Difficulty in how to use Shell Function on Linux

[FelipeAle]

Hi!

I created (and still developing) a calc file to print any file in batch. From those files I get some info, like Author’s name and title. And works well for most file types.

However, I had some problems with pdf files, if the file is not hybrid or native from LO. So, I think I could use Shell Function to solve this problem, calling the specific Printer Driver or Name.exe
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I found something that could help on this topic.

Open pdf to specific page via macro

Hi, I am attempting to convert a VBA macro from Excel to Libreoffice. The function of the macro is fairly simple- it picks up data from the current cell and, using that information, opens a PDF file then advances to a specific page number. However, the code to open the PDF and move to specific page uses windows features to walk through open windows and the code doesn’t work for Libreoffice. I’ve done a bit of research and experimentation but have yet to find any good references or examples t…

To sum up, I tried to run something like the above example code.

Sub ShellTest()
On Error GoTo eHandler
    sFileFullPath = ConvertToUrl(/home/USERNAME/Documents/test.pdf)
    Shell ( "/usr/bin/evince " & sFileFullPath )

eHandler:
    MsgBox Err " - " Error
End Sub

Meanwhile, is not working as I expected.
Since I am new to the Linux environment, I think it may be something simple, but I couldn’t find the solution by myself.
.
So, my questions are:

1. Someone could help pointing what exactly I’m missing with the function ?
2. There is a way to use Shell Function to print a .pdf (or any other file type) instead of use Print Method ?
3. If so, how can I do that using cups-pdf, e.g ?
   .
   .
   Version: 7.3.4.2 / LibreOffice Community
   Build ID: 8cb1c265a8f71ce63e37a2ff337b4f2ebc525cbc
   CPU threads: 4; OS: Linux 5.13; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3
   Locale: pt-BR (pt_BR.UTF-8); UI: pt-BR
   Calc: threaded
   .
   –EDIT–

In a nutshell, I need to make the command line below works on Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS, passing by Shell Function in LibreOffice.

Shell ("lpr " & sFullFilePath)

[Wanderer]

@FelipeAle

There is a way to use Shell Function to print a .pdf (or any other file type) instead of use Print Method ?

Vie shell() you execute a traditional command-line, so you can do anything what you can do in a terminal.

lp example.pdf

[mikekaganski]

@FelipeAle

Meanwhile, is not working as I expected

What does that mean exactly? An error? An unexpected result - which? Nothing at all?

By the way, does evince expect URLs? (I.e., why do you need to use the ConvertToUrl to prepare its argument?)

[Wanderer]

@mikekaganski

By the way, does evince expect URLs?

I wouldn’t say expect, but it can handle http-Urls, so I guess file: should also work. But imho it is not necessary for local files.
.
And I would not expect evince to print directly, it will just show the file. As we can only guess what “is expected” evince may be used as some kind of print-peview.

[FelipeAle]

I already tried this. In my case, lpr example.pdf.

Using terminal works fine, but with Shell Function always give a error 53 - File not found. Even when a use Url Notation.
.
Could be something like user or app permission @Wanderer ?

[FelipeAle]

Was not a good choice of worlds. Sorry!
Every time a try to run the macro, it gives error 53 - File not found.

@mikekaganski

By the way, does evince expect URLs? (I.e., why do you need to use the ConvertToUrl to prepare its argument?)

.
I used evince only as a example, to pass the needed arguments in the function. It was a failed attempt to copy the answer given in another thread.
.
I’ll use the function ConvertToUrl, after use File.getSelectFiles() method from API FilePicker.

[FelipeAle]

@Ratslinger Could you help me with this one, please?

I read your answer at this topic.

How to use shell from basic macro (solved)

Switched over to Ubuntu v16.04 (really, really, really don’t like) and my sh line wasn’t working. Some manipulations and this finally worked: x = Shell ("bash",1,sFileName,True) MsgBox x Also, switch xed out for gedit for the text editing statement.

What kind of manipulations you had to do to make it work ?

[Wanderer]

You could try

Shell "bash -c 'lpr /home/yourname/example.pdf' "

or test with evince to save paper. I added a space beween the last single ’ and th final " for visibility

[Ratslinger]

@FelipeAle

Haven’t worked with that linked item in about 5 years (as the link shows) but just tried using TDF LO:

Version: 7.3.4.2 / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 728fec16bd5f605073805c3c9e7c4212a0120dc5
CPU threads: 8; OS: Linux 5.4; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3
Locale: en-US (en_US.UTF-8); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded

On:

.
using this line:

Shell ("lpr /home/YOUR_DIRECTORY/Documents/YOUR_FILE_TO_PRINT.pdf")

.
and had no issue. It appears this is what you want?

[FelipeAle]

In view of @Wanderer 's question, and the test done by @Ratslinger , I uninstalled my LO (Snap version), and downloaded it from the official site.
.
It’s working perfectly now, and even faster.
.
Thank you all very much for your knowledge and for donating a litlle of your time to help.

[mikekaganski]

@FelipeAle

Snap version

Ah! That was the clue. We have some problems with that containerized thing, we can’t e.g. call browser to show the local help.

I’d say, there’s no need to use the TDF release, that is slower than Ubuntu package (because it’s built for a baseline library support), and also doesn’t get automatic updated. Try the apt version, maybe the one from the Ubuntu packaging team’s PPA (if you prefer newer versions than those coming for your Ubuntu release).

[elmau]

I don’t understand what you want exactly, but, this lines work fine in my system.

    path_pdf = "/home/mau/Downloads/g1.pdf"
    Shell "evince " & path_pdf

Version: 7.3.4.2 / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 30(Build:2)
CPU threads: 16; OS: Linux 5.18; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3
Locale: en-US (en_US.UTF-8); UI: en-US
7.3.4-2
Calc: CL

[FelipeAle]

I wrote the same thing in mine. But is not working. Always return error File not found.
.
My example:

sFilePath = "/home/felipe-ale/Documentos/teste.pdf"
Shell ( "evince " & sFilePath )

.
Could be something related with directory, file or app permission ?

[mikekaganski]

What if you simply use Shell ( "evince ") ?

Question is because the Shell is documented to also take command arguments as its optional third argument. I see that others can use the first argument for complete command line, but maybe it’s somehow system-dependent, and you need to pass filepath separately?

(Well, ignore me; the implementation simply concatenates the first and the third arguments, so it should not matter…)

[FelipeAle]

It didn’t work either.

.

@mikekaganski

I see that others can use the first argument for complete command line, but maybe it’s somehow system-dependent, and you need to pass filepath separately?

Still not working.

.
I would try to change my LO version, however it seems that it doesn’t matter here.

[mikekaganski]

Nitpicking: you didn’t test exactly what I asked for ("evince"), but "evince " - with a trailing space. Not that it should matter…

[FelipeAle]

Same thing…

[sokol92]

In my configuration, the evince utility is not initially installed, and when the utility is called through Shell, the same message is displayed as yours.
Try calling evince via terminal.

Version: 7.3.3.2 / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 30(Build:2)
CPU threads: 4; OS: Linux 5.13; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3
Locale: en-US (en_US.UTF-8); UI: en-US
Ubuntu package version: 1:7.3.3~rc2-0ubuntu0.20.04.1~lo1
Calc: threaded

[FelipeAle]

Via terminal works fine. It’s already installed.

[sokol92]

And if you replace evince with atril?