Description: Hi. Before you say I can solve my issue with protect cell/sheet commands, or by building a form, or by switching to database program, please, understand, NONE of that answers my need, for my work REQUIRES the use of Calc (or any spreadsheet like program) as UI for INSTANT data entry with complex FORMULAS and SORT/FILTER functionality to allow for on-the-fly analysis while being on a really tight time constraint. Okay, so, currently if you want to enter data to a cell you just type in numbers and text and hit enter or move the cursor with an arrow key etc. This is standard, because it is quick, convenient, and not a problem in 99% of cases, until you get to a place, like me, where you have a large amount of data to enter and AT THE SAME TIME you have to process it, analyze it (by sorting, filtering, sum and average formulas etc.) and sometimes modify what's already there on the screen, while also constantly shuffling paper documents spanning your entire desk. While focused on that, you will always end up losing track of your keyboard and mouse whereabouts, especially when sifting through documents, moving them around you will eventually hit a key by accident or even click and drag mouse cursor a bit (it DOES happen), which easily goes unnoticed if your eyes are not glued to the screen at all times (which they are not), resulting in unwanted data manipulation or deletion. Then after a while your sums stop adding up, and your averages are off, and you start wondering why, and of course, you then question all the mental labor you've just gone through that last hours or so. Then you have to waste time checking your data again, and again. It's torture. To prevent this, I need an option in Calc to ignore ANY KEYSTROKES and ANY MOUSE CLICKS/MOVEMENT related to cell / cell CONTENT manipulation, UNLESS I SPECIFICALLY ALLOW IT by pressing F2 (or ENTER, if that option is enabled in the general settings), which enables cell edit mode. It would be optimal if Calc sounded a bell when such an accidental change is attempted and blocked. Mind you, I do NOT want to disable my entire keyboard or Calc UI, for I still need to sort and filter the existing data. I just want NOT to mess up the things that are already there, but still have the ability to quickly change it. Therefor I don't want to use protect cell or sheet, because I'd have to constantly switch it on and off to allow for sorting/data entry. Thank you. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Open new document, select A1. 2. Type in "ABC", hit enter. 3. Select A1 again and type in "XYZ", hit right arrow key. Actual Results: 3. Cell edit mode is enabled, "ABC" in A1 is replaced by "XYZ", then the change is commited and B1 is selected. Expected Results: 3. Cell edit mode is NOT enabled and "XYZ" input is IGNORED, then B1 is selected. Reproducible: Always User Profile Reset: Yes Additional Info: Alternatively, to replace "ABC" in A1 with "XYZ": 3. Hit F2 (or ENTER if you enabled that in general options) to manually enable cell edit mode. 4. Type in "XYZ", hit enter or any arrow key.
tl;dr I request an option to make it so pressing F2 or ENTER (if enabled in the general options) is REQUIRED to enter the cell edit mode to enter/modify the content.
freeware, Interesting idea - and I get what you are asking for. However, this is not a bug. As for methods and alternatives - you noted a few that could work - but frankly having a button like f2, which is already used in calc work, suddenly be the guardian of edit-ability does not seem right because hypothetically you could accidentally hit f2 and edits would occur anyway. Hazards of end user computing type software in my view. Thank you
(In reply to danomois from comment #2) > this is not a bug. @danomois, this is set as ENHANCEMENT request, not reporting a bug of an already-established feature/behavior. Someone might think this is worth implementing, a discussion and a decision might arise. I am changing the status back from NAB to UNCONFIRMED, as it was before.
Thank you for quick response. I must add one thing. In Tools>Options>Libreoffice Calc>General there is this weird option called "Press Enter to switch to edit mode". First time I saw it I've incorrectly assumed that if this options is checked then pressing enter is REQUIRED to switch to edit mode, not just optional. Why? Because it is both redundant and inconsistent. Firstly I can hit F2 to do the same thing, and secondly, why is this option even there, and NOT a part of Tools>Customize settings. Thus me longing for an option to actually make it a requirement to hit enter (or any other custom key) to begin editing cell content. And about that other part of my rant concerning accidental drag and drop cell/area. If you ask me, MOVING cell/areas by mouse should be disabled by default entirely. Same with grabbing the bottom right corner to replicate. There should be separate options to restrict such operations using a mouse, touchpad, stylus etc. Spreadsheet is NOT a drawing program, isn't it? The other bug/feature where you can cancel data validation by just copying over another cell is another rich idea. IMO there should be MORE effort needed to do that, not the other way around, where CTRL+V as it is now copies EVERYTHING. In general IMO data entry in a spreadsheet should be rethinked and redesignd altogether with most focus put on NOT helping the (inexperienced) user to modify or destroy existing data. Hey, but that's just me. Cheers.
Could imagine an advanced option or maybe also on the UI to block direct input.
> Could imagine an advanced option or maybe also on the > UI to block direct input. Do we have any examples for other spreadsheet software doing this? I am a bit concerned about introducing an unusual mode of operation that is hard to get in- and out of.
> Spreadsheet is NOT a drawing program, isn't it? It can be. See for yourself: https://mymodernmet.com/tatsuo-horiuchi-excel-spreadsheet-paintings/
We discussed the topic in the design meeting. Such an option might be dangerous for average users. But there is no objection to add it as an expert feature, if someone wants to volunteer. Bug 63374 discusses the same topic with the idea to give better feedback when in the edit mode. And bug 74375 might be another See Also.