Bug #2261

Excel 2002 crashes when use write() with @ as first value of the text

Details

Submitted	2004-08-31 17:08 UTC
From	b-egner at t-online dot de
Assigned	progi1984
Status	Closed
Package	Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer
PHP Version	Irrelevant
OS	Debian Woody
Roadmaps	(Not assigned)

Comments

[2004-08-31 17:08 UTC] b-egner at t-online dot de

Description:
------------
Excel 2002 crashes when using worksheet::write() with @ as first value of the text

Example:

$worksheet->write("@test");

Result:
Excel 2002 (XP) crashes if you open an exported file...

Reproduce code:
---------------
$workbook = new Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer();
$workbook->send("test.xls");
$worksheet =& $workbook->addWorksheet("Mytitle");

$worksheet->write(0, 0, "@test"); // <-- Here's the "@"

$workbook->close();

Expected result:
----------------
- test.xls exported
- Opening with Excel 2002 shows in Column 0, 0 the value "@test"

Actual result:
--------------
- test.xls exported
- Opening with Excel 2002 will crash Excel

[2006-01-12 16:15 UTC] anicoll at dundeecity dot gov dot uk

I have similar problem. Using MS Excel 2000 with Verion 2.1 (I Think). Doesnt crash but passes what seems to be an error from the package through when I try to write a text string '@'. The value comes through to the spreadsheet as
"Syntax error: , lookahead: , current char: 0"
(my double quotes).

[2006-01-12 16:32 UTC] anicoll at dundeecity dot gov dot uk

Solved my problem by specifically calling the writeString() method rather than the generic write() method. The write() (I Think) matches anything beginning with an '@' to a Formula and proceeds to use the writeFormula() method behind the scenes.
I dont know if this helps with the problem causing a crash.