4 ms·

Realistically you'd just drag the fill handle rather than using copy/paste/edit, so you'd be unlikely to find this bug in a real worksheet.

by mayoff 5y ago

Karellen 5y ago
http://www.eusprig.org/basic-research.htm http://www.eusprig.org/basic-research.htm > There is a very extensive research base on the risks of using spreadsheets within business see [Panko, 2000] [Panko & Ordway, 2005] [Powell, Baker & Lawson, 2007]. Much of the research has been coordinated and progressed by EuSpRIG [Chadwick, 2003]. Further significant work improving the end user approach to software has been undertaken by the EUSES consortium [EUSES, 2009]. > The main known risks of spreadsheets include: > a) Human Error – To err is human, hence the majority (>90%) of spreadsheets contain errors. Because spreadsheets are rarely tested [Panko, 2006] [Pryor, 2004] these errors remain. Recent research has shown that about 50% of spreadsheet models used operationally in large businesses have material defects [Powell, Baker, Lawson, 2007] [Croll, 2008]. Approximately 50% of executives recently surveyed had encountered spreadsheet related problems up to and including staff dismissal [Caulkins, Morrison & Weideman, 2007].
beerandt 5y ago
But that's a problem in itself that's always bothered me: dragging works slightly different than copy/paste works different than cut/paste. And the different uses are useful on their own, but the inconsistency makes understanding how to manipulate formulas in simple ways overly confusing, especially when first learning the behavior. The ability copy-and-paste-absolute and to cut-and-paste-relative should be right there next to cut copy and paste when you right click, and should have been there decades ago.
- Tarsul 5y ago
  it's insane how fast one can destroy the data in an excel file simply by misunderstanding copy/paste or drag/drop functions, e.g. while you (probably, at least how my excel is configured) can filter your table and then drag the value of one cell down to other cells and the ones that are filtered out are not affected. However, when you think that doing the same for changing the format of the cells (e.g. the background color), you've thought wrong - even the cells that are filtered out are affected.

Realistically you'd just drag the fill handle rather than using copy/paste/edit, so you'd be unlikely to find this bug in a real worksheet.

by mayoff 5y ago

Realistically you'd just drag the fill handle rather than using copy/paste/edit, so you'd be unlikely to find this bug in a real worksheet.

Karellen 5y ago

http://www.eusprig.org/basic-research.htm http://www.eusprig.org/basic-research.htm > There is a very extensive research base on the risks of using spreadsheets within business see [Panko, 2000] [Panko & Ordway, 2005] [Powell, Baker & Lawson, 2007]. Much of the research has been coordinated and progressed by EuSpRIG [Chadwick, 2003]. Further significant work improving the end user approach to software has been undertaken by the EUSES consortium [EUSES, 2009]. > The main known risks of spreadsheets include: > a) Human Error – To err is human, hence the majority (>90%) of spreadsheets contain errors. Because spreadsheets are rarely tested [Panko, 2006] [Pryor, 2004] these errors remain. Recent research has shown that about 50% of spreadsheet models used operationally in large businesses have material defects [Powell, Baker, Lawson, 2007] [Croll, 2008]. Approximately 50% of executives recently surveyed had encountered spreadsheet related problems up to and including staff dismissal [Caulkins, Morrison & Weideman, 2007].

beerandt 5y ago

But that's a problem in itself that's always bothered me: dragging works slightly different than copy/paste works different than cut/paste. And the different uses are useful on their own, but the inconsistency makes understanding how to manipulate formulas in simple ways overly confusing, especially when first learning the behavior. The ability copy-and-paste-absolute and to cut-and-paste-relative should be right there next to cut copy and paste when you right click, and should have been there decades ago.

Tarsul 5y ago
it's insane how fast one can destroy the data in an excel file simply by misunderstanding copy/paste or drag/drop functions, e.g. while you (probably, at least how my excel is configured) can filter your table and then drag the value of one cell down to other cells and the ones that are filtered out are not affected. However, when you think that doing the same for changing the format of the cells (e.g. the background color), you've thought wrong - even the cells that are filtered out are affected.