[Solved] Writer text functions only return "0"

[hugohrobles]

I am trying to have tables reference the text in other tables in the same document.

However, the functions that should be returning text only ever resolve to 0.

So, if I have one cell set to ="Sample Text" instead of having the words 'Sample Text' appear in the cell with that formula... I get 0.
Same with =T("Sample Text") or =<SomeCell with SampleText> etc...

Why is this? It works fine in Calc, but not in writer.

[UnklDonald418]

According to the Writer User Guide
Using spreadsheet functions in a table
In a table in a Writer document, you can use some of the mathematical functions that
are normally implemented by OpenOffice.org Calc. For many simple functions, Writer
tables can be used as basic spreadsheets.
since a string has no value it is represented as 0

[keme]

The operative terms in UnklDonald418's post are "... use some of the mathematical functions ...".

The set of available functions is fairly small compared to what you have in Calc, and the syntax is different.

Workaround for automated repeating text content:

• Insert - Fields - Other...,
• Select the Variables tab to insert a User field.
  The field needs a name and a value. Make sure to use text format if you need a text value.

This works smoothly once you get used to it, but you don't get advanced spreadsheet functionality.
The field can be reused anywhere in your document. The name will occur in the Selection pane of the Fields - Variables dialog, for quick selection.
If you need better spreadsheet functionality, create a spreadsheet and do all the calculations/referencing there. You can insert multiple links to the same file in your Writer document. A bit clunky...