5 ms·

I use excel heavily, librecalc is as good or better than excel. It has near 1:1 function compatibility. The exception are macros but MS seem to be slowly phasin

by greazy 4y ago

I use excel heavily, librecalc is as good or better than excel. It has near 1:1 function compatibility. The exception are macros but MS seem to be slowly phasing them out.

once_inc 4y ago
You can use Python macros with libreoffice, right? https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Macros/Python_Guide/Introduction https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Macros/Python_Guide/Intr...
- tinus_hn 4y ago
  That’s nice, but not very helpful if you’re trying to use an existing sheet that has VBA macros.
vetinari 4y ago
It is not just VBA. LO Calc is still missing Excel Tables functionality, which is a biggie. It was added to Excel 15 years ago! It also doesn't have equivalent of PowerQuery/PowerPivot/PowerMap equivalent, which appeared in Excel in 2010-2013 timeframe. So LO Calc is OK for basic spreadsheets, but any power user will gravitate to Excel due to functionalities.
- greazy 4y ago
  Good news, Pivot tables were added in v6.2. And there's an extension that provides similar support for PowerQuery. Tables do exist in LO calc.
  - vetinari 4y ago
    I was talking PowerPivot, not pivot tables. LO Calc pivot tables are at Excel 2003 level. Well, there's a reason why it was redone in 2007. If by extension that provides similar support for PowerQuery you mean QueryConnector, then no. QueryConnector is similar to the MS Query, not to the PowerQuery. And MS Query was Excel built-in, not extension... Tables do not exist in LO calc. Dataranges do (and imported excel files with tables are converted to dataranges). Dataranges do not have functionality like Tables do. You cannot even create above mentioned pivot table from a datarange, only from named range or selection. I even had to google how to create them (the build-in help didn't... help), after I've seen that the import did create something, and not just convert to named ranges as it used to. So much for discoverability. --- This is not to put down LibreOffice Calc or anything. It is about being honest where the weaknesses are, and how to address them. Sweeping problems under the carpet won't address them, and Calc won't become better. Also, Excel is the crown jewel of MS Office. Not Word, not Powerpoint, but Excel. Of course it is best of the best that money can buy and competing with it is not easy. But 15 years? Come on.
    - greazy 4y ago
      Yes I see now what you mean. The Power* family of tools is quiet powerful. I'm now reconsidering if I'm a power user of spreadsheets! For these extra features I'll use R as it's more powerful and reproducible.
Biganon 4y ago
No it's not. It doesn't even support tables and named columns.
- greazy 4y ago
  It definitely supports named columns and I am pretty sure 'tables' as well.
_dain_ 4y ago
>It has near 1:1 function compatibility. You're kidding, right? LibreOffice Calc does not have: - tables - powerquery - dynamic array formulae - XLOOKUP, LET, FILTER, and the rest of the extremely useful new formulae These four things completely dominate my Excel workflow. Opening Calc is like stepping back into the dark ages.
- greazy 4y ago
  Three out of those 4 things aren't functions. I do agree newer functions are missing (such as XLOOKUP) but for most people calc/excel is a high powered calculator and they use it as such. So Calc is perfect replacement. It's not the dark ages, that's an exaggeration.
- philliphaydon 4y ago
  I often think people suggesting things like Libreoffice just open csv files and scroll through then tell everyone else they can do everything in libreoffice. When you’re a heavy user of excel, almost nothing else compares. Tho Google sheets does give excel a run for its money, because it has scripts (javascript) to do everything else.
  - greazy 4y ago
    LO Calc has python scripting. I think you mean power user, I can accept that LO calc is not up to speed for powerusers of Excel. I'm a heavy user of LO calc, but my usage is of course different from yours. For true data wrangling I use R so this statement. I can't imagine the data wrangling and transformations that I perform in R being done in Excel. Its a nightmare waiting to happen!

by greazy 4y ago

I use excel heavily, librecalc is as good or better than excel. It has near 1:1 function compatibility. The exception are macros but MS seem to be slowly phasing them out.

once_inc 4y ago

You can use Python macros with libreoffice, right? https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Macros/Python_Guide/Introduction https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Macros/Python_Guide/Intr...

tinus_hn 4y ago
That’s nice, but not very helpful if you’re trying to use an existing sheet that has VBA macros.

vetinari 4y ago

It is not just VBA. LO Calc is still missing Excel Tables functionality, which is a biggie. It was added to Excel 15 years ago! It also doesn't have equivalent of PowerQuery/PowerPivot/PowerMap equivalent, which appeared in Excel in 2010-2013 timeframe. So LO Calc is OK for basic spreadsheets, but any power user will gravitate to Excel due to functionalities.

greazy 4y ago
Good news, Pivot tables were added in v6.2. And there's an extension that provides similar support for PowerQuery. Tables do exist in LO calc.
- vetinari 4y ago
  I was talking PowerPivot, not pivot tables. LO Calc pivot tables are at Excel 2003 level. Well, there's a reason why it was redone in 2007. If by extension that provides similar support for PowerQuery you mean QueryConnector, then no. QueryConnector is similar to the MS Query, not to the PowerQuery. And MS Query was Excel built-in, not extension... Tables do not exist in LO calc. Dataranges do (and imported excel files with tables are converted to dataranges). Dataranges do not have functionality like Tables do. You cannot even create above mentioned pivot table from a datarange, only from named range or selection. I even had to google how to create them (the build-in help didn't... help), after I've seen that the import did create something, and not just convert to named ranges as it used to. So much for discoverability. --- This is not to put down LibreOffice Calc or anything. It is about being honest where the weaknesses are, and how to address them. Sweeping problems under the carpet won't address them, and Calc won't become better. Also, Excel is the crown jewel of MS Office. Not Word, not Powerpoint, but Excel. Of course it is best of the best that money can buy and competing with it is not easy. But 15 years? Come on.
  - greazy 4y ago
    Yes I see now what you mean. The Power* family of tools is quiet powerful. I'm now reconsidering if I'm a power user of spreadsheets! For these extra features I'll use R as it's more powerful and reproducible.

Biganon 4y ago

No it's not. It doesn't even support tables and named columns.

greazy 4y ago
It definitely supports named columns and I am pretty sure 'tables' as well.

_dain_ 4y ago

>It has near 1:1 function compatibility. You're kidding, right? LibreOffice Calc does not have: - tables - powerquery - dynamic array formulae - XLOOKUP, LET, FILTER, and the rest of the extremely useful new formulae These four things completely dominate my Excel workflow. Opening Calc is like stepping back into the dark ages.

greazy 4y ago
Three out of those 4 things aren't functions. I do agree newer functions are missing (such as XLOOKUP) but for most people calc/excel is a high powered calculator and they use it as such. So Calc is perfect replacement. It's not the dark ages, that's an exaggeration.
philliphaydon 4y ago
I often think people suggesting things like Libreoffice just open csv files and scroll through then tell everyone else they can do everything in libreoffice. When you’re a heavy user of excel, almost nothing else compares. Tho Google sheets does give excel a run for its money, because it has scripts (javascript) to do everything else.
- greazy 4y ago
  LO Calc has python scripting. I think you mean power user, I can accept that LO calc is not up to speed for powerusers of Excel. I'm a heavy user of LO calc, but my usage is of course different from yours. For true data wrangling I use R so this statement. I can't imagine the data wrangling and transformations that I perform in R being done in Excel. Its a nightmare waiting to happen!