ODF 1.2 Part 1 19.644 table:formula prefix ambiguity

In ODF 1.2 Part 1 section 19.644 on table:formula, there is an ambiguity when it is not easily possible to determine whether a prefix is present or it is omitted and the text of the formula is in accordance with OpenFormula. OpenFormula has texts that have the same initial appearance as an NCName followed by ":".

This defect applies under all conditions where there is no prefix and the text of the formula can begin with a sequence that can be misunderstood as an NCName followed by ":". The absence of a leading "=" in the text of the formula as a means to ensure recognition that there is no prefix makes this more likely, since ":" is an operator of OpenFormula and a named reference/range/formula has the appearance of an NCName.

Note 1: This ambiguity can also arise in ODF 1.0/1.1/IS 26300 where there is even less known about what sort of formula texts there are and whether the beginning of the text can be mistaken as providing a prefix.

Note 2: This ambiguity applies in other attributes where namespace prefixes are option in front of the texts of formulas.