New StartCenter replaces StartModule

After a hectic week of discussion, implementation and rewriting we now have a new initial window when you start OpenOffice.org without a document. This up to now brought up a large window (so large because it defines the size of the document that will replace it) in "battleship gray" as some call it. On most platforms you don't see this window so often, because system integration will usually leave you with an application window (Writer, Impress, Calc, ...) instead. On Mac however the so called StartModule is the norm rather than the exception. So we put a long planned overhaul of the StartModule in motion. The first plan was to use a dialog replacing the StartModule, however that would lead to questions about modality, startup and exit behavior due to the modal event loop and similar issues.

So in the end we decided to improve the existing StartModule instead, turning it into the new StartCenter. The StartCenter contains a host of labeled buttons (natively themed where available of course) that allow the user to create a new document or open an existing one. It also shows the same menu entries as before, so additional features like the recent file list are still available.

A little toolbox marks the lower right side of the new StartCenter giving the user the possibility to enhance his OpenOffice.org experience in the Web. Replacing the "battleship gray" background by a nice gradient rounds the new look to the new nice window you can see be

Turn this	Into this

The old StartModule	The new StartCenter

My thanks go to

Stella for creating the new images in a short timeframe (and in rapid succession as the design evolved).
Frank Loehmann for working extra time in design

and many others who made this possible in a rather short timeframe.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that this is not integrated into the master yet, but part of CWS aquavcl05 which is now "Ready for QA". Integration into the master should be before the 3.0 Beta feature freeze on 6th of march.

tags: mac openoffice.org