[Solved] Adjusting comment pointer problem

[Ozi Ian]

Edit: Split from Adjusting comment pointer problem for new user with new environment

jackrcook: Of course, my goal is to fix the problem, not accommodate it.

Here we are almost 5 years later and nothing seems to have changed.
Dismissing 'Comments' as being unreliable is like saying "my car only plays up when it's raining. All you have to do is get out and tap the fuse box and it will work again."
The responses I've seen suggest the simple fix offered so far would be like "Don't use the car when it's raining".

In my case the pointer points to the cell top and right of the desired cell in OO416.

In OO417 it now points to the cell to the right of the desired cell. If this remains the same for continued use of the spreadsheet it isn't too bad
jackrcook's problem is far more severe and un-acceptble, I would think.

There are times when it is better to add a convenient 'pop-up' 'Comment' than to cram a cell full of a large amount of text.
This way, the comment can be read while the appropriate code can be entered into the selected cell.
In the example note the arrow points to EXACTLY where it should ie the red square in the cell (OO417)

The question remains:- Why can't the 'Comments' function be made repeatedly stable?
In my opinion it is a very useful feature to be left languishing in the "Too Hard" basket.
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[Zizi64]

In my case the pointer points to the cell top and right of the desired cell in OO416.

In OO417 it now points to the cell to the right of the desired cell.

I can not agree.
See the pointer point of the comment created in my AOO 4.1.7 portable (see the attached image). The arrow points to the top-right corner of the cell, even if I drag it in an another location (above-below, right/left side) relative to the desired cell.

My sample file was created in the AOO 4.1.7. Can you upload an ODF type sample file, what was created in the 4.1.6 version?

[Ozi Ian]

G'day again zizi64. Thanks for a reply.

I agree that in your example that's what is SUPPOSED to happen.
It does when I also create a brand new spreadsheet without complex formulae & data and years of use.
It does in the big 'Comments' I gave as a sample (in what is for me an old, continually evolving, large and complex spreadsheet).
I, too, can drag the 'Comments' box around and the pointer will stay to wherever it is pointing.

But it DOES NOT point to the correct cell in the other two samples as can be clearly seen.
Both of these samples are from another largish spreadsheet that has evolved over many years.
It does not in jackrcook's example(s) either.

Both jackrcook & I have shown that (for whatever reason) SOME spreadsheets dock (for want of a better word) the pointer in cells other than the cell where the comments are made.
We can't tell you why, just that it does AND obviously has continued to do so since jackrcook's original posts.

I've been aware of this problem for a long time and have been hoping that each new version of OO will be different.
In the two main spreadsheets I maintain and use, the pointer error is just a minor annoyance, so I still use 'Comments'.
I'm now coming to the opinion that it isn't the program per se that is causing the problem, but some form of corruption(?) of the spreadsheet itself (eg cell references for the pointer get corrupted?).
Hmmmm ... but the red dot is always in the correct cell. Interesting.

I can copy-and-paste the cell with the comments into a cell way outside the normal area of the sheet and the result is the same. The pointer will point to the same relative offset position as before.

That said, please note that on the SAME sheet, the pointer changed from cell above right (in 416) to just right in 417, possibly indicating there is some interaction with the OO version.
Again, I'm not smart enough to be able to pinpoint exactly what has changed in that particular sheet and not in others.

I guess that my post was more about previous replies in jackrcook's original conversations denigrating the 'Comments' function and dismissing it as old & unreliable.
It's obviously a well-known problem.
Using work-arounds or not using 'Comments' at all is not the answer IMHO. To me it is a great function to put explanatory notes etc in cells that need the attention of the end user.
To me it seems that taking a good idea and getting rid of the gremlins is better than letting 'Comments' languish.

Otherwise it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. People can't/don't use it because it is unreliable(?) which leads on to developers saying "See, no-one uses 'Comments' anyway so why bother fixing it"

Just saying that it's a pity that these obscure gremlins haven't been found & fixed yet ...

Just a thought ...
I wonder if anyone has checked if this gremlin also applies to (ahem) Libre Office, as this was the original version of OO before OO decided to go its own way (if I understand it correctly).
If it is, then that may suggest nothing has been done to solve the 'Comments' problem for the entire development of this open office suite.

No, zizi64, I choose not to upload either of the spreadsheets as they are confidential client files.

[Zizi64]

No, zizi64, I choose not to upload either of the spreadsheets as they are confidential client files.

Delete all of irrelevant data from a copy of the problematic spreadsheet. It is enough one or two filled-in cells and one or two comments to examine the problem. Note: the file size limit is 128 KiB in this forum.

[Lupp]

A few months ago I tried to help with this request:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=101516.
It didn't mention the CaptionPoint (that's the API name a what you are talking of) issue, but the size and an 'autowidth' enhancement. Working on this request I also got a view on the "poInter issue".

Since I personally never use annotations the field was new to me, and I learned once more that we should expect issues with features rather rarely used: Bugs are rarely reported. If reported at all, the reports are by users exceptionally much using the offside features - and these may not be the most experienced users among all; the quality of a report may be poor. Again if reported at all, the bugs are rarely commented helpfully, and developers are rarely much interested in fixing while there are lots of other bugs of much more weight.

I then also wouldn't file a bug or an enhancement request, but try to solve my specific and rare problem by specific means. That's specialized user code in some cases like this one.

You will find everything you need on this way in the example attached to my post viewtopic.php?f=9&t=101516.#p490003 to the mentioned thread.
Look at the different sheets befor running the Sub. This Sub is linked to a document-saved toolbar named 'privateToolbar'.

[Ozi Ian]

Delete all of irrelevant data from a copy of the problematic spreadsheet. It is enough one or two filled-in cells and one or two comments to examine the problem. Note: the file size limit is 128 KiB in this forum.

Yes, that is one way, but I had assumed that deleting 5 years of formulae and data could in some way also remove the problem.

I will however, give it a go, and see if the fault is still there.
If so, I will post it here.

Regards,
Ian

[Ozi Ian]

G'day Lupp. Interesting stuff.
Like Caesarius, I had difficulty following, but I could get the basics of what you were saying.

I understand you have said that just like setting the width and height parameters, one should also be able to set the CaptionPoint but you did not investigate further.
Did I get that right?
I was wondering, then, if CaptionPoint sets the position of the red dot or the arrowhead?

What was of interest to this discussion is that in the examples of 'Comments' you provided, the arrowheads ended at centre left of the adjacent cell
I made a clearer screen shot of my WORKING PROPERLY 'Comments' which shows the arrowhead on top of the red dot in the correct cell. just as it should be.

I also take your points about reporting stuff as bugs, etc and developers having more urgent things to sort out.

As above in reply to zizi64 I'll strip out the data of the problematic sheet and see what happens.

Thanks to all you blokes (Aussie term for the American word 'Guys') for your help and sharing of your knowledge.
The downside is that I feel so ignorant about AOO.

Regards,
Ian

[Lupp]

... one should also be able to set the CaptionPoint but you did not investigate further.
Did I get that right?

Not exactly. I actually demonstarted how to set the CaptionPoint, and used the proceeding to fix the related problems in the demo document, which I partly had caused willfully, and which - at least in one case - arose "just so" as they did most likely in your case. Link: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=101516#p490003.

I was wondering, then, if CaptionPoint sets the position of the red dot or the arrowhead? ...

CaptionPoint handles the arrow head which you expect to be fixed to the red dot like to a glue point.
However, the little red square simply is a sign to tell that the cell is 'Parent' of an annotation. It shall help to find annotations not permanently shown - and I don't know a way to change it in appearance or position.
The annotation itself is treated as a kind of property of the cell, but this doesn't reset the CapturePoint automatically if it once was changed.

... just as it should be.

What should be or not often is subject to points of view. As in many cases there also in this case is a default, but the related structures/services/interfaces also allow for doing it differently.

Greetings to "Down Under"!
BTW: The, imo, most valuable contributor to community help on free office software (LibreOffice in his case) was an Australian with German roots. Unfortunately he retired years ago.

[Ozi Ian]

G'day all.
Thanks Lupp for your clarifications and greetings.

I apologise for not adding examples of the problematic Calcs like I said I would.

I .... um .... er ... don't have any anymore!
Not a new sheet, nor any of my old sheets (going back many years) exhibit errant pointer problems any more.
All now showing the 'Comments' pointer perfectly ending on top of the red dot. I cannot explain why.

The ONLY thing that has changed since my last post was ... a Windows10 update. Seriously?
Other weird Win10 things are now happening outside of AOO Calc (like screen lock-ups after hibernation - needing re-boot to get going again). But Calc? No - Rock solid with perfect pointers. Go figure!

Thanks for all your help, Gurus. I feel I've picked up some knowledge from you all.
I reckon we've kicked this one around enough. Time to close topic?

Ian