How to disable "Scroll Lock" feature in Calc

lester434 · April 4, 2017, 9:34am

After updating LibreOffice from 4.3.2 to 5.3.0.3 version - i’m got a trouble with “scroll lock” key feature enabled, because this key LED indicator on keyboard (“scroll lock” key is not pressing… it remapped on “ctrl+shift” combo for language switch) is using for indication language state (default indicator in Debian for language).
So when i need to move to another cell with “scroll lock” indicator light on - i got only scrolling window and this is big trouble for me. Because i’m usual writing at my native language (not in english) and always need to switch on english language (scroll lock indicator light off) for move to another cell, otherwise i’ll just scrolling.

I mean, how to disable this Missing Scroll Lock keyboard key feature in LibreOffice Calc feature in LibreOffice Calc, via config files or via “Tools” - “Preferences” ?
Using “find” for “scroll lock” in manual - found nothing needed.

Disable indication on scroll lock for language switching - is not solution.
P.S. sorry for my english, it’s not my native language.

mariosv · April 4, 2017, 9:52pm

Please try resetting the user profile, sometimes solves strange issues.
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/UserProfile
Usually it’s enough renaming/deleting the file “user/registrymodifications.xcu”, it affects all the options in Menu/Tools/Options, and the files “user/basic/dialog.xlc” and “scrip.xlc” are overwritten, additionally custom colors in “user/config/standard.soc” are lost.

lester434 · April 8, 2017, 2:08pm

Thanks for response, but this action with deleting registrymodifications.xcu in user folder - did not help.

samuelk · July 26, 2017, 4:09pm

Just experienced the same problem with 5.3.2 on Xubuntu (just updated recently, so probably due to new version). I use Alt+Shift to change language setting and apparently this is mapped by LO to switch on “scroll lock”.
There is a “scroll lock” button on my ThinkPad X201 (never realised before) but this is apparently out of function.
My temporary solution is to stick to one language in LO until bug is fixed.

ViEm77 · August 14, 2017, 7:19am

Hello there. The same problem, but I’m using KDE and disabling “System Settings - Input Devices - Keyboard - Advanced - Use keyboard LED to show alternative layout - Scroll Lock” did help.

HeinzSB · January 27, 2023, 8:06pm

In German keyboard: Key “Rollen”: on / of thats all . In Englich “Rollen” my bee scroll
have a nice day with Calc

mikekaganski · April 24, 2017, 5:35am

On that Russian forum topic about a problem in xfce 4.8 updated to xfce 4.10 on xubuntu 12.04, where changing keyboard layout started to turn on Scroll Lock, the solution was:

sudo gedit /etc/default/keyboard → find XKBOPTIONS="grp:alt_shift_toggle,grp_led:scroll" → remove grp_led:scroll and reboot.

(Disclaimer: I see that OP mentioned that “Disable indication on scroll lock for language switching - is not solution”. I only post this here for someone who might find this topic and have different restrictions.)

mikekaganski · July 27, 2020, 8:03am

The RFE to make this configurable is tdf#112876. This is an easy hack for anyone who wants to implement that, which means the problem is evaluated and found to be easy to fix; there are code pointers in the bug; and we would provide necessary help (for specific development-related questions) to whoever decides to work on this.

geekobi · June 18, 2017, 10:00am

Hi,
I got the same problem.
I unlocked the “scroll lock” behaviour (there is generally a toggle key “scroll lock” in the keyboard to do that),
and the behaviour of calc went back to normal
(note : it is the same behaviour with Microsoft-Excel).

ProFfeSsoRr · April 24, 2017, 4:55am

That’s feature enabled in 5.3 with https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=46200 So - downgrade to 5.2.* and wait for next versions, may be that will fix later.

mikekaganski · April 24, 2017, 5:55am

It will not fix it, unless someone at least files a bug at Bugzilla. I haven’t found one, so I can only say that call for passive wait is harmful. Please act and inform developers about your needs, instead of “wait for next versions, may be that will fix later”.

chda · May 17, 2018, 6:29pm

As fast hack you can use this patch to libreoffice source code:

--- libreoffice-5.4.5.1/sc/source/ui/view/cellsh4.cxx   2018-01-30 20:22:07.000000000 +0300
+++ patched/sc/source/ui/view/cellsh4.cxx       2018-05-17 19:54:21.233576020 +0300
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@
     // scrolling the grid.
     bool bScrollLock = false;
     KeyIndicatorState eState = GetFrameWin()->GetIndicatorState();
-    if (eState & KeyIndicatorState::SCROLLLOCK)
-        bScrollLock = true;
+    //if (eState & KeyIndicatorState::SCROLLLOCK)
+    //    bScrollLock = true;

     //OS: once for all should do, however!
     pTabViewShell->ExecuteInputDirect();

Tested on libreoffice-5.4.5.1. However this patch may work on another affected versions.

Gentoo users can put this code to /etc/portage/patches/app-text/libreoffice-5.4.5.1/fix_scrolllock.patch and execute

emerge =libreoffice-5.4.5.1

chda · May 17, 2018, 6:29pm

As fast hack you can use this patch to libreoffice source code:

--- libreoffice-5.4.5.1/sc/source/ui/view/cellsh4.cxx   2018-01-30 20:22:07.000000000 +0300
+++ patched/sc/source/ui/view/cellsh4.cxx       2018-05-17 19:54:21.233576020 +0300
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@
     // scrolling the grid.
     bool bScrollLock = false;
     KeyIndicatorState eState = GetFrameWin()->GetIndicatorState();
-    if (eState & KeyIndicatorState::SCROLLLOCK)
-        bScrollLock = true;
+    //if (eState & KeyIndicatorState::SCROLLLOCK)
+    //    bScrollLock = true;

     //OS: once for all should do, however!
     pTabViewShell->ExecuteInputDirect();

Tested on libreoffice-5.4.5.1. However this patch may work on another affected versions.

Gentoo users can put this code to /etc/portage/patches/app-text/libreoffice-5.4.5.1/fix_scrolllock.patch and execute

emerge =libreoffice-5.4.5.1

warblinmun · July 26, 2020, 10:00pm

For those who like myself activated the scroll lock function with a keyboard shortcut without realizing it and do not have a scroll lock button on their keyboards, I found the tips in this wiki page to be helpful and I was able to resolve my problem using one of the suggested keyboard shortcuts for turning off the scroll lock function: Scroll Lock - Wikipedia

PsyCrow · June 1, 2021, 7:44pm

it’s probably a matter of keyboard status, the scroll lock function could being active, to inactive it if you do not have a “Scroll lock” key open an on screen keyboard to change the state

EKISEK · March 11, 2023, 11:42am

Over the years, I have had this issue +/- 5 times.
Not sure why it starts, but each time this solution worked for me.

For some reason, toggling the hardware “scroll lock” button on my physical keyboard does nothing for my Libre Office Calc scroll lock issue.

But this works for me = in the bottom left corner of your Windows task bar, do a “search” for “Virtual Keyboard”.

On the virtual keyboard, toggle the virtual “scroll lock” button, even if it already disabled, simply toggle it to “on”, then make sure you set it “off”.

Now try your Libre Office Calc.