I’m curious why someone would use the regular keyboard instead of the numeric keypad to enter a date. That little numeric keypad is such a wonderful solution for entering numbers.
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I apologize in advance. I’m sorry to say this, but IMHO most of these issues are simply the usual “mimimi.”
Users decide to ditch Windows and start using Linux; so far, so good. But at the first slight difference from Windows, the great whining starts if something doesn’t look and work exactly 100% as it does on Windows. OTOH, most of the changes Windows applied over the years were accepted with only marginal resistance. Entering the Linux-World is also a chance to question former behavior. For example, is it reasonable to enter a date as 26oct instead of using any of the regular formats? I think this is even better than downvoting any tool of the new platform. Life is change; personally, I often have to adapt to new ways to handle things.
As the title of this thread states, it’s a journey.
Just my 2 cents.
Disclaimer: I’m not a fan of LO, but it does what it should.
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Can I add my 2 cents…
A computer is a general purpose machine… it can be programmed to do anything
Some OS’s like Win restrict what the computer can do by boxing you into a series of choices.
Othere OS’s like Linux leave the door open to doing anything, but require you to learn to either adapt available tools or program new tools.
Apparently some people like being boxed in, while other people like us here prefer freedom .
Remember @abu 's comment… Linux is an opportunity to rethink the way you do things
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Having started with lotus 123, then supercalc, then visicalc, onto excel, through microsoft works, symphony, through the same on windows (the others were dos based). When excel 6 went to excel 2003 (?) And the ribbon bar was replaced…… I now used libreoffice calc and a mix of google sheets.
Shame LO does not exist for my tablet where I have to use WPS. Unless you know a better one ?
Every so often have to think about just doing a simple sum command start with = or +, then selecting a range (a1:d4) or (a1..d4)
When we get to more complex lookup(cell,column offset, range) or similar I realise that works in english but the french version uses another word instead of lookup !
I was trying to teach a french friend and had to look at each command in the function list to find the french word meaning the same, average (avg) becomes moyenne, sum becommes sume
Yes we have to adapt but that keeps the brain exercised
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I won’t say it’s better, as I don’t really know WPS. I like Softmaker office suite, which is available for Mac/Win/Linux/Android. It has a free version, the Freeoffice.
Generally I find it offers better compatibility with MS Office than Libreoffice does.
Maybe you could try its Planmaker.
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That looks really Interesting will pull it down in my tablet and try it. But like the look of the classic icon bar just as word 6 was which suits me
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Softmaker is OK, but aren’t there free and paid versions? Why should I install this if I can have LO onboard?
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LO is not yet available for my tablet
Although the files area interchangeable would be nice to have a similar visual experiance across all WPS is not wonderful when I am away and look for a quick fix of something
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Sorry, I didn’t recognize this fact.
EDIT: This is why I prefer my OnlyOffice at CryptPad!
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Yes, as I mentioned, there is a free (still not open source) version, which is a bit cut-down version, but completely functional. And there’s the paid product.
You shouldn’t if LO fits all your needs. For me this is not the case unfortunately.
Tthere are “tricky” documents which LO render a complete mess. These are usually big documents with varying page layouts, headers, footers, embedded pictures, diagrams etc.
I like Softmakers product, and use it since a long time. Once I looked into Onlyoffice, that time it didn’t “speak hungarian” whereas Softmaker did since I met it.
I’m just happy with it, I especially like its crossplatform nature, and can recommend to anyone who looks for an alternative even on Windows.
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Some addition to Onlyoffice:
I got curious, and downloaded the current version.
This one “speaks” hungarian, that’s positive.
It’s an electron app.
Regarding compatibility I’ll check some of the tricky documents - give some time please.
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Yes, it does indeed. And please don’t get me wrong, Softmaker is a really great product.
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I just use it online, on CryptPad.
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For me an interesting thing would be to integrate it into my Seafile instance.
It seems to be doable 
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I hope you (and others) aren’t thinking that I’m whining about Linux not being the same as Windows. I started my post on Oct 23 by saying “Here are some things I’ve learned along the way”.
I do realize that things will be different, and that some of these differences may be annoying and cause more work to accomplish the same (or equivalent) result. It will just take a while to become accustomed to the differences.
I will quote from a popular Canadian TV comedy show (The Red Green Show, which is no longer running) which poked fun at ourselves, especially Canadian men. I’ll adopt the attitude expressed in that show:
I’m a man.
I can change,
If I have to,
I guess.
Thanks everyone for your input. I do value your thoughtful suggestions!
Onward in the journey…
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No Ken, we are not thinking that.
Just about everyone reacts like you did when they encounter something in Linux that is not exactly like Windows.
It means you have some choices to make… I am afraid we all wandered off into a discussion, and although you may have found it interesting, it may not have solved your issue directly.
You need a workaround. We discussed several.
and
Learn to program your spreadsheet … it makes it a much more flexible tool.
Regards
Neville
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Go ahead; it’s fully worth it.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
– Albert Einstein
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