### signs in Calc

users
#1

Help.
I thought I was doing something wrong and have working on this situation for a few days or nights.
I take two cells, create a formula in a third cell and the calculation results in a ###.

First I thought it was a field not formatted for numbers. Tried formatting.
Closed Libre. Restarted Same. Rebooted Mac, Same.
Then I thought it was the sheet. Tried a simple formula like the number 2 in A1 and the number 2 in B1. Went to cell C1 clicked SUM and picked the default suggestion and pressed enter. Same result.
Went to the Frugal Computer guy to review but did not discover anything glaring wrong in what I was doing.
Thought it was my recent install of Libre from a few weeks ago. Erased and Downloaded again. Same issue.
At this point I thought that I was really doing something dumb!
Tried the same process in Apples Pages, like two cells and SUM. Works OK.
Went to another Mac running an older version of Libre and Tiger. Works OK.
It really seems like I am doing something dumb. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Thanks
Dave

#2

I'm pointing the obvious, but anyway...

### as a formula result usually mean that the cell is too narrow for the
result to be displayed. Is that a possibility here?

#3

I take two cells, create a formula in a third cell and the calculation results in a ###.

As you can see from the help text (under "### error message"), this means "The cell is not wide enough to display the contents." You need either to
o (simplest) increase the column width, or
o reduce the font size, or
o possibly modify the cell formatting so that the displayed result is narrow enough to fit.

Remember that the result that is too large to be displayed may itself be an error message.

Went to the Frugal Computer guy to review but did not discover anything glaring wrong in what I was doing.

Sack him and find a better computer guy(/gal).

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#4

Doesn't it seem time that this become a new feature with a default setting.
-Automatically expand width of column.-

#5

Brian. Thanks
Gee I wish it was that simple.
I reduced the font size from 10 to 6 changed the font style and increased the column with to the rest of the page. While I do not get ### any longer, I now see the formula =SUM(A1:A2). What is also interesting is on the format cells menu, in the box on the lower right I see the correct result. I am doing this on a blank sheet with single digits like adding 1 and 2 to get the result of 3. I feel pretty dumb in not getting the result.
Thanks
Dave

#6

Best Sirs,
From mr Asaibene's message I think it is obvious -- at least we can assume -- that he is rather familiar with using speadsheets (e.g. LO/Calc)
and knows the basics, he has reloaded the LO program -- and he described a simple calculation that is all correct but showed the result that is in no way normal
whatever his (operating)system is.
The answers mr Asaibene has got are of course correct but not relevant.

One point is that if a word processor (e.g. Writer) does not work correctly you can see or notice it and correct it, but if a spreadsheet
program (e.g. LO/Calc) does not behave or do the calculations correctly you may not be aware of the failures and draw
wrong conclutions -- a spreadsheet program is worse than worthless if you cannot trust it "150%".
A couple of years ago I experienced some that sort of problems with LO/Calc why I still try to check the results in every project of importance.

Mr Asaibene's message is alarming: if a spreadsheet behaves odd in small then there can be more serious issues.
I think mr Asaibene should post a bug report.
Regards
Pertti Rönnberg

#7

What you're describing sort of sounds like the feature that prevent
computing formula if the file originate from another office suite if it
could cause issues, but that's probably not it as it should not prevent you
from typing new formula.

Could you upload such problematic file somewhere so we can look at it?

#8

I take two cells, create a formula in a third cell and the calculation results in a ###.

As you can see from the help text (under "### error message"), this means "The cell is not wide enough to display the contents." You need either to
o (simplest) increase the column width, or
o reduce the font size, or
o possibly modify the cell formatting so that the displayed result is narrow enough to fit.

Remember that the result that is too large to be displayed may itself be an error message.

Gee I wish it was that simple.

Oh, it is, it is!

I reduced the font size from 10 to 6 changed the font style and increased the column with to the rest of the page. While I do not get ### any longer, I now see the formula =SUM(A1:A2). What is also interesting is on the format cells menu, in the box on the lower right I see the correct result. I am doing this on a blank sheet with single digits like adding 1 and 2 to get the result of 3.

You evidently have Calc set to display formulae in cells rather than the results of those formulae. (This can occasionally be useful.) Just remove the tick from the option at Tools | Options... | LibreOffice Calc | View | Display | Formulae.

I feel pretty dumb in not getting the result.

Please don't.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#9

From mr Asaibene's message I think it is obvious -- at least we can assume -- that he is rather familiar with using spreadsheets (e.g. LO/Calc) and knows the basics, ...

I don't want to be overcritical of the original questioner, but I suspect that this is not entirely true. Not recognising "###" and its meaning is perfectly understandable for a beginner.

... he described a simple calculation that is all correct but showed the result that is in no way normal whatever his (operating)system is.

It is normal if the Formulae display option is ticked.

... if a spreadsheet program (e.g. LO/Calc) does not behave or do the calculations correctly you may not be aware of the failures and draw wrong conclutions ...

This is entirely true! And it's a good lesson to learn: spreadsheets are by their nature fragile and can be relied on only if their construction has been very carefully executed.

... a spreadsheet program is worse than worthless if you cannot trust it "150%". A couple of years ago I experienced some that sort of problems with LO/Calc why I still try to check the results in every project of importance.

Again, that is excellent advice.

Mr Asaibene's message is alarming: if a spreadsheet behaves odd in small then there can be more serious issues. I think mr Asaibene should post a bug report.

I'm still working with the theory that Calc is operating as advertised.

Brian Barker

#10

From mr Asaibene's message I think it is obvious -- at least we can assume -- that he is rather familiar with using spreadsheets (e.g. LO/Calc) and knows the basics, ...

I don't want to be overcritical of the original questioner, but I suspect that this is not entirely true. Not recognising "###" and its meaning is perfectly understandable for a beginner.
Agreed I am a beginner and I feel that I have used most of my resources to try and fix my issue. The ### is not necessarily the the issue, not getting the expected result is. OS is Mac OS 10.4.11. All updates installed.

... he described a simple calculation that is all correct but showed the result that is in no way normal whatever his (operating)system is.

It is normal if the Formulae display option is ticked.
I will find this option take a look however I think a reinstall of the app would not have ticked this option.

... if a spreadsheet program (e.g. LO/Calc) does not behave or do the calculations correctly you may not be aware of the failures and draw wrong conclutions ...

This is entirely true! And it's a good lesson to learn: spreadsheets are by their nature fragile and can be relied on only if their construction has been very carefully executed.

Yes of course. When I was not getting a result in a Calc I was developing, I stopped and tried to get back to basics.

... a spreadsheet program is worse than worthless if you cannot trust it "150%". A couple of years ago I experienced some that sort of problems with LO/Calc why I still try to check the results in every project of importance.

Again, that is excellent advice.

Mr Asaibene's message is alarming: if a spreadsheet behaves odd in small then there can be more serious issues. I think mr Asaibene should post a bug report.

Not sure how to do this, but unless others are seeing this issue or can reproduce it, I think it is my issue. I am going back to 4.3.6.2 to see if it provides any different results.

#11

Fixed!
Thanks
The Formula check box was ticked as Brian indicated. It was a little difficult getting back to this since clicking Preferences did not give me the option to look at the Calc setting Preferences which was indicated via the Help menus. however getting back to the basic sheet, then Preferences showed me the check box. Hope this makes sense.
Anyway what I would think is a bug and others may disagree, is that if I do a reinstall of an app that all my settings should be set back to defaults. If not I think the App should ask me if I want to go back to the defaults or keep the settings I have. The reason I am saying this is because if everything is OK and I am upgrading the App then I want all my settings as they were. If I am having a new issue as I have encountered, I have no way of knowing with out the help of this forum if I am at fault or it is the App.
Anyway thanks for your help.