Writer - Tables - problem

users
#1

In writer in a table I have numerical data entered in a column. I set the
column to be right justified and the numeric format to currency.
Occasionally I'll enter a number and it will not format correctly and will
shift to the left. I can force it to right justify the cell contents, but I
can't force it to apply currency numeric format. What am I doing wrong?

Paul Whitehurst
whandwh@aol.com

#2

You may want to experiment with the options at Tools | Options... | LibreOffice Writer | Table | Input in tables. I don't claim to be an expert in exactly what these do, so I won't attempt to explain.

But there is one thing of which you should be aware. In some circumstances, any input that does not fit the applied format - in your case, Currency - will automatically reset the format of that cell alone to Text. Note that something as simple as completing an entry into a cell with Enter (instead of an arrow key or a mouse click) will render your entry no longer acceptable as Currency and have this effect. Interestingly, if you press Enter and then Backspace to correct yourself, the problem persists, but Enter followed by Edit | Undo (or Ctrl+Z) works without resetting the cell format. Note also that if you paste in a number from elsewhere, it is quite easy to bring along a trailing paragraph break, just as if you had pressed Enter, and this will likewise cause your problem

When you say that you "can't force it to apply currency numeric format", do you mean that reapplying the format has no effect? The only reason I can imagine for that would be that your entry cannot be interpreted as Currency: perhaps it contains a rogue character or has misplaced thousands separators, for example.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#3

Brian:

That was some help. I turned off the alignment in the Input in Tables
(under Options). Now it doesn't change the format. Thanks.

I still have problems with the number format. I set the cell to currency
format with a default $0.00 in the cell. When I attempt to insert
additional numerals it changes the format to text. I can change it back to
currency but it has no effect. In other words it doesn't insert commas. I
turned number recognition on and off, but this had no effect.

Today I discovered that if I completely erase the original cell content then
insert new numerals it will properly format it. Go figure.

It looks like I'll just have to leave blank cells in the form.

I appreciate your ideas.

Paul