OpenOffice.org: Calc
Formula Syntax Hints

Last updated: March 11, 2008

This page is to support the discussion thread "A new feature spec about show formula syntax in tip help!" in the OpenOffice.org UX mailing list. These are prototypes of the behaviors that have been suggested in the discussion.

Please test the different suggestions and post your results to the mailing list (discuss@ux.openoffice.org—you need to subscribe to be able to post). They are listed in order of mailing list posts. You'll find the latest suggestions at the bottom of this page.

List of recognized functions:

Please note that for technical reasons, these prototypes do not support nested formulas and tooltips will not be aligned with the input caret. In some browsers, cells adjusting their width may look ugly. Tested Browsers: Firefox, Safari, Opera, IE7.

Suggestion 1: Specification by maoyg

Specification Document of February 28, 2008: Using a tooltip to show syntax info about the typed function.
See corresponding mailing list posting by maoyg.

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Suggestion 2: Christoph's first proposal

Using whitespace to highlight the current argument in the tooltip syntax info.

See corresponding mailing list posting by Christoph.

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Suggestion 3: Christoph's second proposal

Explicitly stating the current argument in the tooltip syntax info.

See corresponding mailing list posting by Christoph.

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Suggestion 4: Clément's proposal

An alternative to tooltips. Autocomplete and additional smart behavior: Accept completion by pressing the Return key, ability to jump between arguments with arrow keys. Automatic extension of ellipsis arguments when jumping beyond end of arguments. Leave the field to get out of "jump between arguments mode."

See corresponding mailing list posting by Clément.

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Suggestion 5: Clément's proposal
(without smart behavior)

Just autocomplete, not altering the meanings of the return and arrow keys.

Implements just a part of Clément's suggestion.

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Suggestion 6: Mathias' proposal for improving suggestion 3

Show tooltip beneath instead of above cell.
Start suggesting functions when the third character has been typed.

See corresponding mailing list posting by Mathias.

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Suggestion 7: Changes to suggestion 4 requested by Leonard

Accepting the suggested function and jumping between arguments now works with Tab key (instead of arrow keys and Return key). Press Shift-Tab to move selection to the left.
When on last argument, tabbing further places the cursor after the right bracket (any trailing ellipsis "..." is removed).

Please note: It doesn't work in Opera, because this Browser doesn't let JavaScript suppress the default Tab behaviour.

See corresponding mailing list posting by Leonard, and my reply.

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Suggestion 8: Christoph's first proposal with Clément's variation

Using a down arrow to highlight the current argument in the tooltip syntax info, without moving text.