Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 77973
A better way of treating numbers/dates?!
Last modified: 2013-10-08 04:32:23 UTC
I am exporting/importing data quite a bit into/from calc and often get issues with the decimal separator (',' or '.'). I'm working on a Swedish system and ',' is the Swedish standard, however, lots of programs generate numbers with '.' as decimal separator (DS) and also want that as input. So my first want would be: * Have a option in input/output dialogs (as well as clip board inserts) where you can bypass any other settings in OOo and choose your own decimal separator out of (','/'.'). For import this exists in the MS counterpart. I also find this a problem when typing numbers i calc. I some time forget what DS I should use and write number using '.'. What then happens is that my system interprets this as a DATE, i.e. 1.22 becomes 01.01.22. This is totally illogical for a Swede, we never writes dates like that. That formatting should be removed. Coming to this, dates is a pain typing. Different countries have different ways of writing dates, and this seems to make the built in formatter go wild. * If date formatting was turned off by default, and you would have to choose a date format for the cell/range of cells, before date information is inputted, that would save some confusing I think. The old formatter could then be used to recognize could-be dates when and if the cell didn't have a date format set - show a message saying something like - please select date format for the cells you want to input dates in before inputting the dates. Having implemented the above, only one case remains for actually needing to distinguish between (','/'.') when formatting as a number. That is to distinguish between someone wanting to input 11,22 as a string number sequence instead of the decimal number 11.22. Again, this could be solved through a dialogue, showing up if you have the DS set to ','. OF course, in Sweden 11.22 could also be interpreted as 11:22 (a time), but that should also be one of the cases where the time/date dialogue above should emerge. Therefore, * treat both '.' and ',' in number strings as decimal separators, with the exceptions above. This is my suggestion, I hope it is clear enough, but please ask for clarification if it is not.
Well, I know from my own experience that date input is a pain in the ass. I therefore support any modifications that enhance this. > If date formatting was turned off by default, and you would have to choose > a date format for the cell/range of cells, before date information is inputed, > that would save some confusing I think. Indeed, I would like to have the option to turn automatic date recognition off. I often write both in Romanian, German and English, in various system locales, so the input gets almost always messed up. Even more troublesome is the date pattern, i.e. DD.MM.YY vs MM.DD.YY. I never use the MM.DD.YY, but OOo insists on this (because I have installed the English version, to avoid various other localisation problems). I would welcome a general setting, where one could opt for a standard date format, overriding system defaults and the like. Also, there should be an option to set the output format, IF COPY/PASTE or exporting to CVS files (or other formats). In summary, the 'date' needs some real cleanup. Building some sensible formatting options seems a good start.
discoleo -> mawe3361 You need NOT adjust the OOo version. This indicates, when the problem was first reported. Therefore, you should set it back to OOO 2.2, because you first reported it for OOo 2.2. This problem still persists in OOo 2.3, but this can be mentioned using a short reply/post. What this issue discusses: A.) BETTER DATE Handling 1.) a way to disable auto-date recognition 2.) a way to set the date format globally for Calc (or locally for a spreadsheet ?) B.) BETTER DECIMAL SEPARATOR Handling
Recently, there was a discussion on the SC-mailing list regarding the auto formatting of dates, see e.g.: http://sc.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?list=dev&msgNo=2768 and http://sc.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?list=dev&msgNo=2769 and http://sc.openoffice.org/servlets/BrowseList?listName=dev&by=date&from=2007-12-01&to=2007-12-31 [SUBJECT: 'Date input']
Let's at least confirm this issue. The problem is real.
and re-assigned to requirements team
Just as a note, issue 88429 emphasizes this same problem, see: http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=88429 Please vote for that issue (as it already has 7 votes, it might be relevant to vote there).
I posted the *wrong issue* in my previous post. This is now corrected: Issue 87999 emphasizes this same problem, see: http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=87999 Please vote for that issue (as it already has 11 votes, it might be wise to vote there).
Any news? Do you need clarification of my suggestion?
*** Issue 106924 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue. ***
*** Issue 87557 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue. ***
In issue 87557 was not wanted date autoconvert in this cases: V1 --> 1.5.2001 1/3 --> 1.3. ... in czech localization of OOo
*** Issue 106336 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue. ***
HI! i found issue 33723 "Ability to turn off Number Recognition for incomplete dates in Calc" - it is exactly that i want. I move my votes to 33723. Please move your too if you have same opinion.