According to its developer, LibreOffice 26.8.2 fixes incorrect handling of relative sheet references when copying sheets, introduced in 26.8.0. [1]
Who should check
This guide is for small offices and home users reusing spreadsheet templates. A plausible total does not prove that a copied formula points to the intended sheet. Check the source as well as the displayed result. Reviewed: 31 October 2026. This is a source-based verification procedure, not our own hands-on Calc test.
Prerequisites and recovery
Close the original document and retain a separate dated copy outside the working folder. Create a second file for the checks; do not use a shared production workbook. Record the application version, file format, sheet order and two known reference results. An automatic .BAK file is not a substitute for this backup: each new backup replaces the previous one. [3]
Five steps on a working copy
- Identify the version and deployment route. Read the installed version in the About dialog. On managed computers use the approved software channel; on Linux use the responsible package manager. Official downloads offer 26.8.2 for different systems and architectures. Select the package matching your computer rather than the most prominent button. [4]
- Record the intended behaviour. In the working copy select a formula referring to another sheet. Record its text, target sheet, target cell and expected value. A1 versus $A$1 concerns column and row anchoring; that alone does not establish whether the sheet name is anchored. Treat relative and absolute addressing separately. [2]
- Repeat the real workflow. Copy the relevant sheet using the normal sheet-copy command in the test file, rather than copying individual cells through the clipboard. Check the destination workbook and insertion position before confirming. Keep the original sheet unchanged. Compare the resulting formula and actual target with your documented intention.
- Check the dependency visibly. Change a harmless input value on the expected source sheet in the test file only, and note how the copied formula responds. Also check whether another sheet unexpectedly controls the calculation. Restore the test value. Do not enable macros or external connections solely for this diagnosis.
- Save and reopen. Save the test document under its own name, close it, then check formula targets and reference results again after reopening. If your workflow includes XLSX exchange, test an additional exported copy in the intended receiving application. Passing an ODS check does not automatically validate an XLSX round trip.
Acceptance criteria
Accept the copy only when it uses the intended data, responds correctly to the controlled input change and retains correct results after reopening. Record version, format, copy destination and outcome. Check further representative formulas before production approval; one cell does not validate the entire workbook.
Limits and alternatives
Updating does not prove that previously saved incorrect formulas are automatically repaired. If results differ, do not promote the working copy: return to the untouched backup and have the affected formulas checked individually. Do not remove dollar signs globally or make every reference absolute. If an approved update is unavailable, use a verified template without copying sheets or defer the operation. Recovery here concerns the document copy, not an unauthorised software downgrade.