[Libreoffice-ux-advise] [Bug 117672] Make default column type 'Text' when importing CSVs, or warn of data modification

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=117672

--- Comment #3 from totalmassretain@gmail.com ---
I'm sure you've researched how your program is used, and so I respect your
views on the most common use cases. There are, however, reasons why one might
try to edit a CSV in Calc and not a simple text editor, such as re-ordering
columns. Or even the simple fact that a user knows Calc can import CSVs and may
prefer to work in that program. While it may not be intended to be a CSV
editor, if it can open and save CSVs (via open/save dialogues, no less -- not
import/export dialogues), then the CSV editor use case exists.

I acknowledge that this use case isn't really concerned with spreadsheet
functionality, and may not line up with how developers might expect users to
use the program.

With that in mind, I'll forget the request to change the default and re-iterate
the later part of the request - that silently modifying the data is not good
practice, and that a warning dialogue be displayed when the user clicks the OK
button in the Text Import dialogue. Such a dialogue would inform the user that
their import settings will modify their data, and perhaps it could even tell
them what to do if they don't want their data modified (change all columns to
'Text'.) That way, if someone imports a CSV with serial numbers in some
off-screen column, they won't unwittingly blow them away.

I feel that default toggles and templates would not address the issue of
unexpected data modification, as they would require prior knowledge of this
issue. Those with prior knowledge of the issue could just do what we currently
do and change all the columns types to 'Text'. Such features may be relevant to
other use cases, however.

Thank you for your consideration.

-- 
You are receiving this mail because:
You are on the CC list for the bug.