Ubuntu
openoffice.org package

[Upstream] Calc help does not mention when Err:502 caused by SQRT(-1) use IMSQRT

Bug #656575 reported by penalvch
14
This bug affects 2 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
LibreOffice
Fix Released
Wishlist
OpenOffice
Unknown
Unknown
libreoffice (Ubuntu)
Won't Fix
Wishlist
Unassigned
openoffice.org (Ubuntu)
Won't Fix
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: libreoffice

1) lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 10.10
Release: 10.10

2) apt-cache policy libreoffice-calc
libreoffice-calc:
  Installed: 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu3~maverick1
  Candidate: 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu3~maverick1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu3~maverick1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/libreoffice/ppa/ubuntu/ maverick/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Binary package hint: openoffice.org

1) lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS
Release: 10.04

2) apt-cache policy openoffice.org-calc
openoffice.org-calc:
  Installed: 1:3.2.0-7ubuntu4.1
  Candidate: 1:3.2.0-7ubuntu4.1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.2.0-7ubuntu4.1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates/main Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-security/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1:3.2.0-7ubuntu4 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages

3) What is expected to happen is when one opens a new spreadsheet, and types in first row, first column:

=sqrt(-1)

and it displays Err:502 pressing F1 for help on this error presents information regarding how this can be caused by a negative under a square root.

4) For LibreOffice Error Code 502 Explanation at:
http://help.libreoffice.org/Calc/Error_Codes_in_Calc

currently is:

"Function argument is not valid, for example, a negative number for the root
function."

It would be nice if it was:

"Function argument is not valid. For example, a negative number for the SQRT()
function, for this please use IMSQRT()."

For OOo Error Code Explanation at:
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Calc_Error_Codes

currently is:

"A function argument has an invalid value, e.g. a negative number for the root function."

It would be nice if it was:

"Function argument is not valid. For example, a negative number for the SQRT()
function, for this please use IMSQRT()."

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: openoffice.org-calc 1:3.2.0-7ubuntu4.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-25.44-generic 2.6.32.21+drm33.7
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-25-generic i686
Architecture: i386
Date: Thu Oct 7 18:33:17 2010
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: openoffice.org

See original description
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Same issue in Maverick.

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu maverick (development branch)
Release: 10.10

apt-cache policy openoffice.org-calc
openoffice.org-calc:
  Installed: 1:3.2.1-7ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1:3.2.1-7ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.2.1-7ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Same bug in Ubuntu 11.04, libreoffice-calc.

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu natty (development branch)
Release: 11.04

apt-cache policy libreoffice-calc
libreoffice-calc:
  Installed: 1:3.3.0-1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1:3.3.0-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.3.0-1ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

summary: - openoffice.org calc err502=sqrt(-1)
+ Calc err502=sqrt(-1)
tags: added: lo33
Revision history for this message
NoOp (glgxg) wrote : Re: Calc err502=sqrt(-1)

Please see: Help|LibreOffice Help|Index|SQRT function:
<quote>
SQRT
Returns the positive square root of a number.
Syntax
SQRT(Number)
Returns the positive square root of Number.
Number must be positive.
Example
=SQRT(16) returns 4.
=SQRT(-16) returns an invalid argument error.
</quote>

if you wish to find the square root of a complex number use IMSQRT.
From Help:
<quote>
IMSQRT
The result is the square root of a complex number.
Syntax
IMSQRT("ComplexNumber")
ComplexNumber is a complex number that is entered in the form "x+yi" or "x+yj".
Example
=IMSQRT("3+4i") returns 2+1i.
</quote>

And testing in LibreOffice 3.3.1-1ubuntu4:
=IMSQRT(-1)
results in: i
IMSQRT(-16):
results in: 4i

$ apt-cache policy libreoffice
libreoffice:
  Installed: 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu4
  Candidate: 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu4
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu4 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

NoOp (glgxg)
Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
status: New → Invalid
Changed in openoffice.org (Ubuntu):
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

NoOp, thank you for addressing this bug. Regarding LibreOffice, what is fair is that the reasons why one gets the esoteric error err502 are placed on the LibreOffice wiki http://help.libreoffice.org/Calc/Error_Codes_in_Calc For example, this can be caused because one places a negative number under a square root. Please use IMSQRT. Currently, the LO wiki does not address this error satisfactorily.

Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
status: Invalid → New
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

NoOp, regarding OOo, this is already upstreamed and being handled there, hence your marking this Invalid is in error. Reversing.

Changed in openoffice.org (Ubuntu):
status: Invalid → New
Revision history for this message
NoOp (glgxg) wrote :

Sigh... then file an RFE/Wishlist bug.

This is *not* a bug, but instead a documented action of both OOo and LibreOffice. Further it is similar to the action of Microsoft Excel:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/sqrt-HP005209269.aspx
<quote>
Remark
If number is negative, SQRT returns the #NUM! error value.
</quote>
and
<http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-foundation-help/sqrt-function-HA010380036.aspx?CTT=1>
<quote>
Remark
If number is negative, SQRT returns the #NUM! error value.
</quote>

Upstream have already closed your bug once:
http://openoffice.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=114981#c2
and will most likely close it again. Again, please file an RFE/Wishlist issue as this is not a "bug" as the program works as documented.

Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
status: New → Invalid
Changed in openoffice.org (Ubuntu):
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

NoOp, this bug is that Wishlist bug. As well, because this is still in upstreams hands, and remains open, this bug should as well. If you want to help, deal with the problem I already mentioned. Please stop Status jockeying this bug.

Changed in openoffice.org (Ubuntu):
status: Invalid → New
Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
status: Invalid → New
Revision history for this message
Khlood Elsayed (khlood-elsayed) wrote :

It would be nice if the LO wiki link http://help.libreoffice.org/Calc/Error_Codes_in_Calc had some information about how error 502 is caused by sqrt(-1). Marking Confirmed.

Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
penalvch (penalvch)
summary: - Calc err502=sqrt(-1)
+ Calc help does not mention Err:502 caused by sqrt(-1)
Revision history for this message
In , penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Downstream bug may be found at:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/656575

1) lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 10.10
Release: 10.10

2) apt-cache policy libreoffice-calc
libreoffice-calc:
  Installed: 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu3~maverick1
  Candidate: 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu3~maverick1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.3.1-1ubuntu3~maverick1 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/libreoffice/ppa/ubuntu/ maverick/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

3) What is expected to happen is when one opens a new spreadsheet, and types in first row, first column:

=sqrt(-1)

and it displays Err:502 pressing F1 for help on this error presents information regarding how this can be caused by a negative under a square root.

4) For LibreOffice wiki http://help.libreoffice.org/Calc/Error_Codes_in_Calc this is not displayed. It would be nice if it did.

penalvch (penalvch)
description: updated
Bug Watch Updater (bug-watch-updater)
Changed in df-libreoffice:
importance: Unknown → Wishlist
status: Unknown → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
In , Cedric-bosdonnat-ooo (cedric-bosdonnat-ooo) wrote :

Sophie, can you have a look at this?

Revision history for this message
In , penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Regarding Error Code 502 Explanation at: http://help.libreoffice.org/Calc/Error_Codes_in_Calc

currently it is:

"Function argument is not valid, for example, a negative number for the root function."

It would be nice if it was:

"Function argument is not valid. For example, a negative number for the SQRT() function, for this please use IMSQRT()."

Sorry for not putting this in the description.

description: updated
description: updated
penalvch (penalvch)
summary: - Calc help does not mention Err:502 caused by sqrt(-1)
+ Calc help does not mention when Err:502 caused by SQRT(-1) use IMSQRT
Revision history for this message
In , sophie (gautier-sophie) wrote :

I'll take of it. Thanks for reporting - Sophie

Revision history for this message
In , penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Updating Summary from:

[Update HC2] Calc help does not mention Err:502 caused by sqrt(-1)

to:

Calc help does not mention when Err:502 caused by SQRT(-1) use IMSQRT

Bug Watch Updater (bug-watch-updater)
Changed in df-libreoffice:
status: Confirmed → In Progress
penalvch (penalvch)
Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Wishlist
status: Confirmed → Triaged
Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)
Changed in openoffice.org (Ubuntu):
status: New → Won't Fix
Revision history for this message
Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen) wrote : migrating packaging from OpenOffice.org to Libreoffice

[This is an automated message.]
There are no new official OpenOffice.org releases in Ubuntu packaging anymore => Won't Fix

If the problem persists, please mark this bug as "also affects project Libreoffice" or "also affects distribution Libreoffice (Ubuntu)" if that has not happened already.

Please leave references to upstream OpenOffice.org bugs in place to allow cross pollination.

penalvch (penalvch)
summary: - Calc help does not mention when Err:502 caused by SQRT(-1) use IMSQRT
+ [Upstream] Calc help does not mention when Err:502 caused by SQRT(-1)
+ use IMSQRT
Revision history for this message
Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen) wrote :

This is:
- a clearcut upstream issue, and it taken care of there
- wishlist/feature request unlikely to be fixable with a simple patch
- wont be fixed in libreoffice packaging
Resolving as WONTFIX in libreoffice packaging. This does not mean the issue will not be cared about, but if it is cared about (even by Ubuntu/Canonical contributors), it is done upstream at LibreOffice.

Libreoffice (Ubuntu) => WONTFIX

Changed in libreoffice (Ubuntu):
status: Triaged → Won't Fix
Revision history for this message
In , timar (timar74) wrote :

Used the suggested text in master (-> LibreOffice 3.5). Thanks.

Bug Watch Updater (bug-watch-updater)
Changed in df-libreoffice:
status: In Progress → Fix Released
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