Spreadsheet features limited

[douglasellis]

Hi everyone.
I’m brand new here so please understand as i fumble through the process.
I have used the Libre product for a few years now and and donated along the way. This year I had to do some tax spreadsheet work, and a number of the features simply do not work. Do I need to download something to have it functioning as hit appears to be able to do?

Thanks for any feedback to help.
Doug

[EarnestAl]

@douglasellis

and a number of the features simply do not work

What features don’t work? Can you supply a sample spreadsheet with random data and say what doesn’t work?

Note that you might not be able to use text numerals as numeric data. Click View - Value highlighting, text will be black, numbers will be blue, formulas will be green. If some of the data is text and not numbers then this page should help, Calc Number text to Numeric data

Please also add details, This is the guide - How to use the Ask site? - #3 by Hrbrgr

[Wanderer]

@douglasellis

Do I need

As you don’t give any details, you have to find out yourself.
.
Things to test:

• does your older files still work? (Assuming you have saved them).
• If they don’t: Are you still using the same version of LO?
• If no,you may be able to test your files with an older version. (If this is coplicated, postpone it)
• Try safe-mode to rule out your user-profile is playing nasty tricks on you.
• If your old files work, make a copy and input your new data in them.
• If the new data in your old files does not work, find the difference. Typical problems are changed date formats and currencies in fields, wich often import as text, if not handled right. These fields “look good” but don’t calculate. @EarnestAl already told, how you can find text quickly.
• If you actually seek external help, create a copy of your file, delete unnecessary data in the copy and upload the .ods, so somebody can check your formula. (And please: Name the not working “features”, counting them will not be useful.)

[Villeroy]

@douglasellis

I’m brand new here so please understand as i fumble through the process.

That’s the point.

[douglasellis]

Thanks for those who have replied. Now I understand how to be more clear about my experiences. Okay… here I go.
I’ve created a spreadsheet for my yearly expenses for my small counselling therapy business. I went and created tabs to cover each month’s expenses for visa and chequing accounts, as well as a master sheet. When I save the file, it only kept the sheet I was working on and not all of the tabs.
Perhaps i have the “beginner” version of the suite of services and need to download the “full” versions?

[EarnestAl]

@douglasellis

When I save the file, it only kept the sheet I was working on and not all of the tabs.

You have saved your work in a format other than LibreOffice’s own format, .ods. I suspect that you have saved it as .CSV which is a text only format and will not retain formulas (usually), dates or formats.

Did you see a warning about saving in other formats when you first tried to save?

In the above screenshot, the formula and the heading format won’t be saved unless ODF is chosen.

Close your document

• Open a new blank spreadsheet and click File - Open and open your document.
• You will probably see a Text Import dialogue.
  • Tick Detect special numbers and Evaluate formulas if you have managed to save formulas in your csv
  • Select each column and assign a column type if it isn’t a number, e.g. date (DMY, MDY, YMD), telephone no (Text), postcode Text), etc.
  • Click OK
    
    

When you save, you will likely see the warning so select Use ODF Format and then save as [filename].ods. If you have turned off the warning, then click File > Save As and select ODF Spreadsheet (*.ods), name your file and choose a location before clicking Save.

Rebuild your formulas and formatting and Save regularly