GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 550902
formula display does not indicate array formulas
Last modified: 2008-09-07 19:32:13 UTC
When the format of a sheet is changed to display formulas, array formulas are not marked as such: Enter an array formula that returns more than one cell, e.g. =A1:A2-B1:B2 in an appropriate range, say C1:C2. Select Format->SHeet->Display Formulas.
This problem has been fixed in the development version. The fix will be available in the next major software release. Thank you for your bug report.
I did a slightly more extensive re-org to enable this and the doubling of column widths when switching to display formula mode. Then tried it in XL and realized that the current behavior is actually compatible. More testing has me convinced we may not want to do this. Three options 1) Current XL compat approach to display just the expression with indication of array-ness. 2) Display using the full spec as used in the edit line 3) Display with enclosing {}, but no additional information re: array size and position. My preference is (3). Objections ?
Personally I just think that the fact that one is looking at an array function is important. Most array functions I am using return 1 by 1 arrays anyways. It would be nice though to have an indication of which cells belong to an array result, in a more visual way than (2).
I would like to see arrays identified by adding some semi-transparent layer whenever the cursor is inside an array. Some kind of pale shadow should be enough. Optionally, in the same manner as display-formulas, all arrays could be shown that way.
Switch to #3 : {=foo()} rather than the full on {=foo()}(a,b)[c][d] and added support to double the column width in 'display formula' mode.