Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 65510
Inconsistent stripping of leading apostrophe (seemingly arbitrary)
Last modified: 2017-05-20 11:13:44 UTC
hi. please... - open a blank spreadsheet - enter "'3" into cell A1 (without the "-chars) - enter "''3" into cell A2 (without the "-chars) The result is as expected: A1 shows "3" while A2 shows "'3". Now compare the Input line with these two different cells focused: both cells show "'3". But A2 should show "''3", the text we have entered there. (Excel correctly shows "''3".)
Confirmed - Windows XP SP2, OOo 2.0.3-RC5. This is a case of inconsistent behavior. From the OOo help: "If you decide to enter a number directly as text, enter an apostrophe (') first. For example, for years in column headings, you can enter '1999, '2000 and '2001. The apostrophe is not visible in the cell, it only indicates that the entry is to be recognized as a text." OOo help does not state here how it will handle an apostrophe preceding a non-number string. In practice, OOo strips the leading apostrophe from the string altogether UNLESS the string is purely a number OR in the case of a recognized misspelling (?). (This can be observed by following the directions above, and by trying the combinations below.) Tried the following combinations: '3 (Apostrophe NOT stripped; displayed as "3") ''3 (Apostrophe is stripped; cell contents read "'3") '''3 (Apostrophe is stripped; cell contents read "''3") 'Something (Apostrophe is stripped; cell contents read "Something") 'Something' (Apostrophe is stripped; cell contents read "Something'") 'Someword (Apostrophe NOT stripped; displayed as "'Someword" - a misspelling) '001-202-222 (Apostrophe is stripped; cell contents read "001-202-222") Expected behavior: OOo should never strip the apostrophe from the front of the text entered; it should simply not display the apostrophe (except in the formula bar). OR, perhaps it should display the apostrophe except in cases where a pure number has been entered, thus enabling someone to enter a word in single quotes (eg. 'Something') without having the leading apostrophe disappear. Changing summary to reflect inconsistent behavior.
To workaround, use ="[text]", where [text] is the text you desire to have appear, such as ''3.
Hi Niklas, one for you. Frank
Reset assigne to the default "issues@openoffice.apache.org".