https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=522610
Bug ID: 522610
Summary: [Data Loss] Plot from Column Statistics Spreadsheet is
nested under the Spreadsheet and lost on reopen — fix
nesting or save it
Classification: Applications
Product: LabPlot2
Version First 2.12.1
Reported In:
Platform: Microsoft Windows
OS: Microsoft Windows
Status: REPORTED
Severity: major
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
CC: [email protected]
Target Milestone: ---
When plotting data, the user can choose where to place the plot; the default is
"New Plot Area in a New Worksheet". However, when plotting columns from a
"Column Statistics Spreadsheet" (which is itself embedded as a child of the
Spreadsheet it describes), the newly created Worksheet is attached as a child
of that Spreadsheet instead of being created at the project/folder level.
It seems a Spreadsheet is not supposed to contain a Worksheet as a child: such
a nested Worksheet is not saved in the project file — neither by the stable
release v2.12.1 [1] nor by the current beta v2.12.1.80 [2]. After saving and
reopening the project, the Worksheet and its plot are silently gone.
Project tree illustrating the problem:
Project FOLDER
|
|---> Weight [kg] (Spreadsheet)
| |---> Sample1 (Column)
| |---> Sample2 (Column)
| |---> ∑ Column Statistics (StatisticsSpreadsheet)
| | | Column, Count, Minimum, Maximum,
| | | ArithmeticMean, Variance, StandardDeviation
| |
| |--->❌️Worksheet - Column Statistics❌️ (#1) <-- auto-created by "Plot
Data",
| | NOT saved
| |--->Plot area
| | x, x2, y, y2 (axes)
| | ArithmeticMean (plot)
|
|---> ✅️Worksheet - Column Statistics✅️ (#2) <-- created manually at
project
level,
| saved correctly
| x, x2, y, y2 (axes)
| ArithmeticMean (plot)
Since the default option produces this broken layout, users can lose their work
without any warning. On top of that, the misplaced Worksheet cannot be rescued:
it is not possible to drag-and-drop or otherwise move it to a proper place in
the project tree. The only way to avoid the data loss is to know in advance
that a separate Worksheet (#2) must be created at the project level first and
then selected as the plot target.
I don't know what the intended project-structure rules or future plans are, but
my suggestion would be to prevent this kind of invalid placement in the first
place, i.e. "Plot Data" invoked on a Column Statistics Spreadsheet should
create the new Worksheet at the folder/project level (or the nested Worksheet
should be properly saved and restored, and movable in the tree).
STEPS TO REPRODUCE
Make Columns Statistics Spreadsheet:
1. Select SPREADSHEET --> right click/Spreadsheet --> Columns Statistics
Spreadsheet
2. In CSS select column e.g. 'Arithmetic Mean' --> Spreadsheet --> Plot Data
3. Save
4. Reopen file
Short:
1. Make "Columns Statistics Spreadsheet"
2. Plot "CSS" data
3. Save
4. Reopen --> plot is lost.
OBSERVED RESULT
The Worksheet created in step 3 and its plot are missing after reopening the
project. No warning is shown on save.
EXPECTED RESULT
The Worksheet and its plot are preserved after reopening the project.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Workaround: manually create a Worksheet at the project level first and select
it as the target in the "Plot Data" dialog — such a Worksheet is saved and
restored correctly.
SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
[1]
Release build 2.12.1-3-gd4f909a
Aug 18 2025, 09:17:37
System:
Windows 11 Version 25H2
Locale:
Polish, Poland
Number Format:
1000.01 (Updated on restart)
Architecture:
x86_64-little_endian-llp64
Kernel:
winnt 10.0.26200
[2]
Release build 22cfc9c
Jun 28 2026, 14:30:44
System:
Windows 11 Version 25H2
Locale:
Polish, Poland
Number Format:
1000.01 (Updated on restart)
Architecture:
x86_64-little_endian-llp64
Kernel:
winnt 10.0.26200
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