New Excel "Implicit Intersection Operators" @ symbol inserted, Aspose.Cells cannot process formulas

Aspose.Cells Product Family
1

[Update as of 11:42 EST: It appears this may only impact workbooks in the SpreadsheetML (XML) format. This may not be an issue for XSLX native format. We are working to confirm.]

We are running into a major problem that appears to exist in Aspose.Cells for .Net up to version 17.7.0.0. I see nothing in release notes since then that addresses this, either.

The problem is that a new feature in MS Excel is being rolled out to users at different paces, in support of dynamic arrays. Users aren’t notified and have no choice as to whether they accept it or not. It’s the Implicit Intersection Operator. More info here: Implicit intersection operator: @ - Microsoft Support

One user may have a version of Excel that supports implicit intersection operators. The root of the problem is that when an Excel file is opened by a user on this new version, all formulas of a certain type automatically have @ symbols inserted into them, in order to support dynamic arrays.

For example, if I, as a user of Excel that does not support the implicit intersection operator feature, am working in a workbook and enter a formula of “=IF(ISERROR(INDEX(B89:AW92…etc)”, and then send a copy of the file to someone else who is on a version of Excel that DOES have this feature, then when they open the file, that formula becomes “[=@IF(ISERROR(@INDEX(B89:AW92…etc)](mailto:=@IF(ISERROR(@INDEX(B89:AW92…etc))”.

If that user then uploads the file to our application to be processed by Aspose.Cells, then it causes an error because Aspose.Cells does not handle those @ symbols, and thinks it’s an invalid formula.

I’m surprised there is nothing already in the forums or on google about this. It’s starting to wreak havoc on our implementation of Aspose.Cells.

Is anyone else having this issue? Is Aspose aware? Is there an ETA to address?

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@mwillis,
Thank you for your query.

We have reviewed your query but we need to look into it more. We have logged the issue in our database for investigation and for a fix (if applicable). Once, we will have some news for you, we will update you in this topic.

This issue has been logged as

CELLSNET-47251 – New Excel “Implicit Intersection Operators” @ symbol inserted, Aspose.Cells cannot process formulas

3

Thank you. I also just edited the original post with this info:

[Update as of 11:42 EST: It appears this may only impact workbooks in the SpreadsheetML (XML) format. This may not be an issue for XSLX native format. We are working to confirm.]

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@mwillis,
Thank you for this information. We have noted it with the ticket.

5

@mwillis,

This is to inform you that we have fixed your issue. We will shortly provide you the fixed version after performing QA and incorporating other enhancements and fixes.

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Thank you, much appreciated.

7

@mwillis,

Please try our latest version/fix: Aspose.Cells for .NET v20.4.3:
Aspose.Cells20.4.3 For .Net2_AuthenticodeSigned.Zip (5.3 MB)
Aspose.Cells20.4.3 For .Net4.0.Zip (5.3 MB)

Your issue should be fixed in it.

Let us know your feedback.

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The issues you have found earlier (filed as CELLSNET-47251) have been fixed in Aspose.Cells for .NET v20.5. This message was posted using Bugs notification tool by Amjad_Sahi