[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 132026] Entering "-" in a cell formatted as text puts Calc into formula-entering mode

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=132026

--- Comment #7 from Grzegorz Junka <list1 at gjunka.com> ---
It might be a feature for numeric cells, but when a cell is explicitly
formatted as text it's an impediment into entering that text. Basically, user
can't enter any text starting with or containing - or + and move to the next
cell.

I never stated that this is related to auto correction. I only stated that
disabling the ability of entering such text without allowing the user to enable
it is a bug.

As an example, imagine that there is no option to disable auto correction and
that every time user enters "WMvare" the editor changes the spelling to
"Wmvare", which is incorrect. When the editor forces an incorrect behavior a
feature becomes a bug.

In this case it's very similar. User can't enter "-" and move to next cell
without triggering the formula entering mode.

Note, that there is no other way of moving across cells in Calc than using
keyboard. Think about disability and UX issues when users try to use Calc
without a mouse. A somehow helpful feature that is always forced and can't be
disabled becomes a bug.

This issue is present not only when entering '-' or '+' but also when entering
'--', '- ', '--- ', '===-+_-', '-- a --' ... basically even when the formula is
invalid.

The simplest resolution would probably be to disable this for cells formatted
as text. A proper solution would be to add a position in the menu to disable
"formula mode" or how it's called, similarly to auto correct. There is also
plenty of space in LibreOffice Calc - Formula tab in Options.

Sorry for this long explanation. I appreciate your work on the software. I just
don't see how some custom behavior triggered by a specific combination of
characters that can't be disabled is not a bug. Imagine driving a car where
pressing the break, left turn indicator, and then low beam headlights, in that
order, causes the airbag to blow up.

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