How I Declutter My Main Menu

DoctorOhh · 01-07-2024, 05:16 PM

I was asked how I manage my plugins and menus. The person is new, and their menu has been over run by icons. I have attached 2 images.

1. The first image shows the plugins/menu items I have attached to the right click (or "Context Menu") on a book menu. These items usually apply to single books. You can configure this via Preferences - Toolbars & Menus.

2. The second image shows the menu I configured via the Favourites plugin. Most items here most often apply to libraries or multiple books.

There are countless ways to arrange your menus. To keep my main menu decluttered, I chose to arrange items as shown in the two menus attached.

Sirtel · 01-07-2024, 05:43 PM

I keep exactly as many items on the main menu as I can fit on the toolbar without running to a second line, because the main menu is the easiest and quickest way for me to access something (I hate keyboard shortcuts). For the rest I use the Favorites plugin and a handful of items are on the context menu (I hate cluttered context menus far more than cluttered toolbars).

BetterRed · 01-08-2024, 01:39 AM

My version of minimal clutter calibre:

Click image for larger version

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I would prefer not to have that toolbar with its no-icon Preferences. I never use it from there, I either press Ctrl+P or use it from the book list context menu.

BR

uli · 01-08-2024, 08:59 AM

I use action-chains, but when I need manual intervention, the toolbar is grouped in stages:

ingest: extract isbn, edit meta, polish, embed
review: find, quality, duplicates
read: history, column views, sync, reading lists*
*with the most common placed under the Favourites Menu addon (star)

theducks · 01-08-2024, 01:20 PM

I use all 3+, but remove those icons I never use. FWIW I also use Context menues, so some of the relevant (book level) items my only be there.

The Menu: (words only) Preferences, Help, Fetch News

Hoo boy! I have become a bit inconsistent

over time.

Main toolbar (no device) was supposed to be Basic Library (Add, Convert, send t...)

Main (device) dropped those that I would not need/use while a device was connected)

Secondary is utility Plugins, things that may be used with or without a device connected

01-07-2024, 05:16 PM	#1
DoctorOhh US Navy, Retired Posts: 9,864 Karma: 13806776 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Icarus Illumina XL HD, Nexus 7	How I Declutter My Main Menu I was asked how I manage my plugins and menus. The person is new, and their menu has been over run by icons. I have attached 2 images. 1. The first image shows the plugins/menu items I have attached to the right click (or "Context Menu") on a book menu. These items usually apply to single books. You can configure this via Preferences - Toolbars & Menus. 2. The second image shows the menu I configured via the Favourites plugin. Most items here most often apply to libraries or multiple books. There are countless ways to arrange your menus. To keep my main menu decluttered, I chose to arrange items as shown in the two menus attached. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by DoctorOhh; 01-07-2024 at 05:22 PM.

01-08-2024, 01:39 AM	#3
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,590 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	My version of minimal clutter calibre: I would prefer not to have that toolbar with its no-icon Preferences. I never use it from there, I either press Ctrl+P or use it from the book list context menu. BR Last edited by BetterRed; 01-08-2024 at 01:43 AM. Reason: wrong screenshot

01-08-2024, 08:59 AM	#4
uli Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 194274 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo, Calibre	I use action-chains, but when I need manual intervention, the toolbar is grouped in stages: ingest: extract isbn, edit meta, polish, embed review: find, quality, duplicates read: history, column views, sync, reading lists* *with the most common placed under the Favourites Menu addon (star) Attached Thumbnails

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01-07-2024, 05:43 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,154 Karma: 224760044 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I keep exactly as many items on the main menu as I can fit on the toolbar without running to a second line, because the main menu is the easiest and quickest way for me to access something (I hate keyboard shortcuts). For the rest I use the Favorites plugin and a handful of items are on the context menu (I hate cluttered context menus far more than cluttered toolbars).

01-08-2024, 01:20 PM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,819 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I use all 3+, but remove those icons I never use. FWIW I also use Context menues, so some of the relevant (book level) items my only be there. The Menu: (words only) Preferences, Help, Fetch News Hoo boy! I have become a bit inconsistent over time. Main toolbar (no device) was supposed to be Basic Library (Add, Convert, send t...) Main (device) dropped those that I would not need/use while a device was connected) Secondary is utility Plugins, things that may be used with or without a device connected