To comment on the following update, log in, then open the issue: http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=66886 Issue #|66886 Summary|NAMESPACES for Defined Names Component|Spreadsheet Version|OOo 2.0.2 Platform|All URL| OS/Version|All Status|UNCONFIRMED Status whiteboard| Keywords| Resolution| Issue type|FEATURE Priority|P3 Subcomponent|code Assigned to|spreadsheet Reported by|discoleo
------- Additional comments from [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fri Jun 30 02:38:26 -0700 2006 ------- NAMESPACES ---------- One of the greatest advances in C++ over C was the introduction of namespaces (this achievement cannot be overemphasized). How can namespaces help us? THE PROBLEM ----------- I often need to define a significant number of names in my spreadsheets and as a consequence, I easily get overwhelmed by so many names. It becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish the names, especially if defined in different sheets. I recently worked with a multi-sheet document (>5), each sheet having between 10 and 20 names defined (>50 named ranges). I definitely needed more names, but the work became very messy. - many names generate easy confusion - and difficult to track errors due to misidentification of names SOLUTION -------- - most names are needed only in the same sheet - few of them will be needed in different sheets as well So, here is a wise solution: - define namespaces as in C++: names are valid only within their sheet/namespace - set a general option USE_NAMESPACES = NO, so that users not accustomed to C++ have not to worry - in any individual worksheet one should be able to write: USE NAMESPACE <namespace_to_be_used_freely> - otherwise, individual names should be directly available via: <namespace>::<name> (or <namespace>.<name>) - within individual sheets allow aliases to external names similar to the C++ typedef: typedef <namespace>::<name> 'our_shortcut_name' ADVANTAGES --------- - names become more easy to manage and use - when I have to define a name, I use something like: 'meaningful_var_name'_'meaningful_sheet_ID' - by having namespaces this becomes significantly simplified while the size of the names decreases, too - further advantage: sort names in the names list based on the sheet where it is defined IF it is impossible to sort first based on the sheet, then prepend an identifier to allow such sorting, e.g. 'sheet_nr' (1,2,3,...) it would be impractical to use the entire name of the sheet, but a short identifier (like the sheet number) could be used instead, e.g. 's1':'the_first_name','s1':'the_second_name',...,'s2':'first_name_in_sheet2' --------------------------------------------------------------------- Please do not reply to this automatically generated notification from Issue Tracker. Please log onto the website and enter your comments. http://qa.openoffice.org/issue_handling/project_issues.html#notification --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
