Bug 170333 - Solver refuses to work, displays the unchanged value as solution if there are 40 variables.
Summary: Solver refuses to work, displays the unchanged value as solution if there are...
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
24.8.4.2 release
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64) Linux (All)
: medium normal
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard: QA:needsComment
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2026-01-13 20:05 UTC by tomsci10
Modified: 2026-01-30 03:17 UTC (History)
0 users

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
The testcase for the problem. (10.67 KB, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet)
2026-01-13 20:10 UTC, tomsci10
Details
A screenshot of the issue in action (150.10 KB, image/png)
2026-01-13 20:13 UTC, tomsci10
Details

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Description tomsci10 2026-01-13 20:05:39 UTC
Description:
Using Solver, I created a file with a column all prime numbers until 40, to the left of the column I added numbers and to the right a product of left column times center column. What I essentially wanted to do is make a primitive version of prime factorization. 

I found out that Solver did not even attempt to change the value, and I have tried that multiple times. I even put a simpler version with addition instead of multiplication and the same happened. I tried various configurations, but nothing took me towards the right solution.

I have added the exact test file.

I have found out that if I have only three variables, it works as intended. I am now unsure of whether to submit this as a bug or not, or to submit a feature addition for some limitation 

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Open the test file, or a similar one
2.Try using solver, setting 
3.

Actual Results:
The solver displays (most of the times) the beginning state as a solution. Sometimes it reverts to it (for example if I try setting all the zeroes in front to 0)

Expected Results:
The solver would take a bit of time to solve the problem, but it would do it. Or there would be a warning that 40 variables is too many.


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: Yes

Additional Info:
Version: 25.8.4.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 290daaa01b999472f0c7a3890eb6a550fd74c6df
CPU threads: 4; OS: Linux 6.14; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3
Locale: cs-CZ (cs_CZ.UTF-8); UI: cs-CZ
Flatpak
Calc: threaded
Comment 1 tomsci10 2026-01-13 20:10:24 UTC
Created attachment 205039 [details]
The testcase for the problem.
Comment 2 tomsci10 2026-01-13 20:13:39 UTC
Created attachment 205040 [details]
A screenshot of the issue in action
Comment 3 tomsci10 2026-01-15 23:29:06 UTC
I tried the same thing today and it kept saying "Invalid entry"... is that what I proposed? Solver warning me that 40 is too many? And yet it still tries solving the problem, and probably gets stuck.