Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 116740
Automatic column label may change to row label if data layout changes.
Last modified: 2013-01-29 21:44:19 UTC
In BadValu.ods, the formula in cell B3 gives a VALUE error. Why? Now, do this: 0: put anything, eg, 'h' in cell A2; 1: select cell B3, hit f2 to edit it; 2: delete and reinsert any character, such as 'r' or '3'; 3: hit Enter: no more error! But, if you omit either step 0 or 2, the error remains.
Created attachment 75736 [details] file with bad (?) formula
The document uses the automatic column and row labels feature. Initially the 'Rr' is evaluated as a column label in A1, where the position dependent intersection of the formula in B3 with column A results in A3 as referenced value for the calculation, and numerical operation with the text value "a" leads to an error. With a textual value in A2 the 'Rr' is evaluated as a row label and with a change of the formula in B3 the intersection is with Row 1 and uses B1 as referenced value, the operation is with the numeric value 18 and no error. This would need to add yet more obscure heuristics, the automatic labels can be a source of nuisance in such non-deterministic situations. Automatic labels are a deprecated feature. Use defined labels instead, Insert->Names->Labels.