Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 76235
Change the approach of scenario-building and use.
Last modified: 2013-08-07 15:12:27 UTC
Scenarios are NEVER needed singly: they are always needed as a set. (typically, at least 3 scenarios are needed: best case, normal, and worst case). But in Calc, the GUI does not take advantage of the fact that a given set of scenarios will enter different values in the SAME cells. Instead, for each scenario, Calc forces the user to (a) change the values in cells all over the sheet, (b) Select the entire range, and then (c) use the Tools>Scenarios... menu. This is tedious. Besides, the user may make a mistake in selecting the cells of the scenario, in which case Calc will use the default (earlier) value even without the user's knowledge! In comparison, in MS Excel, the scenario builder allows you to identify the cells with variable values, then takes you in scenario-naming+defining loop, in which you name a new scenario, and its values for all the identified cells. You enter the new values directly in the GUI, unlike in Calc. You can keep adding more scenarios without leaving this window. Once the set is fully defined, you can leave the GUI. This is far easier, and without any possibility of an error. Coming to how the scenarios are used: In Calc, you are allowed to activate each scenario one at a time and see the picture. You cannot compare the scenario by putting them side by side. In comparison, MS Excel allows us to build (a) summary that shows all scenarios side by side and (b) Pivot table. This approach is much more useful. *** To sum up, method of building and using the scenarios must be changed.
IMHO our approach is as good as Excels, it just needs training as it would for Excel if you go the other way round. But this is my opinion and requirements team has to decide. Frank
How can training resolve these issues? (a) Errors made in updating the cells (how to remember which cells are updated for the nth scenario? We might leave a cell filled with the previous value by mistake!) Excel resolves this by forcing the user to fill up empty boxes. (b) Having to move around in the sheet (Excel brings all boxes in one neat column)