Bug 56447

Summary:	paste special does not skip empty cells when checkbox is checked
Product:	LibreOffice	Reporter:	S.Andreason <sandreas41>
Component:	Calc	Assignee:	Not Assigned <libreoffice-bugs>
Status:	RESOLVED NOTABUG
Severity:	normal	CC:	gerard.fargeot
Priority:	medium
Version:	3.6.1.2 release
Hardware:	x86 (IA32)
OS:	Linux (All)
Whiteboard:
Crash report or crash signature:		Regression By:

Description S.Andreason 2012-10-27 02:02:07 UTC

I want to update a formula in 4 columns, 2500 lines long, with lots of strategic empty cells. When I copy the new cell, and Edit Paste Special, Formula only, and check the Skip empty cells checkbox, I find it pastes into all cells.

I also found this bug exists in 3.4.5, and in OO_3.1, so it seems it has always been there.

and creating a new spreadsheet to test in, also ignores the Skip checkbox.

and trying Paste All in Paste Special, also does not skip.

Are there any combinations that Do skip empty cells?

To duplicate, enter into [cell]=___
A1= 1
A2= =A1+1
copy A2, paste A3..A5
paste B2 and B4, leaving B3 empty
B1= 4

now edit B2= =$a1+2
copy B2,
Highlight B3..B5
Paste Special, Formula, Skip empty

Result, all 3 cells now contain the formula, instead of just one.
(This example is ridiculously simple, whereas the real formula contains several IF statements and calculations.)

Comment 1 GerardF 2012-10-27 07:57:56 UTC

I think you misunderstand what "Skip empty cells" is supposed to do.
Skip empty cells don't ignore empty cells from the paste range but empty cell from the clipboard (copy range).

Help (F1) :
"Skip empty cells 
Empty cells from the clipboard do not replace target cells. If you use this option in conjunction with the Multiply or the Divide operation, the operation is not applied to the target cell of an empty cell in the clipboard. 

If you select a mathematical operation and clear the Skip empty cells box, empty cells in the clipboard are treated as zeroes. For example, if you apply the Multiply operation, the target cells are filled with zeroes."

Comment 2 S.Andreason 2012-10-27 21:42:20 UTC

Oops, I did misunderstand. 
Perhaps this should now be a feature request, as I don't see any way to quickly accomplish the task of replacing thousands of nearly identical formulas.