Created attachment 169120 [details] Google Sheets handles this better Scenario: after you've started typing a formula in a cell, you realize the first character was wrong, e.g. you wanted to start with a parenthesis. Goal: use the keyboard to change the first character 1. In a cell, type `=1 + 2 + 3` 2. Press Left arrow Even though it doesn't make sense to insert a cell reference at this point (the cursor is not after an operand), Calc will take pressing the arrow keys as navigation among cells. 3. Press Backspace to delete the `+ 3` part. 4. Try again to press Left arrow to hopefully reach `1`. Google Sheets handles this correctly, as seen in the attached screencast. In Calc, you need to leave the incorrect formula by pressing Enter, then return to editing the cell.
If you start editing by clicking the equal sign next to the input line, you still write in the cell and then the arrow keys move the cursor as expected.
Type F2 (Cell Edit Mode) then LEFT ARROW key.
From my perspective not a bug but intended behavior (and F2 being the designed method to change the edit mode).
Calc's behaviour is not a bug. The screencast shows a specific scenario where cell A1 is being edited. Google sheets is moving the cursor on left arrow because there's no cell to the left of the edited cell. However, the screencast shows it inserting cell addresses to the right when the right arrow is used. In the same situation, editing cells in column A, Calc refuses to move the cursor left. Either way is ok, although the behaviour of Calc could be preferable IMO in not setting up a false expectation/muscle memory. What does Google Sheets do when editing cell B2? When the left arrow is pressed I expect it inserts the address of cell B1. But then, pressing left arrow repeatedly, does it start to move the cursor in cell B2 to the left? Except for this minor difference in interpretation, both Calc and Google Sheets appear to do the same thing. If possible they move to adjacent cells and insert the address of that cell when the next key is pressed. The last inserted cell remains highlighted and the next arrow keypress is relative to that cell.
See https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=139877#c4