Re: [libreoffice-users] [CALC] Detective Trace inadequate display

> Dnia 2013-10-26, o godz. 12:42:10
> Ady <ady-sf@hotmail.com> napisal(a):
>
> > Bug report #70886 opened:
> >  https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=70886 
>
> Confirmed, added bibisect log.
> It's now up to developers to pick up challenge and fix that issue.
>   
> > I disagree. The "Detective" feature is already very crippled in 
> > LibreOffice. This inadequate behavior makes it even harder and 
> > generates more confusion, specially when using complex spreadsheets 
> > (which is when users most need the feature). If anything, IMHO the 
> > "Detective" feature should be very much improved (not left with 
> > inadequate behaviors because it is already crippled anyway).
>
> I never said that this bug SHOULD be left open and not fixed in
> reasonable time. I only explained why some people might skip over this
> one and devote their time to other issues, which they see as higher
> priority.
>
> As of improving "detective" - well, it could use some improvements,
> like almost any other part of suite. In software development, there is
> always something to do. In free software, usually there are very
> limited resources (manpower, infrastructure, money, time etc.). That
> means we end up with more work than we can complete. And that means
> that "should" is not really helpful, because it does not bring us any
> closer to out goals. The question is not "what should be done?", but
> "who may do that?".
> -- 
> Best regards
> Miroslaw Zalewski
 
Thank you all for your replies, and special thanks to Miroslaw for 
his bibisect and follow up at 
 https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=70886 .

FWIW, I'd like to clarify my prior comments.

1_ If / when this issue gets the developers' attention, I'd like for 
them to find a *real* solution (and even improvements), not just a 
workaround.

2_ If a solution can't be achieved for some technical reason (other 
than availability of developers' time), I suggested a possible 
alternative behavior: instead of leaving the inadequate arrows 
displayed as "normal", change their color until they are displayed 
adequately again. This suggestion was meant not as my preferred 
desired method to solve/workaround the issue, but only as a trigger 
to alternative thoughts (whether for this particular issue or for 
potential future improvements to the "Detective" trace features), 
"just in case".

3_ When I said that the (IMO) insufficient "Detective" features 
should not be used as a reason not to bother with this issue either, 
my intention was to explain why, IMO, that's not the best potential 
reasoning, for whoever would read this email topic (specially for 
developers that might be tempted to think that way).

4_ Of course I understand that this issue might never get resolved 
just because developers might think this matter deserves low 
priority. My answer is that, at some point, the "Detective" feature 
should be greatly improved, not just as my subjective "desire", but 
as a high priority for Calc users in practical objective terms.

Of course developers might choose to invest their time in whatever 
they want; no complains. For users, there are other spreadsheet tools 
capable of performing "just fine" with simple sheets and/or simple 
calculations.

In my experience, the "Detective" (trace) feature is crucial for 
users with either complex formulas, multiple sheets and/or many 
different relations between many cells. IMO, if Calc is to be used 
for something more than just relatively simple cases, then in 
practical terms the "Detective" feature *must* be improved (a.k.a., 
not such a low priority). I am aware that elevating the development 
priority of the "Detective" feature means lowering it for some other 
task.

I am just expressing my desire and opinion (and my reasoning as to 
why this bug should be solved), _independently_ (not against nor in 
opposition)  of what has been expressed in prior emails / posts in 
this topic. I am hoping this objective reasoning will also trigger 
some developer(s) to act on it.

Again, thank you all.

Best Regards,
Ady.

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