Deleting Table Column Causes Whole Table To Dissapear

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#1

Hi,

I'm new to Libreoffice (I'm using it in Windows 8.1).

I tried to delete columns in an existing table created under OpenOffice (in Windows XP), and this causes the whole table to be dissapear. Would appreciate any advice.

Thank's.

#2

I do not have a good answer, but I have had a bit of experience. I have not worked directly with Base in a while, so my information may be outdated. All of my comments as they relate to your question are based on using Base with the internal HSQL database, and not while connection Base to an external DB such as MySQL.

I vaguely remember that using the GUI I was not able to drop a column. When I did need to do this, I created a new table with the columns that I desired and I copied all of the old data into the new table using a single SQL statement. I never attempted to drop a column using a SQL statement (as opposed to using the GUI).

Especially since you experienced data loss, be sure to keep backups of your documents; always!

#3

Hi Tom,

I'm new to Libreoffice (I'm using it in Windows 8.1).

I tried to delete columns in an existing table created under OpenOffice (in Windows XP), and this causes the whole table to be dissapear. Would appreciate any advice.

What kind of table :
- database table ?
- table in Writer (word processor) ?
- table in Impress or Draw (presentation) ?

Which version of LibreOffice ?

Alex

#4

So LO 4.1.4.2 and a table in Writer (Tom replied to me off list, or
rather he clicked on Reply-to instead of Reply-to-all/List)

Which column - start, end or somewhere in the midlle ?
Only one column, or several ?

Alex

#5

So LO 4.1.4.2 and a table in Writer (Tom replied to me off list, or
rather he clicked on Reply-to instead of Reply-to-all/List)

Which column - start, end or somewhere in the midlle ?
Only one column, or several ?

Alex

#6

If you delete a column in a table in a text (Writer) document where any of the cells in that column are merged with cells in adjacent columns, it appears that the neighbouring columns containing those merged cells will be deleted too. If any row has all its cells merged (or if some combination of merging involves all columns), then you will delete all columns, or in other words delete the entire table.

To avoid this, you may have to demerge (i.e. split) the rogue cells or perhaps to split the table, so that you can delete the required column in a part of the table not containing the merged cells.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#7

Thank's for your advice folks.

Brian's analysis is spot on I think.

I do in fact have merged cells above the area in the Writer table where I was attempting to delete specific columns, including one bridging the entire table row.

I guess I was expecting just the cells I highlit to be deleted, but from now I'll take note of the situation and handle accordingly.

Much appreciated, so problem closed (please let me know if I have to make an entry anywhere denoting this).
  
Tom Robinson.