Bug 111697 - Add Circular reference warning when opening such file in Calc
Summary: Add Circular reference warning when opening such file in Calc
Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
Inherited From OOo
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2017-08-11 15:51 UTC by Timur
Modified: 2017-08-31 16:26 UTC (History)
4 users (show)

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Description Timur 2017-08-11 15:51:09 UTC
Currently when we open spreadsheet with circular reference, we are not notified in any way, until we click in circular reference cell, when we see "Error: Circular reference". 
https://helponline.libreoffice.org/5.4/en-US/text/scalc/05/02140000.html?&DbPAR=CALC

There could be 2 ways to raise awareness, similar to some other software:
- warning in the beginning that there are circular references in the document, with OK to proceed and Help to explain
- permanent notification in Status Bar "Circular references found" which, when those cells are selected, changes to current "Error: Circular reference"

Note: seems Calc doesn't have function to show circular reference cells, which should be another bug. Once this one is confirmed.
Comment 1 m_a_riosv 2017-08-11 22:31:44 UTC
On one side circular circular references are not an error when Menu/Tools/Options/LibreOffice Calc/Calculate/Iterations it's enable.

And it's posible find cells with the 'Err:522' with Find&Replace, searching for the error with 'Formatting display' enable and searching for values.
Comment 2 Timur 2017-08-17 15:22:42 UTC
Thank you, but I still remain with the proposal.
Alternative for point 2: permanent notification in Status Bar "Circular references: B2, D6, H8" i.e. which immediately shows where they are. 
If this is feasible, point 1: warning in the beginning may not be necessary. Or may be another enhancement bug.
Comment 3 Xisco Faulí 2017-08-17 15:25:12 UTC
Eike, what do you think ?
Comment 4 Eike Rathke 2017-08-18 16:23:31 UTC
To be able to display such status information we'd have to recalculate the entire document after load. We certainly don't want this unless the user has explicitly chosen to do so.
Comment 5 Timur 2017-08-18 16:39:14 UTC
Thank you. So what's possible then without recalculation? 
- Warning at the beginning with "OK to proceed", "Recalculate" and "Help to explain"?
- first suggestion: permanent notification in Status Bar "Circular references found" which, when those cells are selected, changes to current "Error: Circular reference"
and maybe:
- permanent notification in Status Bar "Circular references: B2, D6, H8" only if Recalculate pressed?

What do you think of minimal solution now, now just this:
- permanent notification in Status Bar "Circular references found" which, when those cells are selected, changes to current "Error: Circular reference"
It's also acceptable because it gives some clue and show cells could be another bug. Maybe Warning could then also be another bug.
Comment 6 Buovjaga 2017-08-31 16:26:46 UTC
(In reply to Timur from comment #5)
> What do you think of minimal solution now, now just this:
> - permanent notification in Status Bar "Circular references found" which,
> when those cells are selected, changes to current "Error: Circular reference"
> It's also acceptable because it gives some clue and show cells could be
> another bug. Maybe Warning could then also be another bug.

I checked with moggi as well and this is not possible without recalculating. So let's close.