Detailed tutorial regarding LibreOffice to Python macro writing, especially for Calc

asked 2015-04-11 17:07:48 +0100

plrrrrr
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I've google a bit I came empty. A lot of bits and pieces but nothing detailed and to the point that explains everything from setup to the API and to the why. Most of it expect intimate knowledge of LibreOffice API.

I am not a programmer, I only dabble in this. Are there any resources out there that are not for helping people that don't need help?

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You sure it must be Python? Ok, We may be near to the crest of the Python wave. We had a Java wave, too, which may have reach the beach meanwhile. Now and then there will be a version upgrade of Python. It seems an update of the uno-bridge may then also be needed. Will the Python people do it? BASIC may be a rather outdated language and the StarBASIC IDE is not state of the art, there are less "nice tools" ...

But StarBASIC is the programming tool LibreOffice comes with.

Lupp ( 2015-04-12 12:29:53 +0100 )edit

If StarBASIC one day will be replaced there should be hope that the LibreOffice team will also mind the transition/conversion ...

I don't actually know Python, and I'm using StarBASIC very limited. But if there should be need of custom programming I would firts try BASIC to come to a solution.

Lupp ( 2015-04-12 13:00:24 +0100 )edit

@Lupp: IHMO youre wrong, its not about waves, hype's whatever...python still exist 25 Years -- that, with respect, is in terms of IT a very long time, and its importance results from stable and robust development* and not because of some kind being "the latest craze"...

*other reasons may be: Easy to learn, easy to test, ..to develop, excellent Documentation, lot of ready to use third party stuff....

karolus ( 2015-04-12 17:20:26 +0100 )edit

@karolus Yes! Python seems to be matured - and I already confessed that I don't know more about it, except that I read and tried to understand a few code snippets published here and in the OpenOffice forum, some of them contributed by you. There I also made an observation: More than one times somebody (you again among them) suspected a Python upgrade to be the reason of a broken custom routine. I really don't like BASIC. For the very little programming I do in LibO I'll stick to it nonetheless.

Lupp ( 2015-04-12 17:36:26 +0100 )edit

I am looking for Python because 1) I am somewhat familiar with it and 2) I don't want to learn LibreOffice Basic just for LibreOffice scripts.

plrrrrr ( 2015-04-12 20:26:17 +0100 )edit

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answered 2015-12-06 19:53:20 +0100

Christopher5106
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A tutorial here : http://christopher5106.github.io/offi...

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Yes, this is by far the best tutorial on Python macros in LibreOffice, and it should be given more prominence in the official documentation. I can recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who needs to start programming LibreOffice with Python macros. Thank you for writing this.

steko ( 2016-04-18 13:44:32 +0100 )edit

Thank you! This looks very promising :)

houseisfun ( 2016-08-07 12:01:15 +0100 )edit

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answered 2017-02-02 14:24:07 +0100

Jannie T
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I was frustrated about the same thing as the OP, so made the time to publish my journey notes here: https://onesheep.org/scripting-libreo...

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@Jannie T: some nice points ;-) …

please correct the missing Indentation in dev.py and generally please follow the strong Convention of exactly four spaces per Indentation-level.

Have a look my answer in this thread

karolus ( 2017-02-02 15:18:11 +0100 )edit

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answered 2017-08-12 06:46:57 +0100

pysb
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I made two libreoffice macros on python to rename and delete files. I hope It helps. Here is the link: https://github.com/albcunha/libreoffice_macros

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answered 2018-12-20 02:55:34 +0100

erAck

4353 ●29 ●49 https://erack.de/

Updating this old and maybe outdated but cross-referenced Q&A with a pointer to my (occasionally maintained) LibreOffice Scripting link collection.

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answered 2015-04-12 18:04:09 +0100

karolus

4024 ●15 ●39

Hallo!
How to start?
Currently your on the Stage:

no programming skills
no skills about this huge 200 MB Program nor its complicated Api

I'm only can give some advice: Start learning Python independent from Libreffice. at some day in the Future you will be able to work with the "pieces spread over the web"

some links:
tuturial
Start
not so hard as it looks
best available answer ;-)

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I do know Python loosely speaking. However, I have not found anything specific regarding Python used in conjunction to LibreOffice. Knowing Python can't make it read LibreOffice sheets in its particular format can it?

plrrrrr ( 2015-04-12 20:25:03 +0100 )edit

Of Course with python you can also read|write .odf in general inclusive .ods in detail without any soffice at hand.
this thirdparty-tool

karolus ( 2015-04-12 22:15:33 +0100 )edit

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answered 2015-07-09 10:16:58 +0100

eelco
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https://tmtlakmal.wordpress.com/2013/08/11/a-simple-python-macro-in-libreoffice-4-0/

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You link provide no new informations, the HelloWorld-example is already included in ...libreoffice/share/Scripts/python/...

karolus ( 2015-07-09 11:16:48 +0100 )edit

this is a good example and exemplifies my impression that the LibreOffice flavor of Python is fairly unPythonic dialect of Java. Would help to have a reference of what are the major objects/methods to invoke to get started, the equivalent in LO Basic of ThisComponentThisDatabaseDocument and dbg_methods, etc.