How to write Basic sub or function with shape as output parameter

[Regina]

I have several subroutines, which start with accessing a selected shape. I want to move that part to an separate, common sub or function, so that I can use e.g.

dim oShape as variant
getSelectedShape(oShape)

Inside such sub I get the shape, but when back from getSelectedShape the parameter oShape is null. How to do it correctly?

I have attached an example document which contains such macro library. For testing select the Fontwork shape and then use the macros from module Main.
FontworkWithMacroLibrary.odp (18.0 KB)

[sokol92]

It works for me like this:

Sub Test
  Dim oShape As Object, b As Boolean
  b=GetSelectedShape(oShape)
End Sub

I try to avoid Out and InOut parameters in Basic macros by using the ByVal option. To return more than one value in a function, you can use the construct:

MyFunc=Array(outValue1, outValue2, outValue3)  ' ...

In my opinion, it is more “reliable” to write your function like this:

Rem returns Nothing, if no selection at all or selection is not a shape or document type is not supported'
Function getSelectedShape2() as Object
  Dim oShape As Object 
  getSelectedShape2=Nothing
'  ---

The recommendations described above will allow, among other things, to avoid problems with calling a macro through the invoke method (both from Basic and from other programming languages in LO).

[Regina]

Hi sokol92, that works. The essential part is to use Dim As Object and not Dim As Variant.