Feature Request: Add "Evaluate Formula" Functionality in Spreadsheet #2016
Description
This issue is unique.
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Your idea.
Description:
OnlyOffice Spreadsheet currently lacks an "Evaluate Formula" feature, the box that allows users to step through a complex formula, piece by piece, to understand how it's being calculated. This is especially useful for debugging when formulas don’t return the expected results.
Problem:
Without this feature, it becomes very difficult to troubleshoot or understand complex or nested formulas. Users are left to mentally parse the logic or break formulas into multiple cells just to isolate issues, which is both time-consuming and error-prone.
Expected Behavior (Example from Excel):
Shows the current formula.
Steps through each part of the formula in order of evaluation.
Displays the result of each sub-expression as it is evaluated.
Opportunity for Improvement:
While Excel’s implementation is helpful, it has limitations, such as the small, fixed-size dialog and lack of formatting or highlighting. OnlyOffice could go a step further by:
- Allowing a resizable window or pane-based interface.
- Using syntax highlighting to clearly show sub-expressions.
- Making the evaluated values visually distinct (e.g., colored text, inline annotations).
- Optionally supporting copying or exporting the evaluation steps for reference or sharing.
Why This Matters:
This feature would significantly improve productivity and usability, especially for users working with financial models, scientific calculations, or complex logic. It reduces frustration and lowers the barrier for new users learning formula logic.
Closing Notes:
This is a core feature in many spreadsheet tools and would be a big step toward making OnlyOffice a more capable and user-friendly alternative.
Thank you for the fantastic work so far, really hoping to see this in a future release!