Bug 163036 - Can't delete a chart right after insertion
Summary: Can't delete a chart right after insertion
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
24.8.1.2 release
Hardware: All All
: medium trivial
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: Chart
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Reported: 2024-09-18 22:53 UTC by Eyal Rozenberg
Modified: 2024-11-25 17:12 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Calc sheet after chart creation (37.03 KB, image/png)
2024-09-19 16:57 UTC, Eyal Rozenberg
Details

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Description Eyal Rozenberg 2024-09-18 22:53:27 UTC
If I insert some chart, and try deleting it right away with the delete key (when it's selected after insertion), I get a message saying:

"This function cannot be completed with the selected objects"

If, however, I click outside it and click (not double-click) it again, I can delete it.

Now, I know what you're going to say: "You have no chart elements selected and the chart OLE object is open" - or whatever... but that is Not My Problem (TM)... as a user, I created a chart, it appears selected, and I should be able to delete that selected chart.
Comment 1 Heiko Tietze 2024-09-19 09:12:12 UTC
After creating a chart you are in edit mode with focus on the chart area. You cannot delete this at any time. => NAB
Comment 2 Eyal Rozenberg 2024-09-19 16:53:34 UTC
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #1)
> After creating a chart you are in edit mode with focus on the chart area.

The simple, non-power user, would tell you: "I don't know and don't care about modes, that is not my problem. I created a chart, and it is selected: I see a selection rectangle with handles and everything, just like I get when I insert a drawing object, or image from a file or whatever. So, when I press Delete, it should be deleted."

> You cannot delete this at any time. => NAB

But that's the bug. Either the chart can be deleted right after insertion, or there is a compelling reason + clear and unambiguous visual indication that it cannot.
Comment 3 Eyal Rozenberg 2024-09-19 16:57:34 UTC
Created attachment 196547 [details]
Calc sheet after chart creation

The chart looks selected. Only a power user who things in terms of OLE object and is used to how charts behave would think that there's a reason why deletion should not work.

And frankly - why shouldn't it? So what if it's "edit mode". When everything is selected, even in "edit mode", and I press delete - I expect the chart to be deleted. Developer should make it happen.
Comment 4 Heiko Tietze 2024-09-20 08:20:49 UTC
(In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #3)
> So what if it's "edit mode".
You split hairs. The question is not whether _you_ understand the difference between select and edit but average users. And in all the years I've not seen such question. On the other hand you request a fundamental change. Clearly NAB/WF.
Comment 5 Eyal Rozenberg 2024-09-20 08:38:28 UTC
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #4)
> (In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #3)
> > So what if it's "edit mode".
> You split hairs.

On the contrary, you're invoking what - for novice users - is an arcane and meaningless term.

> The question is not whether _you_ understand the difference
> between select and edit but average users.

Exactly. I understand it fine (although disagree with the implication), novice users do not know what it is nor understand it. They see a selected chart.

> And in all the years I've not seen such question.

Most of the bugs I've filed are about issues that LO has had forever; and that "in all the years" the project has had a bug tracker - nobody had complained about. Some of them are extremely high visibility bugs, like numbers being rendered in the wrong language; and still noboody filed a bug. So, that argument does not hold water.

> On the other hand you request a fundamental change.

First, it would be a change which does not hinder any other workflow, so you're making it sound worse then it is.

Second, the fundamental change is just one of two options. I said: Either the ability to delete, or a clear and unambiguous indication that it is not possible to delete. The latter is not a fundamental change. (I prefer the first option, but the second is quite acceptable.)
Comment 6 Buovjaga 2024-11-25 17:12:13 UTC
(In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #3)
> And frankly - why shouldn't it? So what if it's "edit mode". When everything
> is selected, even in "edit mode", and I press delete - I expect the chart to
> be deleted. Developer should make it happen.

Everything is not selected. The chart area is selected. When right-clicking, you see Format Chart Area in the context menu. You may then select data points or axes and delete them. You can't delete the wall element either.

The simplest way to satisfy your request would be that creating the chart does not automatically enter edit mode, but that then slows down the workflow of many users.