[Issue] Separate recent documents for separate apps

[hsiboss]

OpenOffice 2.3.1
Windows XP
I used Writer and Calc for two different types of work and think it would
be really handy to have separate recent document lists rather than having
them mixed. I start the appropriate program first, then pick the document
so it doesn't make much sense to see the wrong type in the list.

Is there any way to accomplish this? Thanks for any idea you guys
might have on this.

[Villeroy]

This office is one single application.

[Bill]

You can submit an enhancement request at Submit an Issue.

[acknak]

See Issue 8245: Recently used files displayed goes for all apps. It's been around a long time, but has only 5 votes, so it hardly seems like an urgent problem. However, I would agree that sharing the list between all the OOo apps, with no more helpful an interface than a plain text list, makes the list rather uncomfortable to use.

You can register and add a vote (up to two) or a comment there.

One workaround that has been suggested a number of times, is to use separate folders for the different types of files, and then open the files from the file manager rather than from the application. You should be able to configure the file manager to keep the folder views sorted by last modification date, and so you have a recently used file list by application.

[hsiboss]

Thanks for the answers guys. Not what I wanted to hear, but
we can't have everything. Sadly the "double click" thing isn't
going to work because I have enforced a policy in my business
for years that nobody is ever allowed to open a file by clicking
on it in explorer (Windows) because it is just too dangerous.
Since I make everybody else open the application first, I think
I'll have to keep following the same rule.

I will go post my vote. I would have thought more people would
have thought that there is nothing in common between
word processor documents and spreadsheets, but I've been
wrong before.

For a free product this good, I guess we have to take a
few lumps now and again.

....Steve

[acknak]

Sorry, I've never heard that opening a file through the file manager is dangerous--can you explain?

[Dave]

Sorry, I've never heard that opening a file through the file manager is dangerous--can you explain?

I don't know about that in particular [I use a 2-panel file manager, not MS crap in any event], but MS is vulnerable. I have Gigabytes of storage used by updates and all sort of other garbage, such a "system Volume Information] whatever that means, to correct the original programs [and none of which work].

Back to the original question: Are "Recent" documents that far back that they are so difficult to manage from the drop-down list, even if mixed?

David.

[hsiboss]

When I said opening files by clicking on them was dangerous I was
speaking of Windows systems. I use a Linux system for most work
but do have Windows also and most of the people who work for me
use Windows, hence the rule.

Yes, I think it is both difficult and annoying to have the two types
of documents mixed in one list. The whole point is that I have
already decided what type of document I'll be working with when
I start the appropriate program, so why should I see the "wrong"
kind of document in the list? I start either Writer or Calc because
I know what I want to do; why would I start Calc to work on a
word-processing document? To me it just seems silly to mix them.
I guess I don't understand why anyone would see mixing the document
types as a "feature".

[acknak]

It's a feature if you commonly use several different types of document. It means I can easily open my recent Writer document even if all I have open at the time is a spreadsheet.

Here's another approach (courtesy of Bhikkhu Pesala: Recent files list. You'll still need separate folders for each type of document, but you won't have to launch from the file manager.

BTW, you still haven't explained how it causes trouble to open files from the file manager. If you're not sure, that's fine. I'd just like to understand, so I don't continue to recommend something that can cause problems.

[Dave]

When I said opening files by clicking on them was dangerous I was
speaking of Windows systems.

No it's not. It's called Multitasking, and why it's called "Windows", and I've been doing that for years and years [**]. An alternative [but really the same thing] is to organise files into different folders on the desktop and open them from there. I also do that frequently, and simply double-click a document icon to load it.

[**] Not without the very occasional glitch, but what software has no glitches? I'm amazed that an assembly of people around the globe can manufacture an assembly of quite different programs, and have them work in concert at all.

David.

[Baasha]

Hsiboss, I have opened an issue request for enhancement #88189 which may solve your problem if it is adopted. That is to modify the paths so each component of OOo can be assigned its own directory. That way, when you are in Writer the path points to the directory where you keep all your writer documents, Calc points to the Calc directory, etc. I'm not sure where the recent documents list is drawn from, but perhaps this enhancement may help with your problem. If you think so, please vote for this issue.

[John6740]

Back to Recent Documents. Would it be possible to list them as now, followed by a line, and then a list of recent files for the application type.

[Hagar Delest]

Please read the Survival Guide for the forum. If you want to ask for a feature, add a comment in the bug report.