Writer: Up/down navigation keys skip certain cells

ErikT1 · December 3, 2024, 9:48am

I’ve got a weird problem that I can’t find any discussion about anywhere, so maybe it just happens at my place.

I have some documents that have large tables. Four columns, and a lot of rows. When I use the up/down arrow keys in the first column, certain rows are skipped, meaning that in some places the cursor jumps two rows up or down, rather than just one.

In the first document where I noticed this, the rows skipped are no. 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and so on. Every fifth row, except no. 5.
In the second document, which started put as a copy of the first one, the skipped rows are no. 40, 60, 80, 100, 120… Every twenty rows except no. 20. Not identical, but similar pattern.

It seems to happen only in the first row, and only when moving up and down. For instance, I can enter a skipped cell from the right by using the left arrow. Clicking in a skipped cell with the mouse also works.

I admit that this is more of an annoyance than an actual problem, as there are easy work-arounds available. But it is still pretty strange. Can anyone guess what is happening?

Version info:
Version: 24.8.3.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 48a6bac9e7e268aeb4c3483fcf825c94556d9f92
CPU threads: 12; OS: Windows 10 X86_64 (10.0 build 19045); UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win
Locale: da-DK (da_DK); UI: en-GB
Calc: threaded

Hrbrgr · December 3, 2024, 9:59am

Thanks for your information.
Maybe you would like to upload a separate spreadsheet with this so someone can look at it and examine it. Thank you very much.

ErikT1 · December 3, 2024, 10:02am

Great idea. I’ll see if I can create one, as I cannot upload those I am working on.
Thanks!

By the way, I rebooted my computer, and the problem persisted. Also checked that LibreOffice is up to date.

ErikT1 · December 3, 2024, 10:13am

Well, that was easy. I created a new document, added a large table, and filled in some numbers in the first column. Initially it seemed perfectly fine. Then I closed the document and reopened it. And the issue appeared.

This one skips rows 12, 18, 24 and so on.
Writer test.odt (12.4 KB)

ajlittoz · December 3, 2024, 10:47am

Here same LO version but under Fedora, KDE desktop, skipping occurs every 30 rows. I could not see anything special on table formatting after saving .fodt.

ErikT1 · December 3, 2024, 11:10am

@ajlittoz Was that with the document I shared, or with a document you created yourself?

ajlittoz · December 3, 2024, 11:14am

With your document. The fact that skipping does not occur on same rows suggests something in the “environment” is a key factor. I saw nothing “unusual” in page, paragraph and character styles. Your table does not repeat heading (which would occur at top of page anyway). The table has no “table style” associated with it.

When looking at the XML, all rows have identical formatting/styling. Mystery for me.

ErikT1 · December 3, 2024, 11:17am

Thank you for your input. And agree with you about the environment being a factor.

LeroyG · December 3, 2024, 11:57am

Also with me:
Version: 24.2.7.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
OS: Windows 10.0 Build 17763; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win

And with:
Version: 24.8.3.1 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
OS: Windows 10 X86_64 (10.0 build 17763); UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win

If do you select all, the cells with problem will not select, but will be copied and pasted (LO 24.2).
imagen
If do you delete a column, there is no more issue.

EDIT:
Not reproducible with:
Versión: 6.4.7.2 (x64)
Id. de compilación: 639b8ac485750d5696d7590a72ef1b496725cfb5
SO: Windows 10.0 Build 17763; Repres. IU: predet.; VCL: win;

ErikT1 · December 3, 2024, 12:55pm

@LeroyG That’s interesting. I hadn’t tried the “select all” method.
As reproducible this seems to be, I guess it should be relatively easy for the programmers to pinpoint the issue.

LeroyG · December 3, 2024, 7:23pm

Not with:
Version: 24.2.7.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19045; UI render: Skia/Vulkan; VCL: win

Skia/Raster in my previous comment, Skia/Vulkan in this PC.

One more: If do you select A12, and then adds A11 (or A13) to the selection, you can’t select again only A12 with Shift+Down (or Up) Arrow Keys; you must select A11:B12, then A12:B12, then A12.
In other words: if do you select A12, Shift+Up Arrow key will select A11:A12; then Shift+Down Arrow key will skip A12 and will select A12:A13.

If do you add a column, there is no more issue.
And if do you add a new row, the same cells (with their new addresses) remains affected until you Undo.

There is no difference in the content.xml code between A12:D12 cell and An:Dn cells (except with A1:D1, first row).