too slow with big spreadsheets

kkkfrankie · General User Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

I'm experiencing that CALC is very slow in managing the very big spreadsheets compared to Excel, which is the reason of that? Is there any solution.

I'm running OO2 on a Terminal Server platform based on WIN2003 server, with 25 users connected.
The performances of WRITER compared to WORD are ok, but CALC is really much slower than EXCEL.

9point9 · Moderator Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 3875 Location: UK

There are a number of reasons why. If you are using the native XML based formats then it takes a while to write out all of the markup and then compress it all. If it's an alien format then the filters aren't as well optimised which will make them slower.

Which version are you using? 2.0.1 is slightly quicker than 2.0 in this respect. Expect 2.0.2 to be quicker again when it's out.
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kkkfrankie · General User Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 5

thank you, I'm using the 2.0 because it was available in Italian language.
Do you suggest me to update?

Does the saving format affects the speed also when the file is already opened? If so, which format do you suggest to use for the spreadsheets?

9point9 · Moderator Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 3875 Location: UK

If 2.0.1 was available in Italian then I would suggest that you upgrade. As it is not it would be best for you it stick with 2.0 rather than use an English version.

2.0.1 is only a small percentage faster in terms of file loading and saving but also includes many other bug fixes.

The format I would suggest is ODS even though that won't be the quickest, it's just the most likely to work properly.
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OOoSVN, change control for OOo documents:
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Villeroy · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject:

Hard formatting is a real show stopper with large sheets.
Use styles.

noranthon · Super User Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 3318

Now I have a question. How, apart from Conditional Formatting, does one use Styles? I just cannot find a way. Sad

8daysaweek.co.uk · Super User Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2130 Location: UK

Villeroy · Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:32 am Post subject:

Press F11 for the stylist.
The hierarchical view provides the great feature of style-trees with inherited properties.

jrkrideau · Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:50 am Post subject:

noranthon · Super User Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 3318

Thanks. I've downloaded the styles pdf and got the latest Getting Started with Calc in case that throws any light on the subject.

What I mean is this:
1. With F11 you get a dialog which enables you to create a style. I've used that to create styles for conditional formatting.
2. /Format /Cells does not enable you to apply any such style to any cell/s (except for Conditional Formatting).
3. Right-clicking on a cell does not get you any command to apply the style to a particular cell/s.
4. I cannot find any command in any other menu tree either.
5. I recollect that there is a function you can add to the contents of a cell to incorporate a style - perhaps that's all there is. When you're talking about columns and rows of data, adding a function to every cell is not feasible.
6. If there's something in Help, I cannot find it.

I've only used styles to a limited extent with other software because you're then stuck with the whole kit and kaboodle. You might create the style for a given number format but then you might want, for example, to change the font colour of some of the cells using that style, so you can end up with a multiplicity of styles. In Calc, though, there seems to be no command for applying a particular style, anyway - subject to any light the pdfs or your goodselves might throw on the subject.

If using styles does lighten the saving and loading burden, I'm willing to try them. Saving and loading is so pedestrian with even the modestly sized files I use.

jrkrideau · Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Using styles

noranthon · Super User Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 3318

Yes, I've got that, thanks. I did not realise that the "Stylist" was also used for applying styles - indeed, it seems to be the only way, apart from keyboard shortcuts. It's a little tiresome.

What I'm working on now is how to apply styles with macros. It isn't as simple, it seems, as oCell.CellStyle = "Flamming Yellow Warning ".

jrkrideau · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:00 am Post subject:

noranthon · Super User Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 3318

Thanks. I'd forgotten about the macro recorder. If I can't work out the Basic code, I'll see what I can get from the recorder. It's not a priority because I put data into my main file through an input range which I've already formatted with styles. Lotus 123 macros are/were good. It now uses LotusScript which I believe is a version of Basic. I was just beginning to learn it when I migrated to Linux. If OO could get hold of Lotus technology there'd be no more problems with lack of speed.

9point9 · Moderator Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 3875 Location: UK