Issue 118974 - Calc: while editing, arrow keys should move cursor inside cell
Summary: Calc: while editing, arrow keys should move cursor inside cell
Status: CONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: Calc
Classification: Application
Component: editing (show other issues)
Version: OOo 3.3
Hardware: All All
: P3 Normal with 1 vote (vote)
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: AOO issues mailing list
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Reported: 2012-02-25 10:11 UTC by zhongqiyao
Modified: 2014-11-22 05:03 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Issue Type: ENHANCEMENT
Latest Confirmation in: ---
Developer Difficulty: ---

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Description zhongqiyao 2012-02-25 10:11:10 UTC 
OpenOffice version: 3.3 (latest official release)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7

1. Click to select a cell, but don't click the cell into edit mode.

2. Start typing, so that you type into the cell.  It does not matter whether what you type matches autocompletion with content from another cell.

3. Press an arrow key, e.g. Right.

PROBLEM: It moves to the next cell.

EXPECTATION: It should move the cursor inside the cell.

May be related to:
https://issues.apache.org/ooo/show_bug.cgi?id=98954

Thanks.
Comment 1 zhongqiyao 2012-02-26 05:01:07 UTC 
Please note that Microsoft Office Excel 2003, under similar situations,
move to the next cell.  This behaviour is wrong and should not be immitated.
In fact, a bug needs to be reported to Microsoft.

Thanks.
Comment 2 Marcus 2012-02-26 15:40:13 UTC 
That is the difference between the normal cell mode and the edit mode within a cell.

We shouldn't change this behavior like it was working for years in the same way. I think much, much more users would complain that it is no longer working what was common for them.
Comment 3 zhongqiyao 2012-02-29 21:45:18 UTC 
(In reply to comment #2)
> That is the difference between the normal cell mode and the edit mode within a
> cell.

If we really need to dintinguish these two modes:

1. It is confusing, because while typing, they look exactly the same.

2. It is unnecessary, because "moving the cursor to another cell" can already
be achieved with Shift+Tab, Tab, Shift+Enter, and Enter.

3. Not all features of Microsoft Excel needs to be immitated.  Or, it looks like
a remnant feature from an old version before (Shift)+Tab/Enter were implemented.

Thanks.

Qiyao
Comment 4 Edwin Sharp 2013-12-10 14:26:20 UTC 
IMHO user should decide arrow keys behavior like in:
Tools - Options... - OpenOffice Calc - General - Input settings - Press Enter to move selection.
Comment 5 richardbaxter 2014-11-22 05:03:55 UTC 
When creating a new formula in a cell, pressing the left/right keys creates a reference to an adjacent cell. When double clicking on a formula, pressing the left/right keys moves the cursor within the formula.

In my opinion the mouse should be used for adding adjacent cell references, and the arrow keys should be used for moving the cursor within the formula. This appears related to https://issues.apache.org/ooo/show_bug.cgi?id=112322