https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=170154
Bug ID: 170154
Summary: Editing existing array formulas is not possible
without deleting the array
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 25.8.4.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: normal
Priority: medium
Component: Calc
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
LibreOffice Calc does not allow in-place editing of existing array formulas
that use modern dynamic array functions such as SORT and UNIQUE.
Any attempt to modify such an array formula (even after selecting the full
array range) results in an error message, forcing the user to delete the entire
array formula and recreate it from scratch.
This behavior significantly impacts usability, especially for complex formulas,
and makes minor edits unnecessarily destructive and error-prone.
Steps to Reproduce:
1.Open LibreOffice Calc
2.Enter the following values in column A:
A1: Apple
A2: Orange
A3: Banana
A4: Apple
A5: Pear
A6: Banana
3.Select an empty column (for example B1 downward)
4.Enter the following array formula:
=SORT(UNIQUE(A1:A6))
5.Confirm the formula as an array formula (Ctrl+Shift+Enter if required by the
LibreOffice version)
6.Select the entire resulting array range
7.Press F2 to edit the formula
8.Modify the formula, for example change it to:
=SORT(UNIQUE(A1:A6);1;-1)
9.Press Enter to apply the change
Actual Results:
LibreOffice shows an error message such as “Cannot change only part of an
array” and does not allow the formula to be edited. The array must be deleted
and recreated.
Expected Results:
After selecting the full array range, the user should be able to edit the array
formula and apply the change without deleting the array.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: Yes
Additional Info:
In 2025/2026 this behavior feels really outdated, especially compared to
competing spreadsheet tools like Google Sheets, where editing array formulas is
much more straightforward and user-friendly. Modern workflows rely heavily on
dynamic ranges and array formulas, and not being able to easily adjust them
(expand, contract, or tweak arguments) is a serious usability problem, not just
a minor inconvenience.Please consider prioritizing this issue so that users
can:Edit existing array formulas directly, without having to delete and
recreate them.Resize array outputs (expand/contract ranges) without losing the
formula.Avoid disruptive error messages when only trying to adjust parameters
or ranges.Improving array formula editing would significantly enhance Calc’s
usability and make it far more competitive with other spreadsheet applications.
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