[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 124454] Double negation with text in array context behaves like single -

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=124454

b. <newbie-02 at gmx.de> changed:

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                 CC|                            |newbie-02 at gmx.de

--- Comment #10 from b. <newbie-02 at gmx.de> ---
Created attachment 157384
  --> https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/attachment.cgi?id=157384&action=edit
file_with_some_more_conversion_curiosities


c#9: 

> It appears Excel & Google Sheets treat "--" differently than Calc. 

and compatibility is considered a strong argument in other decisions designing
calc, sometimes even to keep bugs for compatibility, why isn't it respected
here? 

> As others have stated, Since "--" is actually a common way to convert texts to numbers, and is taught in a lot of "Excel tips and tricks" kind of books, 

it's just a statement, i'm missing citations / references, on a quick search i
found only one site
(https://exceljet.net/the-double-negative-in-excel-formulas) about handling of
"--" for logical values: ‚The first negative will convert TRUE to -1, and the
second negative will convert 1 to 1‘ that is someway plausible, but what does
calc do instead: the double negation converts a number – or number
representating text – to its negative … 

> this makes using Calc looking like it is calculating (to the norms) but not calculating to what is expected.

‚calculating to the norm‘ … which norm? did i miss something? 

> Therefore, either 1) there should be a warning when "--" is used that this calculates differently than the expected (at least on the first calculation of the spreadsheet) or 2) Calc should calculate the same as Excel and Google Sheets.

yes! 

if double negation sign is not interpretet as two calculation operators but as
one conversion sign both ‚-‘ signs should be away after conversion … handling
of '--' by calc is using one of the '-' for conversion and leaving one for a -
wrong - result. 

c#7: 

> the „minus minus“ thing is an explicit way to convert text to numbers, 

ok, but why should it convert 1 to -1? regardless of text or numbers. 

simple user expectations say the highlighted cells in the attachement provided
are questionabe, thus i suggest to change that behaviour, 

especially the change from col. E to F, and col. G to H are 'not intuitively
understandable'

i'm aware that a change would break compatibility into calc itself :-( thus
would need a warning to users or one more options switch? :-( but it should be
possible to find ways to do things like that otherwise most progress is
blocked. 

reg. 

b.

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