Learn OpenOffice.org Spreadsheet Macro Programming

Dr Mark Alexander Bain9781847190970, 1-84719-097-9

Learn how to extend and customize Calc, the OpenOffice.org spreadsheet, using OOoBasic, OOo’s built-in programming language. You don’t need to be a developer to create useful and powerful routines and applications. This well structured and practical tutorial will walk you though every step, and inspire you with great ways to save time and increase your productivity using Calc. Adding macros to your spreadsheets enables you to add data processing features to your work, automate repetitive tasks, and even create complete data-driven programs that use the spreadsheet as their back end. This book teaches the OOoBasic language and the Calc object model, so that you can manipulate spreadsheets and data from within your programs. You will also see how to create dialog boxes and windows for friendly user interfaces, and how to integrate your spreadsheets with other applications, for example writing spreadsheet data to a document, or capturing data from a database, and using the spreadsheet for generating advanced calculations and reports. Calc is OpenOffice.org’s spreadsheet module. Like the rest of OpenOffice.org Calc can be programmed using the built-in language OOoBasic. Both simple macros and complex applications can be developed in this language by controlling Calc through its object model. The book is compatible with the commercial version of OpenOffice.org, StarOffice, and the StarBasic language. This book will show you: How to create custom Calc applications Creating worksheet functions, automating repetitive tasks, creating new toolbars, menus, and dialog boxes A complete guide to the IDE, language, and object model Integrating Calc applications with other components of OpenOffice.org Internet-based collaborative applications How to understand, use and adapt the increasing number of freely available Calc Macros A fast, fun, and friendly tutorial. Full of practical, step-by-step examples and clear explanations of all of the important concepts. You don’t need to be a programmer to use this book, but you do need to be familiar with the concept of a program and how simple things like a loop might work. If all you have is a taster of simple programs from high school then you will be fine. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Working with OOo’s IDE 2 Libraries, Modules, Subroutines, and Functions 3 The OOo Object Model 4 Using Macros with Spreadsheets 5 Formatting Your Spreadsheets 6 Working with Databases 7 Working with Other OOo Documents 8 Developing Dialog Boxes 9 Creating a Complete Application 10 Tips and Tricks