Using built in Calc function when recording a macro

Question

I am working through Excel for Engineers and trying to adapt it for LibreOffice Calc. I have run into a problem. I know this is easier to do without using macros but humor me. One of the exercises is to start recording a macro, type:

=RAND()

hit enter and stop recording.

When I run the macro nothing happens. I try to use any other Calc built in function and the same thing happens. Looking at the macro basic file and sure enough nothing is happening.

Can I use built in functions when recording a macro? If so how?

Thanks! I did not realize I needed to accept answers. I believe I have accepted all of them where appropriate — Jay
– Jay, Commented Mar 22, 2018 at 1:30

Jim K · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-22 13:08:36Z

3

Currently, the LibreOffice macro recorder does not record adding built-in functions. In fact, the recorder has many limitations and generally results in poor code (mostly using the dispatcher).

Instead, write API code based on documentation such as https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/DevGuide/Spreadsheets/Function_Handling.

Sub CallSpreadsheetFunction
    funcAcc = createUnoService("com.sun.star.sheet.FunctionAccess")
    oSheet = ThisComponent.getSheets().getByIndex(0)
    oCell = oSheet.getCellRangeByName("A1")
    oCell.setValue(funcAcc.callFunction("RAND", Array()))
End Sub

A good place to start learning about LibreOffice macros is http://www.pitonyak.org/oo.php.

Note that learning LibreOffice Basic will not help very much to learn about MS Office VBA. The two languages and platforms are quite different.

answered Mar 22, 2018 at 13:08

Jim K

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2 Comments

Jay Over a year ago

Thank you. I figured I could write the above code but was trying to replicate the exercises in the book for LibreOffice. I am not trying to learn MS Office VBA. I was adapting a book written for Excel. But as I got further into the book the limitations of Calc got greater and greater.

Jim K Over a year ago

"Limitations of Calc" - Compared with MS Office, LO is limited in many ways. Compared with LO, MS Office is limited in many ways. I think it's more accurate to say they are simply different, and problems come when trying to do what works with one suite in the other suite.

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