How to Customize Toolbars and Menus in LibreOffice

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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LibreOffice is a powerful open-source office suite that offers a plethora of features to meet various user needs. An important feature of LibreOffice is its customizability, especially with regard to toolbars and menus. By customizing these interface elements, users can streamline their workflow, making the software more intuitive and personal. This guide will provide detailed information on how to effectively customize toolbars and menus in LibreOffice.

Understanding toolbars and menus in LibreOffice

Before moving on to the customization process, it is essential to understand the role of toolbars and menus in LibreOffice:

• Toolbars: These are groups of buttons or controls arranged in a row or column, providing quick access to frequently used features and functions.
• Menus: Menus provide a structured way to access various commands and tools within an application. They are usually displayed as dropdown lists at the top of the application window.

Customizing the toolbar

Customizing the toolbar in LibreOffice involves adding, removing, or rearranging toolbar elements according to your specific needs. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Accessing the toolbar customization options

To customize your toolbar, follow these steps:

1. Open any LibreOffice application such as Writer, Calc or Impress.
2. Go to the main menu and select View.
3. Under the View menu, click Toolbars. This will bring up a list of toolbars available in the application.
4. At the bottom of this list, you will find an option called Customize. Click on it.

2. Adding and removing toolbar items

Once you've opened the customization window, you can start adding or removing toolbar items:

• To add an item:
  1. From the Toolbars tab, select the toolbar you want to customize.
  2. Click on the Add button. This will open a new window.
  3. In the Category section, select the type of command you want to add.
  4. Select the desired command from the Commands section.
  5. Click Add to add the command to your toolbar.
• To delete an item:
  1. Select the toolbar you want to customize.
  2. In the Toolbar Contents list, select the item you want to remove.
  3. Click the Delete button.

3. Reorder toolbar items

After you add or remove items, you may want to reorder them to improve accessibility:

1. Select the toolbar you want to customize.
2. In the Toolbar Contents list, click the item you want to move.
3. Use the up and down buttons to change the order of the items.

4. Creating a new toolbar

In addition to modifying existing toolbars, LibreOffice allows you to create new toolbars tailored to specific tasks:

1. In the Customization window, click the New button.
2. Name your new toolbar in the prompt that appears.
3. Once created, your toolbar will appear in the list, ready for customization.

5. Example: customizing the toolbar in LibreOffice Writer

Suppose you frequently use functions such as “Cut”, “Copy”, and “Paste”, and you want to display these prominently in a custom toolbar in LibreOffice Writer:

1. Open LibreOffice Writer.
2. Go to View > Toolbars > Customize.
3. Select New to create a toolbar named "Editing".
4. In the customization window, click Add.
5. In the Category section, select Edit.
6. Add the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands to your new "Edit" toolbar.
7. Adjust your order to your liking using the up and down buttons.

Customizing the menu

In addition to the toolbar, the menus in LibreOffice can be customized to include, exclude, or reorder commands according to the user's preference. Here's how you can customize the menus:

1. Accessing the menu customization options

Follow these steps to customize your menu:

1. Open the LibreOffice application of your choice, for example, Calc.
2. Click Tools in the main menu, then choose Customize from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Customize dialog box, go to the Menu tab.

2. Modifying menu entries

Customizing menu entries includes adding, removing, or reorganizing them:

• To add a menu entry:
  1. In the Menus section select the menu you want to modify.
  2. Click on Add. A dialog box will appear.
  3. Select the appropriate category and then choose a command from the list.
  4. Press Add to add the command to your menu.
• To delete a menu entry:
  1. Select the menu you want to change.
  2. Highlight the unwanted command in the menu content area.
  3. Click Delete.

3. Reordering menu items

To organize menu items logically or according to your workflow, follow these steps:

1. Select the menu you want to customize.
2. In the Menu Contents list, click and hold the menu item you want to move.
3. Drag it to its new position or use the up and down buttons to adjust its order.

4. Example: customizing the menu in LibreOffice Calc

Let's say you want to add quick access to the "Goal Seek" function to LibreOffice Calc's Tools menu:

1. Open LibreOffice Calc.
2. Go to Tools > Customize.
3. Go to the Menu tab inside the Customize box.
4. In the Menu section, select Tools.
5. Click Add and go to Category > Spreadsheets.
6. Select Target Search from the Commands list and click Add.
7. Use the up and down buttons to adjust its position in the Tools menu.

Additional optimization tips

In addition to the toolbars and menus, there are additional ways to personalize your experience in LibreOffice:

1. Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can make your work even more efficient. You can manage them like this:

1. Open the Customize dialog box.
2. Go to the Keyboard tab.
3. Choose a command and assign a unique keyboard shortcut.

2. Resetting the toolbars and menus

If you make unwanted changes or want to start over, resetting is a simple process:

1. Reopen the Customize dialog box.
2. In the Toolbars or Menus tab, select the toolbar or menu you want to reset.
3. Click Reset and then confirm your choice.

Benefits of customizing toolbars and menus

Customizing toolbars and menus has several benefits:

• Increased productivity: Keeping frequently used commands within easy reach reduces search time, thus increasing your productivity.
• Personal workspace: A workspace that meets your specific needs can dramatically improve your interaction with the software.
• Improved user experience: Users who customize their toolbars and menus often find the software more intuitive and user-friendly.

Conclusion

Customizing the toolbars and menus in LibreOffice is a straightforward but powerful way to boost your productivity and make the software work for you. By understanding how to adjust these elements to your needs, you can create a more efficient and user-friendly workspace. Remember, the key to effective customization is simplicity and functionality - focus on including the tools you use most while keeping your interface clean and organized. Whether you're a casual user or an advanced professional, personalized toolbars and menus can greatly enhance your LibreOffice experience.

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