Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 46263
Cannot copy forumulas in tables (word processing)
Last modified: 2014-04-19 17:47:11 UTC
I really like how intuitive and clear the formulas are in tables in word processing. Only problem is that you do not seem to be able to copy a formula from one cell to another. It only copies the text, not the formula. E.g., set up a table, say 5x5. In the first row, fifth cell, set up a formula to add the sum of the first four cells in the first row. Should be able to copy that formula to all of the cells in the fifth row in the remaining columns, such that in each row, the fifth cell will hold the sum of the first four cells for that row. Only copies text, not the formula. Thanks, TB
Reassigned to requirements
OpenOffice.org Issue Tracker - Feedback Request. The Issue you raised is currently assigned to 'Requirements' pending review, but has not been updated within the last 3 years. Please consider re-testing with one of the latest versions of OOo, as the problem(s) may have already been addressed. Either use the recent stable version: http://download.openoffice.org/index.html or consider trying the new OOo 3 BETA (still in testing): http://download.openoffice.org/3.0beta/ Please report back the outcome so this Issue may be Closed or Progressed as necessary - otherwise it may be Resolved as Invalid in the future. You may also wish to search for (and note) any duplicates of this Issue that may have advanced further by checking the Issue Tracker: http://www.openoffice.org/issues/query.cgi Many thanks, Andrew Cleaning-up and Closing old Issues as part of: ~ The Grand Bug Squash, pre v3 ~ http://marketing.openoffice.org/3.0/announcementbeta.html
I was able to replicate the bug on windows7 and Open Office Writer version 4.0.1. The original bug was identified in version2.0 Beta. Steps to recreate the bug – 1. Open Office Writer 4.0.1 app on you system 2. From the menu bar, select Insert>Table.’ Insert Table’ window is displayed 3. On Insert Table window, Select Columns & Rows = 5, in Size section. 4. Click OK button. A table with 5 rows and 5 columns is inserted into Writer document. 5. Enter the following values in first row – Row1Col1 =1; Row1Col2 =2; Row1Col3 =3; Row1Col4 =4 6. Click in Row1col5(5th cell in 1st row) and enter formula =sum(<A1:D1>) and hit Enter 7. Alternatively to insert formula into the 5th cell of Row1, you can click on “Sigma” icon on table toolbar docked near the upper left hand corner and hit enter. 8. 5th cell in Row1 will now have a value = 10. 9. Copy the value from 5th cell of Row1 and paste it into 5th cell of all rows. Actual Result – Value =10 was pasted into rest of the cells in column5. I.e. Formula from Row1 cell 5 was not copied to the rest of the cells in Column5. Expected result – User should be able to copy that formula to all of the cells in the fifth row in the remaining columns, such that in each row, the fifth cell will hold the sum of the first four cells for that row. Follow –up tests – 1. I replicated the bug in a similar application (MS Word) and found out that the functionality to insert formulas in a table is not available. 2. I tried to copy and paste the table I created in Writer to Calc and noticed that formulas were not copied. 3. Within Calc, I tried to create a same table and inserted formula in Row1 ColumnE and copied and pasted the cell value to remaining cells in ColumnE. The formulas were successfully copied. Search for any duplicate bugs – I found a bug which seems like its related, but is not a duplicate - Bug 50177 -Inherit cell format and formula when adding new rows to a text table After trying to replicate the bug and testing various followup tests, I think this feature if fixed would help the users with managing formulas in tables much easily.
I was able to reproduce this issue on a windows 7, using 3.3.0 (Build:0567) and windows 8 using 4.0.1 (Build:9714). I was able to reproduce using the following steps. 1. Create atable in a new document a. From menu select “Table” “Insert” “Table” b. Select 2 columns, 3 rows c. In rows 1 and 2 enter a numeric value in both columns 2. Create formula to sum row 1 & 2 in row 3 a. Place cursor in row 3 column 1 b. From menu select “Table” “Formula” c. Type =Sum in formula bar d. Select row 1 column1 and drag to row 2 column 1 e. Press enter f. Formula “=sum(<A1:A2> is now in row 3 3. Copy formula from row 3 column 1 to row 3column2 *** Note that the formula was not copied – only the value. You can confirm this by hovering the cursor over the entry in row 3 column 1 (should see=sum<A2:A2>) and then hovering the cursor over row 3 column 2.(do not see formula)
Confirmed with AOO420m1(Build:9800) - Rev. 1586681 Rev.1586681 Win 7
This isn't an issue. It works as designed. If one want to copy a formula to other cells, one have to select the whole cell. And one can select more cells to insert the copied content. Formulas will be adapted to the new location.
reopening
Current design is not intuitive and for sure can be improved. A very much better argument than "works as designed" is needed when majority of comments see an opportunity for improvement.