Make a Calligra Worksheet Readable with Layouts and Styles

Turn a plain work queue into a readable report, then capture a header as a reusable cell style. Formatting should change presentation while leaving every task and amount intact.

Scope and preparation

This is a documentation-and-source-reviewed exercise for Calligra Sheets on Linux/KDE, using English labels from the 26.08.2 source. The KDE handbook still carries a 2013-03-11 revision; its KF6 URL does not prove that every screenshot or instruction describes a current build. No native application run or screenshot is claimed here. Check your version in Help → About Calligra Sheets. If a specified control is absent, stop that branch and retain the checkpoint; do not substitute another spreadsheet’s controls.

Use a new disposable workbook and save in OpenDocument Spreadsheet (.ods) format. Enter each table cell individually to avoid clipboard import ambiguities. The expected numbers below are independently calculated targets, not observed application results.

Build a deliberately cramped report

Cell	Enter
A1	Task
B1	Owner
C1	Hours
D1	Notes
A2	Stock count
B2	Mira
C2	3
D2	Recount the blue crates before the afternoon delivery
A3	Label review
B3	Jon
C3	2
D3	Check the shelf labels against the printed list
A4	Dispatch check
B4	Mira
C4	4
D4	Confirm all parcels have the correct destination
B6	Total hours
C6	=SUM(C2:C4)

The independent total is 9. Save queue-layout-base.ods.

Establish hierarchy without hiding text

1. Select A1:D1 and open Format → Cell Format…. On Font, set a readable size such as 12 and Weight to Bold. On Background, choose a light solid color with dark text. Click Set Cell Format; the reviewed dialog closes. If your build leaves it open, dismiss it before the next selection.
2. Select A2:D4. Open Cell Format… → Position. Use horizontal Left, vertical Top and rotation 0°. Enable Wrap text. Click Set Cell Format.
3. Select C2:C4 and set horizontal alignment to Right in a fresh Cell Format dialog. Click Set Cell Format; numeric alignment is independent of the label columns.
4. Drag the boundaries in the column-header strip to widen A until all task names fit, B until both owners fit, and D to about twice A’s width. Drag row-header boundaries as needed so each note is fully visible. Font metrics vary, so use the complete visible text as the acceptance criterion rather than a promised pixel width.
5. Select A1:D4. In Cell Format… → Border, choose a thin neutral line and apply it to the outer edges using the border preview/buttons. Click Set Cell Format. Then select A1:D1 and apply a bottom border only. Avoid heavy internal lines that compete with the notes.

Wrapping is unavailable with nonzero rotation in the documented Position controls. If the wrap option is disabled, restore zero rotation first. Increasing column width alone does not guarantee that a multiline row is tall enough.

Capture and reuse a real style

1. Select only A1. Choose Format → Create Style From Cell…. Enter the unique name QueueHeader and confirm. The source action requires a single selected cell; a multi-cell selection can disable it.
2. Enter Summary in F1 and Hours in G1. Select F1:G1 and choose QueueHeader from Format → Style.
3. Inspect the result. Font, fill and the borders belonging to A1 should carry over; column widths and row heights are layout properties that still need separate adjustment. Do not expect the full table’s outer-border geometry to be recreated by a one-cell style.
4. In F2 enter Scheduled and in G2 enter =C6. Expected G2 is 9. Applying a style must not replace either entry.

For an advanced check, open Format → Style Manager…, locate QueueHeader, and inspect Modify… without saving a change. Close the editing dialog and manager. Direct formatting can mask inherited style settings; this inspection is not a promise that every manually formatted cell changes when a style changes.

Extend and stress-test the layout

Enter a new row: A5 Returns check, B5 Jon, C5 1, D5 Inspect the returned items and record the missing labels. Format A5:D5 with the same body alignment and wrapping steps. Extend the outside border to A1:D5. Update C6 to =SUM(C2:C5); C6 and G2 should now be 10. A worksheet style does not expand a SUM range for you.

Temporarily narrow D and increase row heights until every note remains readable. Restore a comfortable width. Confirm there are four task rows, hours 3, 2, 4, 1, and no merged data cells. Save queue-layout-final.ods, close and reopen. Check the text, total 10, style availability and complete notes again.

Optional reset and recovery

Preserve the final file before Save As to queue-layout-reset.ods. On that copy, select F1:G1 and choose Format → Style → Default; inspect what direct formatting remains. If it does, explicitly reset font weight, fill and borders in Cell Format rather than assuming Default erases every override. F1/G1 text must survive. For an exact clean restart reopen queue-layout-base.ods instead of trying to reconstruct the original appearance with Undo after reopening.

For display of dates, money and identifiers, use number and date formatting. For value-driven appearance use conditional styles.

Download the cell-entry checklist (CSV with cell addresses and entries; a reading/checking aid, not an import-ready worksheet). All starting inputs are also printed above.

Sources and verification boundary

• KDE handbook: formatspread.
• Calligra 26.08.2 official source archive: dialog controls, menu registration and implementation inspected.

Native Qt6 execution, save/reopen persistence and matching screenshots are still pending. No screenshot of another task is presented as evidence for this exercise.