Bug 92672 - Copying and pasting a numbered list messes up numbering
Summary: Copying and pasting a numbered list messes up numbering
Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Writer (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
4.2.8.2 release
Hardware: All All
: low minor
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords: needsUXEval
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2015-07-10 11:25 UTC by Torf
Modified: 2016-12-01 16:27 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Test document with intertwining numbering (8.81 KB, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text)
2016-11-27 13:02 UTC, Aron Budea
Details

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Description Torf 2015-07-10 11:25:14 UTC
When I copy and paste an existing numbered list then the two lists share the numbering. I expect that numbering is restarted for the pasted list. This happens even if there is non-list content between the two lists.


Steps to reproduce:

  1. Create a new document
  2. Write "test"
  3. Select the word "test" and hit F12
  4. Press CTRL+C
  5. Press END, ENTER, ENTER, ENTER
  6. Write "not a list"
  7. Press ENTER, ENTER
  8. Press CTRL+V


Expected result:

  1. test

  not a list

  1. test


Actual result:

  1. test

  not a list

  2. test
Comment 1 Joel Madero 2015-07-11 20:44:50 UTC
Please attach a document that we can easily see the issue. Always best when reporting to describe the steps (as you have done) and attach a functional document that helps us see what's going on.

Setting to NEEDINFO - once you attach set to UNCONFIRMED. Thanks!
Comment 2 Joel Madero 2015-07-11 20:46:44 UTC
Okay I read the report more and I think this is just coming down to user expectations - I expect it to work as it does, you want it another way. Defaults are really hard to predict and users will always disagree.

That being said, setting to NEW and UX-advise so they can decide what to do.

Setting also:
Minor - slows down professional quality work (in your case) but will not prevent it;
Low - default
Comment 3 Torf 2015-07-12 19:35:18 UTC
Joel, my main problem was that I didn't find a way to reset the numbering of the pasted list (I needed two identical copies of the same list including the same numbering, not a consecutive one).

In my opinion, CTRL+C, CTRL+V should give you two equal copies. Anything else (e.g. features like "copy without formatting" or "link pasted list with original") should be an advanced option.

Thanks for the UX-advise, I'm looking forward to their opinion.
Comment 4 Robinson Tryon (qubit) 2016-08-25 05:39:14 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 5 Aron Budea 2016-11-27 13:02:12 UTC
Created attachment 129049 [details]
Test document with intertwining numbering

In the attached document I created a numbered list of 2 elements, separated them, created another list with 1 element. After another separation, copied the first list at the end, and the numbering continued from first list. Then finally I copied the 2nd list's single entry at the end, and once again, the numbering continued from that list.

I wouldn't call that conforming to any particular user expectation...
I agree that having non-list content between copy and paste location should be a good way of distinguishing between behavior.

Then again, numbering can be restarted via the right-click menu, which is quite easy to do.
Comment 6 Heiko Tietze 2016-11-28 09:51:47 UTC
(In reply to Aron Budea from comment #5)
> In the attached document I created a numbered list of 2 elements...

With Microsoft Word lists are always started new:
1.Test
2.Test
Whatever
1.Test (new list)
Whatever
<copy/paste the first list>
1.Test (LibO: 3.Test)
2.Test (LibO: 4.Test)
Whatever
<copy/paste the second list>
1.Test (LibO: 2.Test)

Copied lists are related in LibreOffice, which is clear when fields are highlighted.

> Then again, numbering can be restarted via the right-click menu, which is
> quite easy to do.

This not only WORKSFORME but is actually more convenient than other solutions. While users may expect lists to restart there is no clear way to connect two lists in Word but an easy "Restart Numbering" in LibO.

(Setting NEEDINFO first to get input from the OP and perhaps more opinions.)
Comment 7 Heiko Tietze 2016-12-01 16:27:23 UTC
It was decided on ESC to keep the current behavior. Closing this bug as WFM.