can consider:

  1. Toggle UI Rendering Engine: While you mentioned trying Skia, you could try switching between Skia and the other available rendering engine (usually GDI) in LibreOffice settings. This might affect the overall look of the interface, but it’s worth a shot to see if it changes the button size.

  2. Check for Updates: There might be newer versions of LibreOffice available that address this issue. It’s always a good practice to keep your software updated.

  3. Use Zoom: As a temporary workaround, you can use the zoom function (Ctrl + or mouse wheel) to temporarily enlarge the spreadsheet view, making the buttons easier to click.

  4. Consider Alternatives: If the button size is a major hindrance, you might explore alternative spreadsheet software [advertising removed - EarnestA] that offers more customization options for the interface elements.

While there’s no perfect solution right now, hopefully, these options provide some direction to improve your experience with LibreOffice Calc.

#6

No. It is the size set in the code. The same size as in Windows 10 too

  1. Nothing to do with rendering engine
  2. Different versions are all the same size
  3. Zoom won’t affect the size of the Outline buttons. The settings in Windows, Start menu > Settings > System > Display > Scale & Layout, will.
  4. You can explore different software but all software has advantages and disadvantages, this seems a minor issue on which to change completely. I have removed your advertising which go against the rules here.
#9

Same issue on Linux Fedora 42.
I know I should be grateful for an open source software. But grouping is one of the core functionalities. Changing the scale & layout in OS to make it easier to click in one software is not really an option as the scale changes all other running software.
Is it impossible for the developers to change Libre Calc’s code to make it more functional? It’s kind of a shame to put so much effort in developing the whole LibreCalc for it to be unusable for a simple, lay person.

#10

Has any of your common lay persons even asked?
In this thread you are the second interested person and I have not seen any developer.
.
The right place to ask for enhancements is bugzilla, and even then developers are free to decide, which topics they work on.

https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Ask/Guide_-_How_to_use_the_Ask_site/en

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=LibreOffice&bug_status=UNCONFIRMED&bug_severity=enhancement

#11

Thanks for pointing it out :grinning:

Has any of your common lay persons even asked?
In this thread you are the second interested person and I have not seen any developer.

I may have misunderstood you, but it sounds like you think that if people don’t bring the issue up it means there’s no issue at all. Asking takes effort: you have to find where to do it etc. The reason why I brought it up is because I want LibreOffice to succeed, to be widely adopted, to be able to put a pressure on Microsoft to keep them honest. It wont happen without “lay people”. And these “lay people” will not bother to ask or bring it up, they will just switch back to MS office.

Consider this experience:

  1. Fed up with MS office so go LibreOffice / fed up with Win11 so go Linux Fedora.
  2. Explore LibreOffice.
  3. Issue with using grouping in my existing spreadsheets.
  4. Google issue.
  5. Tiis thread comes up and it’s unresolved since 2024.

How many people will now register on this forum and start asking questions? How many people do you think will start researching how to bring it up to developers?

The right place to ask for enhancements is bugzilla, and even then developers are free to decide, which topics they work on.

Only if people like you (who know more and how things should be done, and who spend their free time to share their knowledge with newbies) take things in their hands can make the real difference. I didn’t even know what a bugzilla is :sweat_smile: However, to at least contribute within my knowledge level:

the issue is NOT present on:

  • Linux Mint 22.1 (Cinnamon)
  • Windows 11
  • Linux Arch (Plasma x11)

the issue IS present on:

  • Fedora 42
  • Linux Arch (Plasma wayland)
  • Linux Nobara (Official)

So what now: one user has the issue on Win11, one doesn’t. What shall we do in this instance as a community, to make it easier for other newbies / developers to make LibreCalc software of choice?

Meantime thank you for the link to Bugzilla, I’ll report my findings over there as well. Although now it seems like the issue may not be with the code, but with the OS - how come it’s fine on some Linux Distros and not on the others? What setting could be affecting it?

#12

That is why the pinned topic, How to use the Ask site, is there, see This is the guide - How to use the Ask site? - #3 by Hrbrgr

#13

You misread me. I will try to explain it.
Your car (e.g. Didge RAM) has an issue. If you don’t call dealer/manufakturer/repair shop there is still an issue, but nobody will even try to fix it.
.
In your “case” you found out sombode in Canada also had a problem, so drove to Canada and tell your issue at a meeting (of other users of Dodge cars, not necessary the same model.
.
I just told you this will not help solving the issue.

Fixing also and I guess your two post here are longer than a proper request for enhancement.

Don’t know, but if they don’t think it is worth their time, why should anybody care. Let’s fix problems, where more people are interested. There is a lot of work to do, so one needs to develop a system where to start.

Therefore I told you the right place and linked it. (In my example I would have told you the number of the hotline od the manufacturer.)

Actually I don’t care. For me it is important to have choice, so I help here and even licenced another suite of a smaller company. But I have no illusions of “competing” with a company wich sells the OS and one quite popular Office suite.

#7

Hi, thanks for the suggestions so far. I did try adjusting scale & layout and it scales as expected but the problem is still there. For the heck of it, I tried switching my theme from dark to light in windows 11 and still the same overlapping button issue.

The buttons for outline mode are still usable which is nice. Not sure if it’ll help but hopefully a little later I can get ahold of my old laptop with an older libre office calc and post a screenshot with the same file. That one runs windows 10.

It would be interesting to see if I can downgrade to that version on my windows 11 to that same version on my windows 10.

Thanks!
Scott

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