Description: I have a sheet named "Positions". I selected a portion of that sheet and typed "Positions" in the Name Box. No name was created. No error message was given. Experimentation shows that typing a sheet name into the Name Box actually selects the sheet and does not create a name. However, you can create a named range and rename it to match the name of a sheet. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Attempt to create a named range that matches the name of a sheet. Actual Results: The referenced sheet is selected. A named range is not created. Expected Results: Create the named range even if it matches a sheet name. Reproducible: Always User Profile Reset: No Additional Info: [Information automatically included from LibreOffice] Locale: en-US Module: SpreadsheetDocument [Information guessed from browser] OS: Windows (All) OS is 64bit: no
Entering the sheet name in the name box will turn it into a "Go to Sheet" command. https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/scalc/02/06010000.html
That is a really inconsistent and unobvious way to utilize the Name box by design. I was following the instruction for how to create a name and it did not work and made no exception for if the name you are entering matches a sheet name. When I typed in the name of the sheet I was already on, nothing happened. I could not understand the problem.
When you enter full name of a sheet, the tooltip then changes to "Go To Sheet". So you get an information. What do you expect more? You can create named range also in Data > Define range.
By golly you're right! I did not see the tool tip change between entering the last character and pressing ENTER. My eyes are not as fast as my fingers. I figured out that I could create the name I wanted using the Manage Names dialog. However, I was initially left with trying to figure out how to create the desired name when you can't do it in the Name Box. I'll stand on this is not intuitive behavior. After all, it is a Name Box, not a Sheet Navigation Box. There are multiple methods to navigate to a sheet without having to double up on the purpose of the Name Box. I lookup the the help for the Name Box. It reads: "Name Box Displays the reference for the current cell, the range of the selected cells, or the name of the area. You can also select a range of cells, and then type a name for that range into the Name Box. To jump to a particular cell, or to select a cell range, type the cell reference, or cell range reference in this box, for example, F1, or A1:C4. You can also enter full name of a sheet; the tooltip then changes to "Go To Sheet", and pressing Enter switches to that sheet." So, I agree the behavior is correctly documented, but you have to read beyond the first paragraph to see that typing a sheet name will supersede creating a name and doesn't point out an alternate way to create the name. Surely not many people have tripped over this and become frustrated trying to figure out the problem. I was just trying to help others from suffering the same fate as me. I wonder how many depend on typing a sheet name for navigation? Obviously, this is not a bid deal, I just think it could be done better.
[Automated Action] NeedInfo-To-Unconfirmed
(In reply to Rob Mahn from comment #4) > So, I agree the behavior is correctly documented, but you have to read > beyond the first paragraph to see that typing a sheet name will supersede > creating a name and doesn't point out an alternate way to create the name. Any potential solution like not switching the function to 'Go To Sheet' or to let the user confirm either adding a range or going somewhere breaks the workflow. I could imagine to make the feedback more obtrusive, eg. per balloon tip, but it sounds annoying too and has little benefit anyway as you probably type faster. I suggest to not keep the current behavior. Btw, once you define a range name via dialog that is identical to another sheet label, the name box will jump to the range. I'll change the summary a bit.
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #6) > I suggest to not keep the current behavior. Some procedure/feature is not completely 100% intuitive (and no-one can suggest an improvement related to that, no improvement on tooltips, colors, fonts, help content, guides...), so the possibility of using the feature has to go away completely? You know, there are traffic accidents (for a variety of reasons); I wonder whether humans should simply destroy every road and ban every form of transportation completely.
(In reply to ady from comment #7) > You know, there are traffic accidents (for a variety of reasons); I wonder > whether humans should simply destroy every road and ban every form of > transportation completely. I think your traffic analogy is a bit over the top. How about a traffic sign that says "Name Box" actually be just that ... a Name Box, and not lead you down the wrong road. For those that have so many sheets that they have to type the name to find them, perhaps a different selection method could be added. Perhaps a "Select Sheet" selection where you right click in the sheets area. This could give a more easily navigated drop down list.
(In reply to Rob Mahn from comment #8) > For those that have so many sheets that they have to type the name to find > them, perhaps a different selection method could be added. Perhaps a > "Select Sheet" selection where you right click in the sheets area. This > could give a more easily navigated drop down list. Lower area of Calc's UI, where the tabs for each spreadsheet is shown, you have a big "+" sign. If you click on it, you add a new spreadsheet. If you right-click on it, you should see a vertical list of non-hidden spreadsheet names, and clicking on a name will change the focus to that spreadsheet. It is all related to experience, and finding out (UI) features.
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #6) > I suggest to not keep the current behavior. Typo: I suggest to not change / to keep the current behavior.
(In reply to ady from comment #9) > Lower area of Calc's UI, where the tabs for each spreadsheet is shown, you > have a big "+" sign. If you click on it, you add a new spreadsheet. If you > right-click on it, you should see a vertical list of non-hidden spreadsheet > names, and clicking on a name will change the focus to that spreadsheet. > > It is all related to experience, and finding out (UI) features. I would never imagine to try right clicking on the "+" to add a new sheet, but this is very handy, thank you for that. The idea I gave seems more intuitive and easy to find. I think this makes using the Name Box to jump to a sheet completely unnecessary.
Update: You can right click on any of the sheet navigation icons to get the sheet selection list! Not just the "+" sign.
(In reply to Rob Mahn from comment #0) > Description: > I have a sheet named "Positions". I selected a portion of that sheet and > typed "Positions" in the Name Box. No name was created. No error message > was given. But you got a pop-up, as you were typing, saying what was going to happen. Did you not? > Experimentation shows that typing a sheet name into the Name Box actually > selects the sheet and does not create a name. Yes - typing in the name of something that's defined - selects it. > However, you can create a named range and rename it to match the name of a > sheet. Well, yes, you can do that if you really want to. But - maybe we could deal with that like we do with replicated range names in multiple ranges, i.e. append a suffix with the sheet name in parentheses. At least, we do this in the drop-down list. We could do this for your examile, i.e. show "Positions (Positions)". What do you think?
I am not a heavy user and very little name ranges. I submitted this to present the confusion, but I don't feel qualified to comment on that solution. I have not seen replicated name ranges in action.
The topic was on the agenda of the design meeting. Excel does not jump to another sheet via the name box and therefore allows to enter a range name Sheet2 on Sheet1. However, switching the sheet is possible with a fully qualified name like Sheet2!A1 or Sheet2!A2:B4. Balancing the convenience of switching to Sheet2 vs to enter a range with a potential name conflict we should keep the current solution.