To comment on the following update, log in, then open the issue: http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=113739 Issue #|113739 Summary|Function N() is inconsistent Component|Spreadsheet Version|OOO320m12 Platform|All URL| OS/Version|All Status|UNCONFIRMED Status whiteboard| Keywords| Resolution| Issue type|DEFECT Priority|P3 Subcomponent|code Assigned to|spreadsheet Reported by|keme6206
------- Additional comments from [email protected] Mon Aug 9 08:45:38 +0000 2010 ------- Inconsistent behaviour of the N() function when the parameter is a string data type with numeric content. I assume that the intended use for this function is to explicitly allow the entry of string values in cells that are used by formulas for numerical calculations, to avoid/ignore certain errors. The application help states that N will return zero with text parameters. I tested with the following inputs: Text constant entered in cell A1: '4 Formula returning text value A2: ="4" Nonnumeric text A3: jhg I tested with several OOo builds, with results as indicated below (all packages "en-US", except as noted): *** OOo 3.1.1 Novell edition, as bundled with OpenSuSE 11.2, build ID: 9319 (not updated after installing, afaik) N(A1)=4 ; N(A2)=4 ; N(A3)=0 ; N("4")=0 I'm aware that this is a third party build. Still included for reference. *** OOo 3.2.0 Norwegian for MS Windows, running on Windows XP pro SP3 (OOO320M12) N(A1)=4 ; N(A2)=4 ; N(A3)=0 ; N("4")=0 Didn't make a note of build ID before upgrading to 3.2.1 (for next entry). Sorry! *** OOo 3.2.1 Norwegian for MS Windows, running on Windows XP pro SP3 (OOO320M18, build 9502) N(A1)=4 ; N(A2)=4 ; N(A3)=#VALUE ; N("4")=0 Note that here the string handling is clearly wrong. Seems to be corrected in the dev version, though. *** OOo-dev 3.3.0 for MS Windows, running on Windows XP pro SP3 (OOO330m2, build 9516) N(A1)=4 ; N(A2)=4 ; N(A3)=0 ; N("4")=0 *** OOo 3.2.0 for OS-X/intel, running on OS-X 10.5.8 (OOO320m8, build 9472) N(A1)=4 ; N(A2)=4 ; N(A3)=#VALUE ; N("4")=0 *** OOo 3.2.1 for OS-X/intel, running on OS-X 10.5.8 (OOO320m18, build 9502) N(A1)=4 ; N(A2)=4 ; N(A3)=#VALUE ; N("4")=0 *** The only situation where N() behaves consistently as documented (per the application's help function) is the situation where an inline constant is given. This is also the least useful situation (I can't imagine any practical setting where it would be useful). With cell content, N() consistently attempts to interpret numeric content in strings. This is not according to the application help, which states that parameters of data type "text" will return zero. It is also inconsistent with the behaviour of the "major player", MS Excel. Also, with some builds, the function totally fails to do its job (as per my assumption of intended use, above), returning an error for text that cannot be interpreted as a number. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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]
