Error using the Emacs Spreadsheet

Question

I have started to use the Simple Emacs Spreadsheet (SES) with GNU Emacs 25.1.1 (x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2016-09-17.

When I try to mark/highlight a column with (ses-mark-column), the selection doesn't operate in vertical mode. The same happens if I set mark at point and move the cursor to the upper or lower cells.

As a result of this, copy, cut, and paste does not work either.

When I set the mark an move vertically with arrows, what is highlighted is also copied and pasted, so also adjacent columns.
With (ses-mark-column), when I try to copy, I get the "Empty range" message in the minibuffer, which in the message buffer is written as ses-copy-region-helper: Empty range.

Update

This is to make the question reproducible.

After opening a new buffer and setting M-x ses-mode, I fill the buffer/spreadsheet as follows:

After placing the cursor in cell B2, typing (ses-mark-column), or the related key binding S-M-h, gives:

And this is not what a column selection is supposed to be.

I can't replicate this. For me, `ses-mark-column` followed by `M-w` successfully copies a column. Can you update your question with a recipe for replicating the issue with example data? Also state which version of Emacs you're using. — phils, Dec 19 '16 at 10:18
@phils: hopefully the screenshots should make clear the passages. The version is GNU Emacs 25.1.1 (x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2016-09-17 — antonio, Dec 20 '16 at 01:30
True, the visual highlight is not confined to the column (I see the same), but the editing effect is as expected. This is similar to the traditional rectangle editing commands in Emacs, where the rectangle is defined by point and mark, and the active region highlighting is inappropriate but inconsequential. — phils, Dec 20 '16 at 01:55
So ignoring the misleading highlighting (which is expected behaviour, even if undesirable), are you still getting errors trying to copy a marked column? That was what I was interested in but could not replicate -- copying and pasting a column works fine for me. — phils, Dec 20 '16 at 02:03
Ah, I *can* replicate it in Emacs 25.1. This bug is not present in 24.5. You should `M-x report-emacs-bug`. — phils, Dec 20 '16 at 02:11
The region seems to be screwed somehow. An additional C-x C-x "repairs" the region AFAICS. — Marco Wahl, Dec 20 '16 at 10:39
Note that tables in `org-mode` have spreadsheet capabilities. — Andrew Swann, Dec 22 '16 at 18:11

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:52

I subscribe to https://emacs.stackexchange.com/users/454/phils 's recommendation to file a bug report.

In the meantime you could try this slightly modified version of ses-mark-column.

(defun ses-mark-column ()
  "Mark the entirety of current column as a range."
  (interactive)
  (ses-check-curcell 'range)
  (let ((col (cdr (ses-sym-rowcol (or (car-safe ses--curcell) ses--curcell))))
    (row 0))
    (push-mark (point))
    (ses-goto-print (1- ses--numrows) (1+ col))
    (push-mark (point) nil t)
    (while (eq '*skip* (ses-cell-value row col))
      ;;Skip over initial cells in column that can't be selected
      (setq row (1+ row)))
    (ses-goto-print row col)))

Error using the Emacs Spreadsheet

Update

1 Answers1