https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=90799

--- Comment #4 from Ady <[email protected]> ---
(In reply to m.a.riosv from comment #3)
> I have been working with 123 since 1982 and it doesn't add an absolute sheet
> reference selecting with mouse. And as I remember Lotus-Symphony or the old
> Quattro Pro do the same.


Quoting from my prior comments:
"Note though, that there are some spreadsheet programs other than Calc that do
include the possibility of relative references to worksheets."

So indeed, the behavior is not problematic for everyone. And yet, the massive
popularity of certain specific spreadsheet programs (far more than any other)
makes the current default behavior a problem for a relevant amount of users. It
takes (a lot of) time for a relevant amount of users to understand why certain
complex worksheets they are building in Calc are not working as they expected
(aka. "as they are used to"). For these users, it is not just a matter of
adapting their usage to new / different ways of doing things. It is a first
matter of having difficulty understanding the reasons why their formulas are
failing after copy+pasting a sheet (only _then_ to start adapting their usage
methods and their formulas).

It is not a surprise that the issue comes back again and again in forums,
lists, bug reports and other channels.

Now, as I already said, there are advantages of having the possibility of
relative references to sheets, and some programs other than Calc also use them
(not necessarily in the same way as Calc does). This is why I mentioned an
alternative possibility: providing a setting / option for the user to select
the preferred behavior.

Whichever the case, the behavior and usage of references to worksheets really
needs more publicity / Help info, not only to help users in transitioning and
converting their spreadsheet documents into Calc's native format, but also to
promote this advantage feature of Calc in comparison to some other (popular)
programs.


> 
> IMO not a bug, at most a request for ¿enhancement?.


Quoting from my prior comments:
"but it is not a complete "bug", although close to it :)"

When I open a report, I tend not to set the level / type of report by myself (I
leave this to the developers); just as it would be inappropriate for some other
reporter to set a level of "highly critical" (:-O) to his own report.

If the resolution is to add more Help information and nothing else, it would
help some users.

If the resolution would be to change the current behavior, a relevant group of
users would see it as an enhancement.

If the resolution would be to add optional settings for users to be able to
choose their default behavior, it would certainly be an enhancement.

Whichever the case, there is currently a certain behavior. To some users, it is
somewhat a problem. I agree it is not exactly a bug in the sense of a "crash"
is, but the current behavior (and its related feature of relative references to
sheets) can result in "incorrect copy+paste" (in the sense that the result is
not the expected one for many users, and there is no easy way for them to
notice it, especially in complex workbooks with multiple sheets).


> 
> I'm sorry but many times we tend to think, that what it's fine for us, it`s
> fine for everybody, unfortunately much of the times not true.


I opened this report based on recurrent forum topics and similar questions, and
even recurrent "bug reports", in addition to my own "bad experiences" with the
matter.

I am not saying that everyone should work in a certain way, and I am certainly
not saying that "my way is the best and only valid way". I already mentioned
that there are advantages of relative references being available in Calc.

All I am saying is: It is a behavior that is causing (recurrent) confusion to
more-than-a-few users, and I think it deserves some attention and potential
modifications / improvements.

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