https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=172314
Bug ID: 172314
Summary: Major upgrade needed to bring writing spreadsheets out
of the assembly language age
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 26.2.0.3 release
Hardware: All
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: enhancement
Priority: medium
Component: Calc
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
IMHO, LibreOffice as it works now is comparable to writing a program in
assembly language. It is an anachronism stuck in 40 year old technology. The
classic example is writing forumlas using name like $B23 to assign to cell C$12
is about as readable as "mov r1,-(sp)". Named ranges helped but are too limited
and interface is too user-unfriendly. Possible upgrades to the named range
mechanism include the following:
1. Treat then (and rename them) more like macros in the tradional sense of the
world. Stop refering to Basic extensions as "macros", they are not macros they
are code in another language. The most important addition the name ranges /
macros would be to allow parameritization, eg,
GetNearbyCell(RowOffset,ColOffset) = INDIRECT(ADDRESS(ROW()+RowOffset,
COLUMN()+ColOffset)) so the formula "=GetNearbyCell($A$1,0)could be applied to
any cell in the spreadsheet and in all case would assigned to that cell the
value in the cell in the same column but offest by $A$1 rows. No movement,
insertion, or deletion of cells would break the functionality.
2. Support import/export of ranges/macros so one could
manipulate the macro definitions using a text editor instead of
being limited by the tools offered by LibreCalc (part of the
UNIX philosophy, allow tools to work together and limit
reinventing the wheel in each individual tool) and would faciliate sharing
defitions in other spreadsheets, again, without re-inventing the wheel.
Consider when a spreadsheet was first developed, the conventiion was to name
certain typs of those macros using the prefix FUNCTION_. But after 15 years, a
decision if to abbreviate more and change form the FUNCTION_ prefix to just
FN_. That is a 1 minute operation with a text editor, no matter how many such
defintions exist. It is lengthy and prone to error in the current
capabilities, especially of it involves hundreds of definitions.
3. Relative cell specifications in a range/macro are dependent on the active
celll cell at the time manage ranges tool is invoked. The active cell should
be displayed so one looking at the forumulas in the named ranges now what the
exact cell the relative reference displayed if rerring to.
Actual Results:
This is an enhancement request.
Expected Results:
This is an enhancement request.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: No
Additional Info:
I realize this bring a new way of thinking about spreadsheets. But spreadsheet
use is expanding to complex tasks formally done by sophisticated programs.
That expansion is in part because for a variety of reason, the spreadsheet is a
better too for the job, except for its lack of basic readablility and
maintainablity characteristics (see www.excel1040.com, a spreadsheet that does
a better job of doing ones federal taxes than many of the costly tax prep
software offerings). Some may find the suggestion radical, so I would expect
resistance from various quarters. I only ask this be considered with an open
mind. if I can be of further assistance, please let me know. I am a Full
Professor Emeritus in Computer Science from James Madison University and got my
CS Phd from SUNY Stony Brook in 1978.
--
You are receiving this mail because:
You are the assignee for the bug.
