[libreoffice-users] Calc fails to warn when insert cell breaks sum(A1:A2)

I recently noticed that a complicated spreadsheet that had previously functioned correctly was 
giving wrong answers without warning.  After the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth, I traced the 
problem to a cell containing "=C4-SUM(G11:G1016)”.  Further experimentation produced the following 
simple version of the problem:  


(1) Let A1=1, A2=2, and A3=sum(A1:A2);  A3 computes here as 3.
(2) Insert cell A1 shift right.
(3) Observe: A3 now computes as 2. This is obvious in this case but far from obvious in a 
complicated spreadsheet, where the connection between A1 and A3 is obscure. In such cases, For an 
insert that would cause an error in a reference like A1:A2, I believe that Calc should issue a 
warning something like, “WARNING: Insert may change the answer computed in A3. Do you want to 
proceed?” I further think there should be no default and the user should be forced to select either 
“Yes” or “No”.  


This was observed in LO 4.3.5.2, LO 4..5.0.0.alpha0 2015-02-05 00:36:56, and MS Excell 2003 sp3.


Should this be filed as a bug report or a feature request?  If yes, which, and what message should 
display?  


Wikipedia says, "A software bug is an error, flaw, failure, or fault in a computer program or 
system that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result, or to behave in unintended 
ways.”  I think this fits that definition.  However, it may qualify as a feature request, because 
the fix is less than obvious (and it has been around for so long).  


Enjoy, Spencer 


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