Re: [O] About range references in the spreadsheet

[H. Dieter Wilhelm]

Eric S Fraga <address@hidden> writes:
> Bastien <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> Hi Xue,
>>
>> Xue Fuqiao <address@hidden> writes:
>>
>>> In (info "(org) References"), there is an example explaining the range
>>> references:
>>>
>>>      @address@hidden   3 numbers from the column to the left, 2 up to
>>> current row
>>>
>>> What does `2 up to current row' mean?  I don't understand.  IIRC `@'
>>> represents row, it should be `1 up to current row'.
>>
>> No.  The whole sentence expands to this: 
>>
>>   This range takes 3 numbers: the first one from the column to the
>>   left (and the row above), the 2 others up to current row.
>>
>> I agree this might not be obvious but I don't have a better proposal.
>> Maybe a native english speaker can help here.
>>
>> Best,
>
>
> I think the current description is wrong and that rows and columns have
> been interchanged?  The entries defined by this range are all in the row
> above (@-1) the current row.  The columns chosen are two to the left of
> the current column up to the current column.

Right. The formulation above would only be logical with:

  This range takes 3 numbers: the first one from TWO columns to the
  left (and the row above), the 2 others up to current row.

But still not easy to understand.

> If you wish to re-word, maybe:
>
> This range expands to three elements, all on the row above the current
> row, starting with the column two to the left of the current column.

Would be much better, I think.

More precisely: The manual speaks about `field references' and `column'-
and `row' specifications.  So I would write:

  The three SPECIFICATIONS expand to a field range from the row above
  the current row, starting with two columns to the left up to the
  current column.

(I would avoid the ambiguous expression "column two" since it is a
relative specification) alternatively

  The TWO REFERENCES expand to a field range from the row above the
  current row, starting with two columns to the left up to the current
  column.

  Dieter

-- 
Best wishes

H. Dieter Wilhelm
Darmstadt
Germany