GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 59498
Specifying cols/rows to repeat requires long form of address
Last modified: 2004-12-22 21:47:04 UTC
Print setup dialog contains option "Rows to repeat on the upper region". Naturally, I expected that if I want to have row 1 repeated I should enter "1" there. Or, for rows 1 and 2, "1:2". Nope - doesn't work this way. Instead, for row 1 you need to enter "A1:(last column letter)1" (e.g., "A1:Z1"). Quite unexpected - and confusing.
We don't support parsing 2:4 or A:C addresses yet. However, the problem is not as bad as it seems. You can just click on the sheet and select the region you'd like and it will enter the appropriately parsable version.
This is true - but not obvious. But maybe we can make it easier to use right now by doing something as simple as re-wording the Print setup dialog? E.g., replacing "Rows to repeat on the upper region" by "Cells to repeat on every page (e.g., A1:Z1)" or something like this - may ask for advice from GUI/usability experts
Could we add an icon to the rightmost end of the expr-entry widget? This would enhance usuability... The user could then become familiar with the expr-entry widget and whenever they see one they will know they need to click and drag a selection. I think excel has an icon like this.. (it even does something when you click on it but I don't know what!). Gnumeric has many dialogs with normal entries sitting right next to expr-entry widgets. It would be good to differentiate them in this way.
1) We now have an icon at the right of all expr entry widgets 2) 1.1.9 will support the full col/row style address 1:3 and A:C. We can now parse it and generate it.