How to use "Xinterfaces" in Basic?

[nom]

I am reading through the DevGuide and all the examples are in Java... I have tried to convert the code into Basic but I am having difficulties getting the Xinterfaces to work.

I am looking at XMultipleOperations in particular:

[DannyB]

The Java-Uno bridge is difficult to use and leads to much queryInterface() ugliness.

Let's start with this line, just one line before the queryInterface() call...
xCellRange = xSheet.getCellRangeByName("A9:D13");
I'll assume that xSheet contains a Spreadsheet object.

As you can see from the API docs, Spreadsheet implements the XSpreadsheet interface. XSpreadsheet inherits from a grandparent interface XCellRange. It is the XCellRange interface that provides the method getCellRangeByName().

We can see that getCellRangeByName() returns an XCellRange. But note that the detailed description of the method says to See also CellRange. (CellRange is a service which has the XCellRange interface.) So the xCellRange variable must actually contain a CellRange service with the XCellRange interface.

The very next statement is the queryInterface() call. queryInterface() is a dynamic type casting that must be done in Java.

Somewhere whoever wrote the queryInterface line must have some solid information that the object in variable xCellRange actually implements the XMultipleOperation interface. Assuming this is true, then the effect in Basic of the queryInterface line is simply an assignment...

xMultOp = xCellRange

But in Java, xMultOp and xCellRange are different Interfaces of the same object. (This is the ugliness.) In Basic, I can have one variable with an object, and directly access any method of any interface on that object.

If I have a spreadsheet document in oDoc, I can call the print() method on it like this in basic...

oDoc.print()

But in Java, I must queryInterface to get the XPrintable interface.

XPrintable oDoc_xPrint = (XPrintable) queryInterface( XPrintable.class, oDoc );

Yes, I know I abbreviated the above line for clarity. You would create a new local java variable of type XPrintable, and then call queryInterface to get you the XPrintable portion of the document. (It may in fact point to a different underlying java object -- so you must call queryInterface and not just do a plain typecast only.)

Then you could call the print() method on the new variable...

oDoc_xPrint.print();

In Basic I would not need to two different variables oDoc and oDoc_xPrint. I could directly call oDoc.print().

When translating code from Java to Basic, treat queryInterface() calls as simple assignments. In Basic translated from Java, you end up with two variables that have the same thing (assignment). So this line...

XPrintable oDoc_xPrint = (XPrintable) queryInterface( XPrintable.class, oDoc );

translated to Basic would be...

oDoc_xPrint = oDoc

Two variables, same object. In Java though, they are the same "conceptual" object, but not necessarily the same "concrete" underlying object. That is, what UNO calls a "Service" may actually be made up of multiple objects implementing different interfaces. Basic ans most other OOo language bridges hide this from you.
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Want to make OOo Drawings like the colored flower design to the left?

[nom]

Hi Danny,

Thanks for the explanation... I tried using the XMultipleOperation interface and still can't get it to work.
Here is the code I am working on. Simply start up a spreadsheet and paste this code into a new macro. Run the macro then have a look a the first sheet.

Once you have done this uncomment the last line of code and run the macro again... this is where it falls over. If anyone can help me on this it will be much appreciated. (I have spent a few hours trying to work it out .)

[DannyB]

It may be that the XMultipleOperation interface simply is not one of the supported interfaces on the object that the queryInterface is being done on.

When I was looking through the API to formulate my earlier reply on this thread, I could not find any relationship to XMultipleOperation.

Is the code you are referring to actually in an SDK example? That would be interesting if so. I can't find a documented relationship. A queryInterface call will not convert it. I suppose in a Basic translation, we could try using Xray.

In Java, you could try using getAvailableServiceNames() as in this thread.
http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=19992#19992

You could use other introspection techniques to obtain a list of the actual interfaces available on that object and see if this interface is actually supported at this object.
_________________
Want to make OOo Drawings like the colored flower design to the left?

[nom]

This is what I am trying to reprocude in Basic:

Go to : http://api.openoffice.org/docs/DevelopersGuide/Spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.htm
and do a search for "Multiple Operations"

You will see a picture and some java code:

[DannyB]

I have no idea what this is supposed to do. Therefor I have no idea how to test it.

Anyway, here is a statement-by-statement translation.

[DannyB]

I think I figured it out. I missed your link before. I think you meant to link to here....
http://api.openoffice.org/docs/DevelopersGuide/Spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.htm#1+3+1+4+Cell+Ranges
and then scroll down to Multiple Operations.

I tried it. Made a spreadsheet with cells that had contents like those pictured in the example. Then ran the macro. It filled the spreadsheet with some values?
_________________
Want to make OOo Drawings like the colored flower design to the left?

[nom]

Thanks Danny!
It works for me too. I realised I forgot to use the ".getrangeAddress()" and ".getCellAddress()" methods.

All this makes a lot more sense now, thanks.

I noticed something interesting when playing around with this... Once you have executed the macro you can then go to the sheet and change the formulas and the other cells will update automatically WITHOUT having to run the macro again!

[DannyB]