Bug 121322 - Paste with 'Dynamic Data Exchange' does not use DDE function but inserts file link
Summary: Paste with 'Dynamic Data Exchange' does not use DDE function but inserts file...
Status: NEW
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
5.4.7.2 release
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64) Windows (All)
: medium normal
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: Files-Linked
  Show dependency treegraph
 
Reported: 2018-11-10 00:05 UTC by Regina Henschel
Modified: 2025-04-02 21:25 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Link Address (22.21 KB, image/png)
2025-04-02 20:41 UTC, Ian Eales
Details
No File Name on Edit Link (29.66 KB, image/png)
2025-04-02 20:42 UTC, Ian Eales
Details
No Auto Edit (16.55 KB, image/png)
2025-04-02 20:47 UTC, Ian Eales
Details
Settings (6.69 KB, image/png)
2025-04-02 20:54 UTC, Ian Eales
Details
No Trusted Location in Help (18.35 KB, image/png)
2025-04-02 21:11 UTC, Ian Eales
Details

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Description Regina Henschel 2018-11-10 00:05:27 UTC
Launch Calc and create files "source.ods" and "target.ods".
Write number 123 to cell B3 in "source.ods", save.
Click on cell B3 and copy to clipboard, e.g using the icon.
Go to document "target.ods" and click on cell A4. Then open the drop-down list from "Paste" icon. Select item "Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE link)'.

Look in input bar.
You see something similar to ='file:///D:/Desktop/Quelle.ods'#$Sheet1.B3
It is a file link.

Expected: Something similar to =DDE("soffice";"D:\Desktop\Quelle.ods";"Sheet1.B3")

If you drag&drop with Ctrl+Shift, then a DDE link is generated. The DDE link works as expected. Changes in the source file are automatically reflected in the target file without need to press Strg+Shift+F9. Manually entering the function DDE works too.

You might argue about using DDE (see bug 49327), but if it is labeled 'Dynamic Data Exchange' it should use DDE funktion.

Suggestion: Provide both kind of links in the drop-down list of the insert icon.
Comment 1 Oliver Brinzing 2018-11-10 17:39:25 UTC
confirming with 

Version: 6.1.3.2 (x64)
Build ID: 86daf60bf00efa86ad547e59e09d6bb77c699acb
CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10.0; UI render: default; 
Locale: de-DE (de_DE); Calc:
Comment 2 Oliver Brinzing 2018-11-10 17:42:15 UTC
already reproducible with

Version: 5.4.7.2
Build-ID: c838ef25c16710f8838b1faec480ebba495259d0
CPU-Threads: 4; BS: Windows 6.2; UI-Render: Standard; 
Gebietsschema: de-DE (de_DE); Calc: single
Comment 3 QA Administrators 2021-02-22 04:00:06 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 4 QA Administrators 2023-02-23 03:25:07 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 5 Regina Henschel 2023-02-23 15:50:18 UTC
The problem exists as described still in Version: 7.6.0.0.alpha0+ (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 9d44236a62bf59d120dda89924d0d1407b2bd52b
CPU threads: 8; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19045; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: CL threaded
Comment 6 QA Administrators 2025-02-23 03:11:08 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 7 Ian Eales 2025-04-02 20:40:24 UTC
Since 25.2 I cannot enter a new link or edit file links that I've used for 10 years.

The Hyperlink dialog will insert one, but I only want the data.

In the creation dialog, I'm not able to select a cell, only a sheet.

The selection list on the left is next to useless because it does not actually highlight what it selected. One has to divine what is from the skinny line at left.

It is impossible to get rid of the external link warning.

How anyone could think this new operation is a feature is beyond me.

Fix all the bugs, then worry about making it pretty.

Version: 25.2.1.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: d3abf4aee5fd705e4a92bba33a32f40bc4e56f49
CPU threads: 20; OS: Windows 11 X86_64 (10.0 build 26100); UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded
Comment 8 Ian Eales 2025-04-02 20:41:25 UTC
Created attachment 200130 [details]
Link Address

Address that's been there for 10 years.
Comment 9 Ian Eales 2025-04-02 20:42:42 UTC
Created attachment 200131 [details]
No File Name on Edit Link

In ALL prior versions, editing a link broke it into it's component parts.
Comment 10 Ian Eales 2025-04-02 20:47:14 UTC
Created attachment 200132 [details]
No Auto Edit

Unable to change links to update automatically and get rid of the annoying yellow banner that used to disappear with Allow Updating.

General setting Allow Updating is set, to no avail.
Comment 11 Ian Eales 2025-04-02 20:54:17 UTC
Created attachment 200133 [details]
Settings

If a file in the same folder is no longer trusted, heaven help us.

So, I went through more machinations - which is not in the help about links:
file:///C:/Program%20Files/LibreOffice/help/en-US/text/shared/02/09070300.html?DbPAR=SHARED#bm_id551615667308718
Comment 12 Ian Eales 2025-04-02 21:11:27 UTC
Created attachment 200134 [details]
No Trusted Location in Help

The Links Help has not a word about Trusted Locations

I posted a query on Ask.LibreOffice about earlier this week ago and as yet no response...
Comment 13 Regina Henschel 2025-04-02 21:21:05 UTC
(In reply to Ian Eales from comment #7)
> Since 25.2 I cannot enter a new link or edit file links that I've used for
> 10 years.

This bug is about DDE not about file links. Please write a separate bug report for your problem.
Comment 14 Regina Henschel 2025-04-02 21:25:18 UTC
(In reply to QA Administrators from comment #6)
> Dear Regina Henschel,
> 
> To make sure we're focusing on the bugs that affect our users today,
> LibreOffice QA is asking bug reporters and confirmers to retest open,
> confirmed bugs which have not been touched for over a year.

The problem still exists as described in Version: 25.2.1.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: d3abf4aee5fd705e4a92bba33a32f40bc4e56f49
CPU threads: 32; OS: Windows 11 X86_64 (10.0 build 26100); UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
Locale: de-DE (de_DE); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded