sheets forum post Sheets forum post is here

I found an old bug from 4 years ago about this issue that has similar STR (delete all text and then enter new text), so this isn't recent.

• Bug 1192656 - Random newlines entered in Google Sheets cells when pressing enter

(please do not comment in bug reports
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/page.cgi?id=etiquette.html)

Kind of sounds like they thought it was fixed. I've had several posts from various OP regarding this problem in the google sheets forum. Any way to get the bug report active again?

Ed

I can replicate the bug in the exact conditions described above, and in other ways as well.

I don't need to edit the text in the formula bar, I can just select a cell and start typing, delete all the text with backspace, and then any "movement" out of the cell will cause a newline character to be added. That is, enter, tab or any of the directional keys will cause the same behavior.

A newline character being added is also happening without having to remove all of the text from the cell, but I can't find the exact cause.

I'm not sure what this forum's posting etiquette is, but I came here from the Google Sheets forum after experiencing the same issue. It is *maddening*. This glitch happens really frequently for me, probably because I edit my cells so much.

I use Sheets so much in my daily workflow, and the Android Firefox app is so much more buggy than Chrome, that I've switched back to using Chrome permanently unfortunately.

I have the same issue in Google sheets when using the newest version of Firefox and Windows 10. A new line being added in the cell after i press enter. Just like so many other Firefox users that have complained in the sheets forum. Others posted saying this bug appeared after the last Firefox update and I agree.

Earlier this year there was another annoying bug with the cursor not turning into a hand when dragging cells. This took months to get fixed.

Love Firefox and Google sheets but im going to have to replace one of them if these very annoying bugs keeps getting in the way of work.

This happens to me too, but it seems to only happen when editing cells I've never edited yet. After I've edited the cell and the Char(10) is added and I've removed it, it doesn't happen again when editing the same cell.

This happens to me too on Firefox (desktop). Drives me nuts.

Well, this is off-topic, but for the record:

Rick said

Earlier this year there was another annoying bug with the cursor not turning into a hand when dragging cells. This took months to get fixed.

Within days of when that was reported on this forum (thread), I filed a bug and that got fixed in the code base. It took another month to roll out to the regular release in Firefox 69.0. It's something Google could have fixed itself at any time by changing its CSS styling for the cursor from -moz-grab to grab, -moz-grabbing to grabbing.

Sheets is a complex application. When you invoke the cell editor, Google's code positions a <div> element in the appropriate location with the contenteditable attribute set to true. This triggers "editor" code in the browser and apparently different editors behave differently in recent years.

In Firefox (and Edge), when you delete the entire text, an HTML line break element (<br>) is inserted. You can see that in this test page:

https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/editor-newline.html

That may have been designed back in the day because otherwise the element would become invisible and difficult to editor further. That workaround isn't needed if the <div> is coded to avoid collapsing, but the behavior persists.

Apparently it used to work that way in Chrome, too, but not any more.

I'm not aware of a setting to change this behavior, or any urgent action to get it updated to match Chrome's change. Possibly an add-on or userscript could monitor for the Sheets cell editor containing nothing but the line break and remove it, but I haven't tried to create such a thing.

Thanks for the reply jscher2000. I understand the problem.

I think it's time to look for a new sheets application.

Simply googling "google sheets alternatives" will give you a list of alternatives to try:

• Apple Numbers
• Microsoft Excel
• Zoho Sheet (Browser-Based)
• Quip
• LibreOffice
• WPS Spreadsheets
• Apache OpenOffice Calc
• TabelloPDF

Im only familiar with Apache OpenOffice(free), Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers but these have to be downloaded.

I really like the browser based application like Google Sheets so i made an account on Zoho Sheet. It's looks way nicer than Google sheets and have the same functions, if not more. Can be used on both Apple and Android devices.

So far i havent found any annoying bugs! Also its free. You just have to sign up with your email and download the old file from Google sheets and upload it to Zoho sheets.

You can do the same at any point if you want to go back to Google sheets.

I just have to add that you can also get a free Microsoft Office online account that works in the web browser just like sheets. Downloading the office apps for your device is also free. Works well!

The problem does not manifest is Chrome, Edge, or IE

Specifically, go to a blank cell type w then (backspace) (backspace) I (enter) result is I with a line feed after

Go back to the cell, click in the formula bar as far to the right as possible. Type can then (enter) result is Ican followed by line feed. Not possible to make new letters appear after the line feed.

Go back to the cell, click in the formula bar as far to the right as possible. Use (ctrl enter) to create new line. Type see (enter) result is Ican see (empty line)

I'm willing to believe that Google could fix on their end but there must be something different about Firefox (my personal favorite). I'm noticing the problem more this past month or so but know it's been around in one form or another for a good while.

I'm experiencing the same issue. I don't have any issue with Google Chrome's behavior, only Firefox. I'm currently using Firefox 72.0.1, but the bug has been happening for several months. Is there any ETA on a fix?

A few days ago, someone tracked down the part of Google's script that treats Firefox differently and someone else contacted Google about changing it. If Google changes it, you'll be among the first to know. (I use Excel, myself.)

I have the same problem. Found a temporary solution. Upload my empty .xlsx file https://www.magentacloud.de/lnk/q9iCEDK5. Under Drive Settings you should have a check mark for the option "Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format".

Google is finally rolling out a fix. I don't know how long it takes to finish a roll out but it has reached my location and hopefully will reach yours soon.

Limited testing on my part.

hannahse said

Google is finally rolling out a fix. I don't know how long it takes to finish a roll out but it has reached my location and hopefully will reach yours soon. Limited testing on my part.

May you please choose a solution to your problem so that this question can be properly archived.

hannahse said

Google is finally rolling out a fix. I don't know how long it takes to finish a roll out but it has reached my location and hopefully will reach yours soon. Limited testing on my part.

Is there a bug number or fix number we can reference?

Thanks.

Sorry, I don't have access to that.