Automating tasks in OpenOffice
Macro Meal
© Dmitry Pichugin, Fotolia
You don't have to be an expert to get started with OpenOffice's Basic programming interface.
OpenOffice.org comes with its own Basic-based programming language. Although OOo Basic is not the most difficult programming language, it still requires some time and effort, especially if you are not a programmer. However, reading documentation and fiddling with code might not be necessary if you only need to automate a specific task now and then. In this article, I will provide a few pointers and code snippets, so you can put OOo Basic to some practical use without learning the language from scratch.
Launching External Apps
The ability to launch external applications and pass data to them is one of the most useful features of OpenOffice.org. Using the Shell command, you can launch virtually any application installed on your machine. The command has the following format: Shell (Path, Windowstyle, Parameter). Path defines the path of the program. Windowstyle defines the window in which the program is started, and Parameter specifies the command-line parameter. For example, the Shell statement below opens the http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn URL in the Firefox browser and brings it to the foreground:
Shell ("firefox", 1, "http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn")
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.