Hi :) I don't understand why there is such problem with installing LO on your system. I don't think that many other people are having the same problem but it sounds like a nightmare and needs to be sorted out somehow. Perhaps post a bug-report about it? http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/BugReport
As Planas and Stephan said in the other thread the spell-check default is a bit strange. You need to do Tools – Options - "Language Settings" - "Writing Aids" Top box needs to have some dictionaries and in the bottom box tick the top option "Check spelling as you type" and also make sure the toolbar button is pressed, the ABC with a red-wriggle under it. I'm fairly certain all these things were already done by default in my install of LibreOffice 3.3.2 in Ubuntu 10.04 (from the PPAs) so it's a bit weird that it doesn't seem to be the default in Windows at the moment. The spell-checker issue is a classic problem with a modular systems. The advantage is that components can be swapped for other versions, eg take out the English(US) and replace with French, or added or taken out completely. So, each of us end-up with a tailored yet streamlined product. The problem is that choosing "the default" is tricky. Each of us have different ideas about which "is obviously the right way". NOT having a dictionary installed and spell-checker on by default seems a stupid gaff to me and you but a lot of people have learned to mis-trust the spell-checkers in Word and emailing programs because they keep switching language back to US. If people are on a Win2000 or netbook machine with tiny hard-drive space then they probably want as little as possible. One persons "bloat" is another persons "vitally crucial functionality". Regards from Tom :) ----- Original Message ---- > From: Roxy Robinson <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Sun, 12 June, 2011 19:14:48 > Subject: Re: off-list Re: [libreoffice-users] Merge cell problem LO3.3.2.2 > > Yes, it is weird. I'm doing just exactly what the Help says to do to > accomplish >this. Both for merging and un-merging. > I saw in another posting someone had a problem with their Spellchecker >"disappearing". I have had this problem twice since moving from OO to LO. >Spellchecker was working and then all of sudden I noticed, no matter what I >was >entering, I wasn't getting ANY red squiggly lines. So would intentionally >misspell a word, and no red squiggly line. Go check my settings in "writing >aids", and I don't show ANY dictionaries available. I'm using what is >supposed >to be the default ones installed with the program. Have to reinstall it. So, >what's making it disappear???? > I have also had an "install" problem with the last 2 "production ready" >installers. To begin with, my download program has a place to enter to MD5 to >check the download. After the download is complete, you enter the MD5, hit >enter and if you download is good a red check appears next to the download. >It >always shows OK. Then at a point where the install is at end of doing its >thing, it freezes - it stops. You can't close it, but it also freezes CPU >usage >at 50%. I open Process Explorer and the installer "bin" file is using 50% >CPU. >It will stay there as long as I am willing to leave it and the only way to >stop >this whole thing is by killing the bin file process. Then I get my computer >back. After all is said and done, it appears the install is complete. I have >done this multiple times, and the same thing happens every time. I've used a >new download and nothing changes. Another "mystery"???? > Roxy > > > Hi :) > > I don't know the answer. It's a weird problem that shouldn't be happening. >We > have had a few problems like that in 3.4.0 but it's odd to have a problem in > 3.3.2. > > > Normally when you merge cells it takes the contents of just 1 of those cells. > If more than 1 of the cells have contents then the program has difficulty > choosing which contents to combine or not or exclude or how to combine. The > results can be unpredictable. Excel used to just throw up an error message > similar to the one where you try to paste contents into a cell that already > contains something. > > > If Calc's behaviour was predictable in previous releases then perhaps > re-installing LO or even better, just renaming the profile, might be enough to > fix the problem. I was hoping that someone who know specifically Calc would > answer but a few people seem to have been thrown by the lists change of >address > on Friday. > > Regards from > Tom :) > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Roxy Robinson <[email protected]> > > To: Tom Davies <[email protected]> > > Sent: Sun, 12 June, 2011 16:46:30 > > Subject: Re: off-list Re: [libreoffice-users] Merge cell problem LO3.3.2.2 > > > > When I did a previous list, just for my class, I used the merge cells >function > >without any problems whatsoever. That was over a year ago, so that >spreadsheet > >was probably developed using OO, not LO. So, that makes me wonder if there is > >something lacking, or a bug in LO that is causing this. I still have that >older > >spreadsheet, and can open it in LO, and everything is still just like it >should > >be, with the cells merged. Is there a default setting in the options >somewhere > >that is different between the 2 - OO & LO? Or, is this a bug? It seems to me > >that once you have told cells to merge, they should stay merged until you > >"un-merge" them. What's going on here??????? I thought this list was for > >answers???? > > Roxy > > > > > > Hi : > > I'm not sure why the merge-cells wasn't working. When i was running a > similar > > list i found combining cells made the list very unwieldy. Invariably i >would > > then need to sort the spreadsheet some unexpected way and that would be > > impossible. By keeping each element separate in the table it keeps your > list > > flexible. > > > > > > I agree about 11pt being the smallest and many people recommend 12pt for > > accessibility issues. > > > > > > With the database program it should be possible to create a special query > that > > fills a row with a single result. That would help get 1955 into a > >field/column > > in all rows/records. Later you could add another class and set the > > query >to > > look-up whether the field already has an entry and if empty would put in >the > >new > > value. > > > > > > Most people have real trouble grasping database programs. The 4 different > > components; tables, queries, forms and reports with only the tables > containing > > the real data is difficult to understand. It's quite different from > >Word/Writer > > where the data that you see is where it appears to be. In queries, forms > > >and > > records the data is not really there, it's only in the table. It's a bit >like > > html where pictures are not embedded into the document and have to be > > kept >in > >a > > good place that the html page can see. > > > > > > Regards from > > Tom :) > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: Roxy Robinson <[email protected]> > > > To: Tom Davies <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Sun, 12 June, 2011 2:58:23 > > > Subject: Re: off-list Re: [libreoffice-users] Merge cell problem >LO3.3.2.2 > > > > > > Mine is set up on legal sized paper, landscape mode, so that I can > > keep >the > > >font size up close to 11. When you're between 65 and 75 years old, it >helps > >to > > >have a printout as large as possible. If you can't read it you might as > well > > >not have it. The CD handout is a good idea, but I would say about 30% of > >this > > >group don't use computers - don't even want to look at one. Seems odd to > me, > > >but then I've been playing with them since the Coleco Adam. And then >there > >are > > >quite a few that have computers, a nice internet connection, an email > >address > > >and they don't know what to do with it. Its mostly for when their > grandkids > > >come. You still have to "snail mail" them or call them on the phone. > > > So, to keep it from printing just one or 2 columns on another page, and > >where > > >everyone can read it, I have to stick with legal sized (8.5 X 14) paper. > > > I did start playing with Base. Figured out how to give it access to my > > >spreadsheet, but couldn't do anything with the "table" function, but > > did >a > > >"query" and I think I would have to change my spreadsheet some to get the > >info > > >in properly. My spreadsheet is done by "class year", with the year in >the > >first > > >cell of the row above where each class starts. I think from what I saw I > >would > > >have to add a column, probably column 1 with the year in each row of that > > >column, designating each person's class year. Then I also have deceased > >class > > >members listed at the end of each class. That listing has the person's > name, > > >and if available, their death date. I believe, to get this info properly > > >transferred I would have to put each deceased person back in their > "proper" > > >alphabetical order, but not sure about the death date - where to put it. > > > So, I will continue to play with this transfer to Base and see what I >can > > >learn. But I still don't understand why the "merge cells" won't hold in >my > > >spreadsheet??? > > > Roxy > > > > > > > > > Hi :) > > > I have attached the spreadsheet. I did a lot of formatting and formulas > on > > >the > > > 2nd sheet. Hopefully it should be possible to open both spreadsheets >at > >the > > > same time and then right-click on the tab you want to move into the >other > > > spreadsheet/workbook. > > > > > > I used "Tools - Options - Calc" to set formulas to be more compatible > with > > >Excel > > > which makes them look like this > > > =IF(TableData!E9&", "&TableData!F9&", "&TableData!G9&", >"&TableData!H9&". > >"=", > > >, > > > , . ","",TableData!E9&", "&TableData!F9&", "&TableData!G9&", > > >"&TableData!H9&". > > > ") > > > > > > If the ! have changed to . then it's gone back to Calc format in which > case > > >the > > > compatibility setting probably doesn't matter as each program should > >convert > > >it > > > correctly. > > > > > > > > > After moving the sheet into the right spreadsheet/workbook you might >need > >to > > >do > > > search&replace to change "TableData" to "Sheet1". Hopefully that >should > >have > > >an > > > interesting result. Check the last few though because i might not have > > copied > > > all the formulas far enough down. > > > > > > I changed the page set-up to A4 rather than letter but it should still >fit > >on > > > letter sized paper and switched to landscape and the font-size to quite > > small, > > > 10pt i think. It was the only way to get email addresses on the same >page > > as > > > the persons name. > > > > > > > > > It occurred to me that it might be an excellent opportunity to hand the > > > address-list out on Cd/Dvd/usb-stick this year so that people get the > > >electronic > > > versions of the list and also get the LibreOffice installers. It might > >work > > >out > > > cheaper & easier! WebMaster at Kracked Press might have good ideas >about > >it > > >if > > > you want to explore that route. I am not sure which would work out > > > best >& > > >it's > > > up to you. > > > > > > Sorry i didn't explore the Base methods. I just got a bit carried away > > >playing > > > with Calc :) > > > Thanks and regards from > > > Tom :) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > > From: Roxy Robinson <[email protected]> > > > > To: Tom Davies <[email protected]> > > > > Sent: Sat, 11 June, 2011 21:48:49 > > > > Subject: Re: off-list Re: [libreoffice-users] Merge cell problem > >LO3.3.2.2 > > > > > > > > Tom, > > > > I've attached a file that has 5 rows of data. All of them are MIA's >with > > > >address, etc, info that no longer has anything to do with any of them. > The > > >way > > > >my current spreadsheet is set up is like line 3. The LAST name is the > last > > >name > > > >as people would have known them by in high school. For females, that > >would > > be > > > >maiden names (why its in parentheses). The reason I was doing the >merge > on > > >names > > > >is because it would take out almost the width of one column by merging > >those > > >3. > > > >This would allow all the information to be printed on one legal sized >page > >- > > > >width, and still retain the 11 point font size (allows for easier >reading > >by > > > >this aging crowd). Its saved in xls format - I'm probably the only > > one >in > > >this > > > >group that uses LO. And probably only one of a handful that uses a > > >spreadsheet > > > >of any kind. My smaller "class" directories generally fit on one letter > >size > > > >page and I convert those to pdf to send out. > > > > This big one I have until 10/2012 to get right so it can be printed > out > > >and > > > >distributed at the reunion. > > > > Roxy > > > > > > > > Hi :) > > > > Can you create a copy of the spreadsheet, perhaps adding > > >"rocmar-2011-06-11" > > > >to > > > > the end of the filename and afterwards just change the data in that > > > > >to > > give > > > me > > > > about 4 or 5 lines of faked data. I might have time to create a > >mock-up > > >and > > > >you > > > > might even be able to get that to read the right data, or just use it > >for > > > >ideas. > > > > > > > > Regards from > > > > Tom :) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > > > From: Roxy Robinson <[email protected]> > > > > > To: [email protected] > > > > > Sent: Sat, 11 June, 2011 18:59:53 > > > > > Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] Merge cell problem LO3.3.2.2 > > > > > > > > > > Tom, > > > > > Thanks for your suggestions - I guess I will have to try that >since > >I'm > > > not > > > > >getting what I want with what I'm doing. > > > > > This is "off" the subject issue, but I come from a very small >town. > >My > > > high > > > > >school class - 1961 - was the first to got over 50. We had 60 in >the > > >class, > > > >55 > > > > >who "walked" on graduation night. The other 5 finished in summer > > school. > > > >The > > > > >classes continued to grow after that, though I don't think they >ever > > went > > > >over > > > > >100; and are probably running around 70-75 now, if not less. > > > > > I just finished organizing my class's 50th reunion and am now > >putting > > > >together > > > > >a reunion for the classes of 1955-1964. The total number of >students > > >during > > > > >that period is, according to my spreadsheet, 500. I dare say, I > knew, > > >and > > > > >remember about 490 of those, along with quite a few others from >the > > >classes > > > > >before and after. We were all like one big family - you usually >knew > > >whole > > > > >families because you knew someone in your class, or within 2 or 3 > >years > > >of > > > >your > > > > >class. Your classmates were, essentially, your group of friends. > > > > > Anyway, every class in this group has, in some format, a database >of > > >their > > > > >classmates and their information. Each class has a few that have >gone > > > >"missing > > > > >in action", but we are all working together to find everyone. This > will > > >be > > > >the > > > > >4th, I think, combined reunion like this over the past 50 years, >and > >this > > > > >combined database is something that got started after the first one. > >But, > > >it > > > >has > > > > >not been updated since the last reunion in 1997. Every classmate - > >there > > >are > > > >a > > > > >few exceptions - has given there info to freely share with everyone. > >And > > > > >everyone at this reunion will receive a copy of this spreadsheet >I'm > > >working > > > > >on. > > > > > Roxy > > > > > > > > > > Hi :) > > > > > > > > > > I did something similar once. It's easier to keep the data >intact, > >in > > >the > > > >3 > > > > > separate columns for data entry and for sorting the lists into > > > alphabetical > > > > > order and stuff but then use a 2nd worksheet (2nd tab at the >bottom) > >to > > > use > > > > > formulas to add the 3 names together. eg > > > > > A2 = Sheet1.A2 & " " & Sheet1.B2 & " " & Sheet1.C2 > > > > > You might have renamed the worksheet tabs so just swap the new >name > >for > > > > >"Sheet1" > > > > > but still make sure there is a dot . after it and before the >cell > > >address. > > > > > > > > > > There are issues with "Data Protection" and respecting people's > right > > >to > > > > >privacy > > > > > but if they have given you their addresses and know that it's for > > >sharing > > > > with > > > > > the whole class then that sort-of implies that they have given >you > > > > permission. > > > > > I'm not sure wheter it's legally enough but it probably gives > > > > > you >a > > good > > > > > position. > > > > > Good luck and regards from > > > > > Tom :) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > > > > From: Roxy Robinson <[email protected]> > > > > > > To: [email protected] > > > > > > Sent: Sat, 11 June, 2011 15:51:55 > > > > > > Subject: [libreoffice-users] Merge cell problem LO3.3.2.2 > > > > > > > > > > > > I have a 15 page spreadsheet of classmate addresses, phone >numbers, > > > >email, > > > > >etc. > > > > > >I "manipulate" this information in several different ways to >give > my > > > > >classmates > > > > > >different kinds of "directories". Anyway, their names are in the > >first > > >3 > > > > > >columns. This particular spreadsheet is going to include ALL the > > > >information > > > > >on > > > > > >each person, will be printed on legal sized paper in landscape > >format, > > >so > > > >I > > > > >need > > > > > >a little more room to contain everything on the width of the > page. > > > > > > So (SEVERAL TIMES) I have merged the cells in the first 3 > columns. > > > This > > > > > >contains the parts of their names, and allows me to conserve > >enough > > >room > > > >to > > > > >get > > > > > >everything on the width of the page. But every time I close LO, > and > > >then > > > > come > > > > > >back to work on this spreadsheet, the cells are no longer > "merged". > > >They > > > > will > > > > > >not stay merged. I haven't gotten all the way through the > >spreadsheet > > - > > > at > > > > >one > > > > > >time - to merge the cells. Would the "un-merged" cells that are > left > > >in > > > >the > > > > 3 > > > > > >columns keep the ones above them from staying merged, or am I > doing > > > > something > > > > > >wrong? I just don't understand - time after time - I merge them, > >come > > > back > > > > >and > > > > > >they are no long merged?????????? > > > > > > Roxy > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to > [email protected] > > > > > > In case of problems unsubscribing, write to > > > > >[email protected] > > > > > > Posting guidelines + more: > > >http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > > > > > > List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ > > > > > > All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and > >cannot > > > be > > > > > >deleted > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to >[email protected] > > > > > In case of problems unsubscribing, write to > > > >[email protected] > > > > > Posting guidelines + more: > >http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > > > > > List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ > > > > > All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and >cannot > > be > > > > >deleted > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to [email protected] > > > > > In case of problems unsubscribing, write to > > > >[email protected] > > > > > Posting guidelines + more: > >http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > > > > > List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ > > > > > All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and >cannot > > be > > > > deleted > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to [email protected] > In case of problems unsubscribing, write to [email protected] > Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ > All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted > -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to [email protected] In case of problems unsubscribing, write to [email protected] Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
