Bug 140604 - Some DDE Fields won't load - Multiple empty fields on large/frequently updated dde links.
Summary: Some DDE Fields won't load - Multiple empty fields on large/frequently update...
Status: RESOLVED INSUFFICIENTDATA
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
5.3 all versions
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64) Windows (All)
: medium normal
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2021-02-22 16:35 UTC by pedroh.u
Modified: 2022-04-05 03:51 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Screenshots of the DDE links behavior in different LibreOffice Versions. (2.45 MB, application/pdf)
2021-02-22 16:35 UTC, pedroh.u
Details

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Description pedroh.u 2021-02-22 16:35:15 UTC
Created attachment 169969 [details]
Screenshots of the DDE links behavior in different LibreOffice Versions.

Given a Calc Sheet with multiple DDE cells frequently updated, some cells will be loaded into the sheet without any data (Field left blank) and without presenting any errors neither on the Calc nor on the DDE Server.

For this instance, there were approximately 330 DDE cells where roughly 20% of them were updated through an XTYP_ADV_REQ with intervals < 1 second while the remaining cells were updated in random intervals ranging from 1 second to minutes.

In the link manager, the status of the empty cells are marked as Waiting and are perpetually on this state. Upon manually requesting an update for those links which are stagnated on the waiting status while the other ones are live, the requested cell may be updated and have his status changed to automatic or remain manual with no data.

Furthermore, given enough time, most the cells are going to be filled. Probably due to new XTYP_ADVISE messages from the server telling LibreOffice to update a given cell and, as a consequence, it will have the same behavior as a manual update request where it has a chance to update or not based on luck.

Additionally, given a reduced set of DDE cells or less frequently updated ones, LibreOffice Calc, regardless of the version, will behave properly.

Given the ever changing nature of the behavior (different cells being ignored / left blank) at each run, it makes me believe that this might be a concurrency issue on the LibreOffice Calc Software.

LibreOffice version 5.2.7.2 is behaving properly with no issues whatsoever.
The first version tested that the issue is present was on 5.3.0.1, additionally this behavior is also happening on the current 7.1 version. It is worth mentioning that I have also tested the DDE server using a Excel worksheet and it is behaving properly. 

If need be, we may be able to provide a trial version of the software that hosts the DDE Server so the issue is easily replicated.
Comment 1 Roman Kuznetsov 2021-09-05 19:38:16 UTC
Can you try it in LibreOffice 7.0.6?
Comment 2 QA Administrators 2022-03-05 03:33:47 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 3 QA Administrators 2022-04-05 03:51:43 UTC
Dear pedroh.u,

Please read this message in its entirety before proceeding.

Your bug report is being closed as INSUFFICIENTDATA due to inactivity and
a lack of information which is needed in order to accurately
reproduce and confirm the problem. We encourage you to retest
your bug against the latest release. If the issue is still
present in the latest stable release, we need the following
information (please ignore any that you've already provided):

a) Provide details of your system including your operating
   system and the latest version of LibreOffice that you have
   confirmed the bug to be present

b) Provide easy to reproduce steps – the simpler the better

c) Provide any test case(s) which will help us confirm the problem

d) Provide screenshots of the problem if you think it might help

e) Read all comments and provide any requested information

Once all of this is done, please set the bug back to UNCONFIRMED
and we will attempt to reproduce the issue. Please do not:

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b) update the version field in the bug or any of the other details
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