desktop-packages team mailing list archive

[Leo H <915059@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Public bug reported:

(CONCERNS: LibreOffice version: 3.4.4; OOO340m1 (Build:402), complete
install from the Ubuntu repo, fully up to date.)


The "Compare Document" functionality of LibreOffice Writer is deeply flawed and woefully inadequate. For example, type (without quotes):

"LibreOffice Writer. Compare Document."

Save as version1.odt.  Then just add one space at the start and add one
paragraph marker after the first period (.), as follows (again without
the quotes):

" LibreOffice Writer.
 Compare Document."

Save as version2.odt. Now use "Compare Document" to identify the changes
in version2.odt relative to version1.odt:

As the result we are simply presented with the full text of version1.odt
mixed into that of version2.odt.  So we have THE WHOLE TEXT TWICE.
Worse, EVERYTHING is MARKED AS CHANGED, either as inserted or as
deleted. THIS IS PLAINLY WRONG. But, on the other hand, the TRUE CHANGES
are NOT UNIQUELY IDENTIFIED.

Now think of editing and then comparing not a single page with just 4
words, but a 40-page report or a 400-page book:  The result is simply a
catastrophe with entire multi-coloured swathes of repeated identical or
near-identical text, but all identified and marked by LibreOffice Writer
as completely different.

Moreover, all text in footnotes, endnotes, fields, headers, footers,
frames, etc, and all non-text objects are currently still completely
ignored by design in LibreOffice Writer "Document Compare".

CONCLUSION: "Compare Document" in LibreOffice Writer at the moment is
defective, completely clueless and completely useless.

However, in the real-world of professional document production and
editing, especially in collaborative contexts, precise, complete and
fine-grained change identification, revision management and version
control is absolutely essential.

The unambiguous identification of THE DIFFERENCES, ALL DIFFERENCES and
NOTHING BUT THE DIFFERENCES, and presented with the greatest clarity,
are pivotal here.

Sadly, at present, Microsoft Office Word still remains the only real
choice for competent change tracking between versions of a document.

Prior to LibreOffice, this issue has already dogged OpenOffice all its
life. A detailed current overview of relevant unresolved bugs and issues
is available at http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Track_changes .

Can the resolution of this issue please be made an urgent priority in
Ubuntu's LibreOffice.


(Acknowledgement: Elements of this submission were inspired by Gretha on Launchpad.)

** Affects: libreoffice (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: compare document libreoffice writer

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop
Packages, which is subscribed to libreoffice in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/915059

Title:
  Compare Document Functionality in LibreOffice Writer

Status in “libreoffice” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  (CONCERNS: LibreOffice version: 3.4.4; OOO340m1 (Build:402), complete
  install from the Ubuntu repo, fully up to date.)

  
  The "Compare Document" functionality of LibreOffice Writer is deeply flawed and woefully inadequate. For example, type (without quotes):

  "LibreOffice Writer. Compare Document."

  Save as version1.odt.  Then just add one space at the start and add
  one paragraph marker after the first period (.), as follows (again
  without the quotes):

  " LibreOffice Writer.
   Compare Document."

  Save as version2.odt. Now use "Compare Document" to identify the
  changes in version2.odt relative to version1.odt:

  As the result we are simply presented with the full text of
  version1.odt mixed into that of version2.odt.  So we have THE WHOLE
  TEXT TWICE. Worse, EVERYTHING is MARKED AS CHANGED, either as inserted
  or as deleted. THIS IS PLAINLY WRONG. But, on the other hand, the TRUE
  CHANGES are NOT UNIQUELY IDENTIFIED.

  Now think of editing and then comparing not a single page with just 4
  words, but a 40-page report or a 400-page book:  The result is simply
  a catastrophe with entire multi-coloured swathes of repeated identical
  or near-identical text, but all identified and marked by LibreOffice
  Writer as completely different.

  Moreover, all text in footnotes, endnotes, fields, headers, footers,
  frames, etc, and all non-text objects are currently still completely
  ignored by design in LibreOffice Writer "Document Compare".

  CONCLUSION: "Compare Document" in LibreOffice Writer at the moment is
  defective, completely clueless and completely useless.

  However, in the real-world of professional document production and
  editing, especially in collaborative contexts, precise, complete and
  fine-grained change identification, revision management and version
  control is absolutely essential.

  The unambiguous identification of THE DIFFERENCES, ALL DIFFERENCES and
  NOTHING BUT THE DIFFERENCES, and presented with the greatest clarity,
  are pivotal here.

  Sadly, at present, Microsoft Office Word still remains the only real
  choice for competent change tracking between versions of a document.

  Prior to LibreOffice, this issue has already dogged OpenOffice all its
  life. A detailed current overview of relevant unresolved bugs and
  issues is available at
  http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Track_changes .

  Can the resolution of this issue please be made an urgent priority in
  Ubuntu's LibreOffice.

  
  (Acknowledgement: Elements of this submission were inspired by Gretha on Launchpad.)

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