OpenOffice Database 2.4.1 Boolean Checkbox 3 Mouse Clicks

[Veroniki Elena]

Binary package hint: openoffice.org-core

OpenOffice 2.4.1 Database Boolean check mark starts on the first mouse click and appears. Then the second mouse click turns it into a half check. The third mouse click allows the check mark to disappear completely, which is what should happen with a second click. A fourth click will allow the check mark to repeat the process and return once again. Thanks for all your help!

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sat Aug 9 21:27:06 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx ath_hal
Package: openoffice.org-core 1:2.4.1-1ubuntu2
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/lib/openoffice/program:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: openoffice.org
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-19-generic i686

[Ronny-standtke-d (ronny-standtke-d)]

I was working on a form letter with a database backend. In this database I
defined some Boolean fields. In the letter I had some conditional text
depending on the Boolean fields in the database. Somehow it never worked right
and I was so frustrated with OOo that I almost gave up.

After many many hours of try and error I noticed that the gray ticks in the
database table are actually showing a "NULL" value. I was very surprised that
a Boolean can be "NULL". I was even more surprised that you are defaulting
to "NULL" when inserting values into a table. And my last surprise was that
you use a selected(!) checkbox for rendering a "NULL" value.

To avoid the same frustration for other people you should:
- not support "NULL" values for Boolean fields per default (should only be
supported as an option for database gurus)
- set Boolean fields per default to "FALSE" when inserting data into a
database table
- use the string "NULL" for rendering "NULL" values

[Christoph-lukasiak (christoph-lukasiak)]

clu->ronnystandtke: what kind of database do you use?

[Ronny-standtke-d (ronny-standtke-d)]

> what kind of database do you use?

The kind of database you get when you create a new database with OOo Base
(OpenDocument Database?). Sorry, I am not familiar with the inner details of
that format...

[Christoph-lukasiak (christoph-lukasiak)]

clu->ronnystandtke: then you use the oo native (hsql) db - may you add your (if
not private or confidential) or a sample database file and a step by step
description of what you do, what happens and what you expect to avoid
misunderstandings

thx

[Ronny-standtke-d (ronny-standtke-d)]

Created attachment 37132
Test case

[Ronny-standtke-d (ronny-standtke-d)]

Take a look at the attached test db. Open the table "Guests" and try inserting
some data. Notice that the column "Vegetarian" has a NULL value per default.
Notice also that the NULL value is rendered as a selected checkbox.
This way I thought that the default is "true" where is was actually NULL.
Notice also that you can set the checkbox to three different states with the
mouse (including NULL).
I already reported what I expect:
- no NULL values for Boolean fields
- default Boolean fields to "false"
- if you support NULL booleans (e.g. in expert mode) do not use a selected
checlbox as renderer but the String "NULL"

[Christoph-lukasiak (christoph-lukasiak)]

not a bug, but a feature enhancement

-> send further to 'requirements'

[Ace-dent-a (ace-dent-a)]

This Issue requires more information ('needmoreinfo'), but has not been updated
within the last year. Please re-test with one of the latest versions of OOo -
the problem(s) may have already been addressed. Either use the recent stable
version: http://download.openoffice.org/index.html
or consider trying the new OOo 3 BETA (still in testing):
http://download.openoffice.org/3.0beta/

Please report back the outcome so this Issue may be closed or progressed as
necessary - otherwise it may be Resolved as Invalid in the future. You may also
wish to search for (and note) any duplicates of this Issue that may have
advanced further :
http://www.openoffice.org/issues/query.cgi

Regards,
Andrew

Cleaning-up and Closing old Issues as part of:
~ The Grand Bug Squash, pre v3 ~

[Ronny-standtke-d (ronny-standtke-d)]

I tested with OOo-2.4 and noticed that you use another icon for rendering NULL
values. Much better.

The problem is that it is still allowed to have NULL values for boolean fields.
It just doesn't make any sense. If I really want to have a three-state field I
would say so. But all I want is a simple boolean yes/no field that can only hold
two states. Is this so complicated?

[Chris Cheney (ccheney)]

Boolean in Base is tristate one of the states is 'NULL'.

See http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=65943

[collura (collura)]

as of OOo 3.2 this is still here.

summary: boolean should default to 2 state for those of us who are simpletons;
also null should not be represented as a half-check.

assuming i am not misunderstanding this issue..

call me oldfashioned but i still think the boolean needs to default to 2 state.

if i need the three state behavior i should select it when defining the base
table field or have some preference defined to select 2 or 3 state for bool
(still default of 2 please).

****

null rant() {
i can understand the value of the null (user has not specified a choice)
but as i just spent an hour confused
because i forgot about 3 state and then furthermore
because the 3rd state (null) appears to be represented by 'half-a-check'
which i of course read as a display error of a full check and so
interpreted as a 'true' which is of course is not..

yes i know (high impedance low voltage, low voltage, high voltage); but you
could just as easily also attribute measurements for electron orbital states
and mangetoresistance properties and get way more than 2 states along that
argument...but that doesnt make it more understandable to program with.

}

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

[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.

[Robweir (robweir)]

This Issue requires more information ('needmoreinfo'), but has not been updated
within the last year. Please provide feedback as requested and re-test with the the latest version of OpenOffice - the problem(s) may already be addressed.

You can download Apache OpenOffice 3.4.1 from http://www.openoffice.org/download

Please report back the outcome of your testing, so this Issue may be closed or
progressed as necessary - otherwise the issue may be Resolved as Invalid in the
future.

[OOoForum (oooforum)]

All versions are now obsolete

So, feel free to test last build and reopen if this issue still occurs.