'Create Document' sub-menu superfluous when no templates are installed

I think that it would be easier for the medium user if the more common types of documents were included by default in this menu. As most people work with OpenOffice documents, it could be a good idea to add "OpenOffice Writer document" and "OpenOffice Calc document" at least.

I'd also add a text document to that list (.txt).

I totally agree that it would be very handy and useful to integrate some very common templates, like a new empty Writer Document, Spreadsheet, empty PNG Image file and so on.

Also folders could be very useful like:
Office
 - Document
 - Spreadsheet
 - Presentation
Graphics
 - PNG Image
 - JPEG Image
 - SVG Vector Graphics

This can be very easy achieved by placing for example an empty OpenOffice Writer document into the user templates folder, for those who don't know ;)

Maybe something like that: http://stalefries.googlepages.com/howtosnautilustemplates

I agree with granadajose, or alternatively don't see this as a problem. The grayed out "no templates" menu item alerts the user to the *possibility* that something can be placed there. This serves a useful purpose in terms of allowing people to customize the user experience on their system.

I would also like to see
- archives (tar.gz, tar.bz2, zip)
- office (openoffice and microsoft office formats)
- text files (xml, txt)

I can't understand what is the use of graphics: what's the aim to create an empty image?
there should be only common formats to create

The empty image was just an example. But in Windows there is also the empty image entry in the New... menu.

Adding a new Link could also be very handy. But that would require a new dialog popping up where the user can choose the file or folder the link should point at...

Also a .desktop application file

Please post future comments on what to include in the 'Create Document' menu at bug Bug #372132, which proposes to "put template files for the most common document formats (at least openoffice ones) into the Templates folder by default."

This bug is to show the "empty file" item instead of the sub menu when there are no document templates.

I would add an entry "Add new templates..." or something similar. Users very often doesn't know how to add new templates, so the menu becomes totally useless.

It is a bad idea todo as the first reporter said as it would cause confusing for people who follow a guide.

It is better to add some standard templates instead.

Thank for the summary text change, its much clearer now!

I agree with some of the default templates suggestions, but has a Lightbreeze says, thats subject of another bug.
But for the users that don't use the templates or don't want to clutter the menu I think it would be easier to create plain text files without that empty sub-menu.

The suggestion of Lorenzo it's interesting, but I'm not sure if it should be included in the right click menu, it should be easily discoverable where the templates folder is or how could be added more templates.

A nice and simple solution (imho) for the "add new templates" problem would be to add a menu entry "Add new templates..." for example which just opens the users template folder in a new tab or window and place a short explanation into this nautilus top bar (like the one used in trash or cd burner) like "All files placed in here will be available in the 'Create New Document' menu". What do you think?

The Design team discussed this and decided that bug #372132 casts the problem in a better light and offers a better solution, so we will address that paper cut instead for another milestone.

Too bad this bug doesn't qualify as a papercut.
Anyway I found that this bug is already reported on gnome's bugzilla so I linked it to this, hoping it gets some attention.

I made a patch.

for one thing i do not agree that creating an empty file (i.e. a plain text file with no text in it) should be disabled under certain circumstances

but more importantly this is another instance of the "templating is not working out of the box" bugs and the master-bug for these seems to be bug 372132 right now. this bug should be marked as duplicated thereof.

and they are taking a constructive approach there instead of this imho rather destructive one discussed here.