Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 72324
custom global date formats
Last modified: 2013-02-07 22:34:01 UTC
OO currently has no means for users to globally set the date and time format of choice - other than setting a locale. This is inflexible and not user friendly. For example, I may want my default short-date format for all applications to be dd.mm.yyyy. I can achieve this by setting my locale to French (Switzerland) in the OO Options | Languages - but then my month and day names are in French rather than in English. What is needed in the options control is a means for users to set global custom date and time formats. This will allow month and day names to be correct for the chosen local, while still providing a means to use the format of choice. Not everyone in the U.S. likes to use the 12-hour time format nor the format of mm/dd/yyyy for short dates. But we do like to see our days and months in English. Providing this functionality should (hopefully) also resolve the annoying issue of needing to custom format date cells in Calc, while the input line shows the date in a different and undesired format.
TM->requirements: please have a look, thanks !
*** Issue 72324 has been confirmed by votes. ***
Actually the page that got me to this bug helped me to find the solution. http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?t=57941 The solution involves a one-off 9 step process by modifying the default style, saving it as a new template and setting it as your new default template. 1. Create a new Spreadsheet. 2. Call the stylist (Format>"Styles and Formatting" or F11) 3. Select the Default style. 4. Right-click on this style and click modify. 5. Select the numbers tab, select Date and set the date format you like 6. File>Template>Save... (Shift+F11) Save as template "myDefault" for instance. 7. File>Template>Organize... Pick your template from the left. 8. From button "Commands" at the right pick "Set default" 9. When you open a new spreadsheet now, it will be a new instance of your default template with the date format of your choice.
I agreed this issue is important, in fact I think this should be a deficiency fix instead of enhancement. The work-around only works for Calc, and only for appearance. It does not fix the date in entry field. It does not fix default date in other application. Hope this got fixed soon!
This is MAJOR usability issue. For most people enticed to try OOO this is enough to discourage them from using it. People hate when they have to fight SW to get basics things done (changing default template in calc as an example). Also, it may be a good idea to merge this issue with 30216 as the tackle pretty much the same problem. Simple the developers need to complexly tackle the default formats issue. Making the global default customizable should be the first and most important step.