Bug 143931 - CALC Conditional Formatting - Simplified single background colour fill
Summary: CALC Conditional Formatting - Simplified single background colour fill
Status: RESOLVED NOTABUG
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
7.0.6.2 release
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2021-08-18 12:41 UTC by Colin
Modified: 2021-08-18 16:35 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Sample conditional format background (11.22 KB, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet)
2021-08-18 14:52 UTC, m_a_riosv
Details
Sample conditional format background 2 (11.93 KB, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet)
2021-08-18 15:54 UTC, m_a_riosv
Details

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Description Colin 2021-08-18 12:41:12 UTC
Description:
When specifying single conditional colour formatting, there should be a simplified procedure when all that is required is the same effect as automatically pressing the [Background Colour] Button.

In addition to defining the trigger events - which would still be required - the current procedure requires the user to "find" a fairly suitable close approximation to the desired format, from the stored list of defaults AND user-created styles and then edit that specification to ensure the font name, style, weight, alignment, borders AND background colour are having the desired effect.

Make a mistake in a fairly unintuitive chain of events and it's necessary to go back and ensure one is amending the new style just created and then make further amendments.

If one is lucky - the desired conditional background colour has been created.

In many instances, the user already has a painstakingly created layout incorporating all the desired attributes for each and every cell in the file - all except one of them - and would simply like to add a background highlight "Oh Look, these are all for TODAY()", change nothing but the background colour so the nice bright green or blue or red........... will stand out in a sea of...... nothing.

Steps to Reproduce:
There currently are none - that's why it's called an enhancement request.

If the description is not 100% clear - or at least thought-provoking amongst those who are already familiar with conditional formatting - then please don't hesitate to Request Further Information.

I suspect it should go straight to the "Needs Comment" stage.

Actual Results:
Hopefully, a simple cell background colour fill within conditional formatting where all the existing parameters are simply adopted and supplemented with a background colour chosen by the user.

Expected Results:
Nothing exists so nothing happens


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No



Additional Info:
Version: 7.0.6.2 (x64)
Build ID: 144abb84a525d8e30c9dbbefa69cbbf2d8d4ae3b
CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19042; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: sv-SE (en_GB); UI: en-GB
Calc: threaded
Comment 1 m_a_riosv 2021-08-18 14:52:57 UTC
Created attachment 174379 [details]
Sample conditional format background

Styles can inherit from other styles, so you only need to change in the new style, e.g. the background color.

See the attached file 'Untitle1' style applies the green background for the cells.
'Untitle 1' inherits from 'Default'
Cells CF range has 'Hyperlink' style.

CF applies 'Untitle1' for odd rows, green background, but respects the rest of the attributes, because only 'background' attribute is modified in it.
Comment 2 Colin 2021-08-18 15:15:58 UTC
(In reply to m.a.riosv from comment #1)
> Created attachment 174379 [details]
> Sample conditional format background
> 
> Styles can inherit from other styles, so you only need to change in the new
> style, e.g. the background color.
> 
> See the attached file 'Untitle1' style applies the green background for the
> cells.
> 'Untitle 1' inherits from 'Default'
> Cells CF range has 'Hyperlink' style.
> 
> CF applies 'Untitle1' for odd rows, green background, but respects the rest
> of the attributes, because only 'background' attribute is modified in it.

My point is

If I already have all the cells defined and there is no default stylesheet or user stylesheet even vaguely resembling what is already in the cell why is it not possible to just make what it sees a style for which I can then simply change the background colour?
I have to search and experiment with the existing styles to discover the alignment or font name, size, colour or background is of no use to me. I want what I see(have) with a different background colour.

Compare
1 Search for style
2 Does it look right
3 Try it
4 Was it right
5 No Change it 
6 ......repeat from 2 (Or 1 if the stylesheet was a total failure)
OK
Remember, after the new stylesheet has been completed and failed and a new stylesheet commenced then it's practically impossible to remove failures from the list of 22,372 useless styles.

With
1 Change the attributes I want to change
OK

Then, if I want to change another cell or collection of cells to the same style I can just add them to the conditional format I created in 1 step.

If I want a different test utilising my accepted style then I can re-use that stylesheet modifying as appropriate.
Still with only a couple of steps.
Comment 3 m_a_riosv 2021-08-18 15:54:15 UTC
Created attachment 174388 [details]
Sample conditional format background 2

Attached the sample file with a more explicit use of the styles.

Only one style, it's needed to modify the background of cells with different styles.

Seems you want a direct format from the CF, what it's achieved, I think, with the sample file, without any search.
Comment 4 Colin 2021-08-18 16:17:34 UTC
(In reply to m.a.riosv from comment #3)
> Created attachment 174388 [details]
> Sample conditional format background 2
> 
> Attached the sample file with a more explicit use of the styles.
> 
> Only one style, it's needed to modify the background of cells with different
> styles.
> 
> Seems you want a direct format from the CF, what it's achieved, I think,
> with the sample file, without any search.

I think I've found your page now. I was always working from the "styles selection and maintenance" within the conditional formatting management facility - a nightmare for the uninitiated.

Now I've "found" the "manage styles" sidebar it becomes a lot clearer.

Some experimentation is called for.

Perhaps a status change to idiot user is appropriate.
Thanks.
Comment 5 m_a_riosv 2021-08-18 16:35:29 UTC
Don't worry, nobody is borne knowing. And this is the typical, no easy, to find how.

In any case, when you have doubts, better begin asking on our forum.

https://ask.libreoffice.org/