Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 17575
bad cell formats e.g. >2 conditionals rejected w/o feedback
Last modified: 2013-08-07 15:12:27 UTC
Certain custom format codes are not accepted, i.e. they simply don't change the original format without any notification. This seems to happen always if more than two conditionals are in the format, e.g.: [=0]0;[=1]0;[=2]0;
I had the following problems reproducing this issue on 1.1 RC2: The example format given: "[=0]0;[=1]0;[=2]0;" is NOT accepted by the Format Cells dialog -- it complains about the third conditional. This behavior is similar (and slightly clearer) than that in Office XP. Even if it DID accept this case, how could you tell it worked? You are instructing it to use the same format for 0, 1, and 2 as it normally would. If you can attach a sample spreadsheet that shows the issue or give step-by-step instructions for reproducing this issue in a blank spreadsheet, you can re-open this issue. You might want to reconfirm what release you are using, as well. One could argue that support for arbitrary chains of conditionals would be useful, but that would be more of an enhancement request. Even so, as it stands, this looks like a dead issue.
It is still like I wrote. I'm using 1.1 RC2 on WinXP as stated above and I still DO NOT get any error message when changing a format from anything (e.g. 'General' from a new empty spreadsheet) to anything with three conditionals in it. [=0]0;[=1]0;[=2]0; was just an example, boiled down to the most simple form. The same happens also for [=0]0;[=1]0.0;[=2]0.00; or anything else I have tried, also with really complex formats like [>1]"(32 µM, n = "0", ";[=1]"(32 µM, n = "0") ";[=0];General This is NOT an enhancement request as I could live with only two conditionals. The problem is the missing notification. If you don't check the format again then have no clue that it hasn't been accepted. Additionally I haven't read about a two-conditionals-limitation, so I guess it would be possible when accepted.
Here is a detailed procedure how to confirm this bug. - open a new OO Spreadsheet document - choose Format::Cells to open the 'Format cells' window - change the 'Format code' from 'General' to '[=1]0;[=2]0.0;[=3]0.00;' - click OK - no error message or notification appears! - choose Format::Cells to open the 'Format cells' window again - the 'Format code' is still 'General'!
My bad. Thanks for your patience. I was hitting the "check" button each time to get the feedback and not noticing that entering a bad format and just hitting OK silently rejects three-conditional and other invalid formats. This issue is with the behavior of the OK button in the Format Cells dialog. When it fails a check on any new User-defined formula (i.e. whenever the check button is enabled), it should return the user to the dialog until the formula is valid (or the user hits the Cancel formula or Cancel dialog button). Currently, it silently backs out (cancels) any invalid format changes.
This feature works as specified. If you click on the ADD button, the wrong part of the formatcode gets selected. I agree that it would be nice to inform the user about the mistake by a messagebox or something else to minimize confusion. So I forward this issue as enhancement
At the validation of the code the bad content is recognized as such and thus removed - but unfortunately not visible for the user. This issue is considered for OO.o later.
'not visible', I mean without providing feedback for the user.
To grep the issues easier via "requirements" I put the issues currently lying on my owner to the owner "requirements".