[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 139027] New: Problems with Help information for Calc's INDEX() function

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=139027

            Bug ID: 139027
           Summary: Problems with Help information for Calc's INDEX()
                    function
           Product: LibreOffice
           Version: 7.0.3.1 release
          Hardware: All
                OS: All
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: medium
         Component: Calc
          Assignee: libreoffice-bugs at lists.freedesktop.org
          Reporter: stevemfanning.wh at gmail.com

Description:
As part of the GSOD20 work to update the Calc Functions wiki pages, I have been
reading the help page for the INDEX() function. Unfortunately, it appears to
contain several errors and there are several glaring omissions.

1) There is no mention of using the INDEX function as an array function (either
by ticking the Array button in the Function Wizard or by pressing
Ctrl+Shift+Enter after typing the formula in the Input line). This is crucial
to harness the full power of this function.
2) There is no mention of passing (multi-dimensional) inline array constants to
the function, e.g., {=INDEX({1,3,5;7,9,10},{2;1},1)} is a valid array function
call.
3) There is no mention of passing a multi-range area using the tilde (~)
reference concatenation operator, e.g., =INDEX($B$1:$B$3~$F$1:$F$3,1,1). This
could equally be written as =INDEX(($B$1:$B$3,$F$1:$F$3),1,1).
4) The introductory paragraph states that “Depending on context, INDEX returns
a reference or content” is probably misleading – I have never seen the function
return a “reference”. It can return the content of a single cell or, when
entered as an array formula, can return the content of multiple cells.
5) The description of the Reference argument states that “If the reference
consists of multiple ranges, you must enclose the reference or range name in
parentheses”. This is not true, e.g., =INDEX(TwoAreas,1,1) is okay.
6) The description of the Row argument states that “In case of zero (no
specific row) all referenced rows are returned”. This is only true if entered
as an array function. Ditto for the corresponding statement for the Column
argument.
7) The examples need to be reviewed and updated in the light of the above
comments. This function is sufficiently complex and powerful that maybe linking
to an ODT file containing a wide range of examples might be worth considering.


Steps to Reproduce:
Search for INDEX in the list of help topics.

Actual Results:
N/A

Expected Results:
N/A


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No



Additional Info:
Version: 7.0.3.1 (x64)
Build ID: d7547858d014d4cf69878db179d326fc3483e082
CPU threads: 6; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19041; UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
Locale: en-GB (en_GB); UI: en-GB
Calc: threaded

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