Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
On 25/06/2011 20:32, lee wrote: John Bjo...@email2.me writes: I have tried the mailmerge facility in LO and I as yet cannot get anywhere with it. Hm, it's not too difficult to get to the point where you could finally save, print or send your documents. Just make sure that there are no unmatched fields. As someone described, you can even drag and drop fields from a database into your document. I could use mailmerge if it would reliably send the documents rather than sometimes say 0 of 0 messages sent despite there are two messages to be sent --- and if the PDF created that way wasn't messed up. And it would even be really useful if changing the properties when sending documents as PDF would work rather than crash LO. I use mail merge all the time - it is quick and a joy, so - I thought that I would have a real go at getting LO mail merge to work this weekend. Mail merge unfortunately turns out to be unacceptably fragile I finally gave up on LO 3.4 after a couple of hours (plus the hours before that) - it just does not work I uninstalled 3.4 and installed 3.3.3 - This worked fine the first time (and never thereafter) to make a letter with the inbuilt standard contact fields (Title, First name etc) and made up 4 contact details I noticed that the contact list is saved as a tab delineated spreadsheet in *.csv format. One useful feature is that mail merge auto posts all the fields onto the letter for you, you can then move them (or delete) to a position of your choosing You can even copy paste fields in the letter so that the same data can appear as many times as you like on the document where you need them. All things at this point are good, excluding the fact that there is no navigation tool bar, hence you cannot just skip to the 3rd address or the 1st or last address whilst looking at the letter. Other than that, it worked exactly as it should. So if its a small, one off and you have made no mistakes - brilliant. closed all down it was at this point thereafter all things went wrong:- 1) On re-opening The database lost its connection to the letter and you had a chore to re-link the data fields in the *.csv file to those in the letter. 2) To add a new contact is too complex. 3) Merge, then adds all the fields again in bulk to the letter for a 2nd time, so you have to delete all the 1st batch 4) I thought maybe it would be better then, to add new contacts to the csv file in Calc No problem there - up until you go back to Mail merge. it corrupts the file in some way (or the 2 are incompatible). All the 1st and last letters of any word are missing, eg, company becomes ompan and zip becomes i, and it does the same to the data, then even when you merge you get nonsense data in the fields on the letter. Henceforth, totally useless. I thought that maybe 3.3.3 is not as stable as it should be, so I installed 3.2 and it is still the same (missing letters etc) Mail merge should be so simple, intuitive and above all reusable. If anybody gets this to work in a stable and repeatable way, please let me know. Also without a WYSIWYG navigation tool bar large databases would be out of the question - you also need navigation for printing, as in practice you want to print the 1st letter (to check), auto skip to the 2nd and if the 1st one is OK then you print print the rest or you can print the next one (one at a time) until you get it right. LO does not have this facility. One strange feature I noticed is that on save / print it merges and generates (in my case) all 4 letters, I assume then if you had a database of 1 names you would have a file with 1 letters (to big). John B Xp Pro sp3 LO 3.4, 3.3.3 3.2 -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Le 26/06/11 16:44, John B a écrit : Hi John, 1) On re-opening The database lost its connection to the letter and you had a chore to re-link the data fields in the *.csv file to those in the letter. Known bug. 2) To add a new contact is too complex. Known limitation. Calc Sheets/CSV files are read only when the file is being accessed by the mailmerge, i.e. being used as a datasource, it has been like this for years. 3) Merge, then adds all the fields again in bulk to the letter for a 2nd time, so you have to delete all the 1st batch Seem to recall that this too, is a known bug. 4) I thought maybe it would be better then, to add new contacts to the csv file in Calc No problem there - up until you go back to Mail merge. it corrupts the file in some way (or the 2 are incompatible). All the 1st and last letters of any word are missing, eg, company becomes ompan and zip becomes i, and it does the same to the data, then even when you merge you get nonsense data in the fields on the letter. Henceforth, totally useless. Also known bug, as far as I can remember. Look up the bugs in freedesktop : https://bugs.freedesktop.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=libreoffice+mail+merge and also : https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=34325 Alex -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Le 25/06/11 00:53, lee a écrit : Hi Lee, If you want to look at using Python, try using the example TableSample.py and mailmerge.py which are included with your LibreOffice installation. Otherwise, there are several PHP classes and a PERL module that let you manipulate ODT/ODC documents to your heart's content. I mean if you are going to script your work and you don't want to learn Basic, you at least have several other ways of attaining the same objective. Alex -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Am 25.06.2011 00:53, schrieb lee: Hello Lee Friederdelo...@googlemail.com writes: [...] ther is a Basic example for a macro to export to PDF its not clean code, but it should work: [...] if you want I can translate this code in clean code without using the dispatcher Hm, I just tried out the macro recorder and recorded a macro that exports my document as PDF. It looks very much like the one you posted. It even stores the permissions password I entered in readable form. Yes I also did it with the macro recorder, but I can translate it to better code if you want (the dispatcher is not reliable ). It strikes me odd that I shall have to learn another programming language to do something this simple ... What programming languages do you know? You can write macros in Basic, Python , JavaScript , and even in C, C++ ,Java and some more ,if you know how to call the Uno API . But Basic is really simple. (No useless bracket for example. And how to write a for loop or something similar easy is not hard to learn in any language.) The Problem is how to use the Uno API no mater programming language you prefer. (...) Hm. I have created a database to use instead of a spreadsheet. When I'm trying to mail the document to myself as PDF, I can specify Properties in the mailmerge wizard. There I could apparently add a text message so that the PDF is sent as an attachment to it. I could use that to mail the PDF documents to myself with the reference number in the text part for easy further processing, or I might even be able to send them without any further processing. Unfortunately, LO crashes when I try to send the message: , | X Error: BadMatch (invalid parameter attributes) 8 | Major opcode: 42 (X_SetInputFocus) | Resource id: 0x5001822 | # | # A fatal error has been detected by the Java Runtime Environment: | # | # SIGSEGV (0xb) at pc=0x7f2cabeb5751, pid=21389, tid=139829845436192 | # | # JRE version: 6.0_18-b18 | # Java VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (16.0-b13 mixed mode linux-amd64 ) | # Derivative: IcedTea6 1.8.7 | # Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux unstable (sid), package 6b18-1.8.7-4 Have you tried it with a stable Version | # Problematic frame: | # C [libuno_sal.so.3+0x43751] rtl_uString_release+0x1 | # | # An error report file with more information is saved as: | # /home/lee/hs_err_pid21389.log | # | # If you would like to submit a bug report, please include | # instructions how to reproduce the bug and visit: | # http://icedtea.classpath.org/bugzilla | # | | [error occurred during error reporting , id 0xb] ` This seems to be Java problem, and not a LO bug. regards Frieder -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Twayne twa...@twaynesdomain.com writes: In news:87iprv49kt@yun.yagibdah.de, lee l...@yun.yagibdah.de typed: John B jo...@email2.me writes: The mailmerge tool requires an address list, which is something I don't have and don't want to create in this case. Without a maling list data file you pretty much limit yourself out of a very easy process. Somehow you've not been clear with your message or you don't understand somethng IMO. You're right in that I can't use the mailmerge tool without some sort of list providing the data I need to insert into the document, since that's the way the tool is supposed to work. If it would work, I could use it. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Frieder delo...@googlemail.com writes: Am 25.06.2011 00:53, schrieb lee: Yes I also did it with the macro recorder, but I can translate it to better code if you want (the dispatcher is not reliable ). Exporting to PDF has turned out to be unreliable in LO, too. It strikes me odd that I shall have to learn another programming language to do something this simple ... The Problem is how to use the Uno API no mater programming language you prefer. True --- is there a good documentation about it? Hm. I have created a database to use instead of a spreadsheet. When I'm trying to mail the document to myself as PDF, I can specify Properties in the mailmerge wizard. There I could apparently add a text message so that the PDF is sent as an attachment to it. I could use that to mail the PDF documents to myself with the reference number in the text part for easy further processing, or I might even be able to send them without any further processing. Unfortunately, LO crashes when I try to send the message: Have you tried it with a stable Version No, I only tried the version that is in Debian testing. Libreoffice is not in Debian stable. LO 3.3.3 is in unstable. I could try to install it, only it probably has so many dependencies that it isn't advisable. | # Problematic frame: | # C [libuno_sal.so.3+0x43751] rtl_uString_release+0x1 | # | # An error report file with more information is saved as: | # /home/lee/hs_err_pid21389.log | # | # If you would like to submit a bug report, please include | # instructions how to reproduce the bug and visit: | # http://icedtea.classpath.org/bugzilla | # | | [error occurred during error reporting , id 0xb] ` This seems to be Java problem, and not a LO bug. There seem to be two bugs, one with using the mailmerge tool and another one with reporting the bug. Anyway, they shouldn't use java for LO. It doesn't really matter what the problem is, it's just not working, and one bug after another turns up. After having learned a little about LO, it seems to be still in a beta stage, and I need something that does work. It's sad that there has been only very little progress in the reliability of WYSIWYG word processors over the last 15--20 years. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
On 25/06/2011 14:07, lee wrote: Friederdelo...@googlemail.com writes: Am 25.06.2011 00:53, schrieb lee: Yes I also did it with the macro recorder, but I can translate it to better code if you want (the dispatcher is not reliable ). Exporting to PDF has turned out to be unreliable in LO, too. It strikes me odd that I shall have to learn another programming language to do something this simple ... The Problem is how to use the Uno API no mater programming language you prefer. True --- is there a good documentation about it? Hm. I have created a database to use instead of a spreadsheet. When I'm trying to mail the document to myself as PDF, I can specify Properties in the mailmerge wizard. There I could apparently add a text message so that the PDF is sent as an attachment to it. I could use that to mail the PDF documents to myself with the reference number in the text part for easy further processing, or I might even be able to send them without any further processing. Unfortunately, LO crashes when I try to send the message: Have you tried it with a stable Version No, I only tried the version that is in Debian testing. Libreoffice is not in Debian stable. LO 3.3.3 is in unstable. I could try to install it, only it probably has so many dependencies that it isn't advisable. | # Problematic frame: | # C [libuno_sal.so.3+0x43751] rtl_uString_release+0x1 | # | # An error report file with more information is saved as: | # /home/lee/hs_err_pid21389.log | # | # If you would like to submit a bug report, please include | # instructions how to reproduce the bug and visit: | # http://icedtea.classpath.org/bugzilla | # | | [error occurred during error reporting , id 0xb] ` This seems to be Java problem, and not a LO bug. There seem to be two bugs, one with using the mailmerge tool and another one with reporting the bug. Anyway, they shouldn't use java for LO. It doesn't really matter what the problem is, it's just not working, and one bug after another turns up. After having learned a little about LO, it seems to be still in a beta stage, and I need something that does work. It's sad that there has been only very little progress in the reliability of WYSIWYG word processors over the last 15--20 years. --- I am with you on this (excluding Lotus Word Pro), frustration I have tried the mailmerge facility in LO and I as yet cannot get anywhere with it. Having got to insert address block which on my system is greyed out. I have made a small data base Select Address List create Then entered some dummy names and addresses, then click ok and saved as a csv file then clicked on the file name, then OK on the window box (which took a few clicks to appear - minor bug) Then nothing - the Finish button is still greyed out - Big Bug regards John B -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Am 25.06.2011 15:07, schrieb lee: Friederdelo...@googlemail.com writes: Am 25.06.2011 00:53, schrieb lee: Yes I also did it with the macro recorder, but I can translate it to better code if you want (the dispatcher is not reliable ). Exporting to PDF has turned out to be unreliable in LO, too. do you men the Macro you produced with the macro recorder ? The macro recorder uses the dispatcher, and the dispatcher is not reliable as I already mentioned. It strikes me odd that I shall have to learn another programming language to do something this simple ... The Problem is how to use the Uno API no mater programming language you prefer. True --- is there a good documentation about it? Yes there is: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Category:Tutorial and specially the export to pdf: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/API/Tutorials/PDF_export Hm. I have created a database to use instead of a spreadsheet. When I'm trying to mail the document to myself as PDF, I can specify Properties in the mailmerge wizard. There I could apparently add a text message so that the PDF is sent as an attachment to it. I could use that to mail the PDF documents to myself with the reference number in the text part for easy further processing, or I might even be able to send them without any further processing. Unfortunately, LO crashes when I try to send the message: Have you tried it with a stable Version No, I only tried the version that is in Debian testing. Libreoffice is not in Debian stable. LO 3.3.3 is in unstable. I could try to install it, only it probably has so many dependencies that it isn't advisable. maybe you should try another distribution like Suse, Fedora or Ubuntu (but don't try the Unity desktop its terrible. Use the XFCE desktop(Xubuntu) instead, it is similar to Gnome2 but much lighter and faster) . The problem with Debian is, that the stable version is to old, and the testing and unstable is to unstable. | # Problematic frame: | # C [libuno_sal.so.3+0x43751] rtl_uString_release+0x1 | # | # An error report file with more information is saved as: | # /home/lee/hs_err_pid21389.log | # | # If you would like to submit a bug report, please include | # instructions how to reproduce the bug and visit: | # http://icedtea.classpath.org/bugzilla | # | | [error occurred during error reporting , id 0xb] ` This seems to be Java problem, and not a LO bug. There seem to be two bugs, one with using the mailmerge tool and another one with reporting the bug. Anyway, they shouldn't use java for LO. but there is still a lot of Java code in LO. They are working hard to translate it into C++ code, but it will take a while. It doesn't really matter what the problem is, it's just not working, and one bug after another turns up. After having learned a little about LO, it seems to be still in a beta stage, and I need something that does work. It's sad that there has been only very little progress in the reliability of WYSIWYG word processors over the last 15--20 years. The LO code contains about 600 lines of code. it is not easy to think of all the functions, if you ad some new code. So some bugs are unavoidable. Regards Frieder -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Frieder delo...@googlemail.com writes: Am 25.06.2011 15:07, schrieb lee: Friederdelo...@googlemail.com writes: Am 25.06.2011 00:53, schrieb lee: The Problem is how to use the Uno API no mater programming language you prefer. True --- is there a good documentation about it? Yes there is: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Category:Tutorial and specially the export to pdf: http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/API/Tutorials/PDF_export Ah, thanks :) Unfortunately, LO crashes when I try to send the message: Have you tried it with a stable Version No, I only tried the version that is in Debian testing. Libreoffice is not in Debian stable. LO 3.3.3 is in unstable. I could try to install it, only it probably has so many dependencies that it isn't advisable. maybe you should try another distribution like Suse, Fedora or Ubuntu (but don't try the Unity desktop its terrible. No way, I'm not going to dump my perfectly working system just to be able to run a more recent version of some software. I could probably download the latest sources and compile them myself, but I don't feel inclined to go to much effort to get a broken word processing software to work. I'd probably only find either the same bugs or new ones. The problem with Debian is, that the stable version is to old, and the testing and unstable is to unstable. That's not true. Stable can be old, and as long as it does what you need it to, it isn't too old. Testing isn't unstable at all. I haven't tried unstable or experimental except for a few packages every now and then I needed a more recent version of. Anyway, they shouldn't use java for LO. but there is still a lot of Java code in LO. They are working hard to translate it into C++ code, but it will take a while. It's good to hear that they are working on removing it :) It doesn't really matter what the problem is, it's just not working, and one bug after another turns up. After having learned a little about LO, it seems to be still in a beta stage, and I need something that does work. It's sad that there has been only very little progress in the reliability of WYSIWYG word processors over the last 15--20 years. The LO code contains about 600 lines of code. it is not easy to think of all the functions, if you ad some new code. So some bugs are unavoidable. It comes down to that beyond a certain point, the effort that needs to be put into making it easier to achieve a particular result exceeds the effort that must be put into achieving the particular result. In this case, unfortunately I've reached that point. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
John B jo...@email2.me writes: I have tried the mailmerge facility in LO and I as yet cannot get anywhere with it. Hm, it's not too difficult to get to the point where you could finally save, print or send your documents. Just make sure that there are no unmatched fields. As someone described, you can even drag and drop fields from a database into your document. I could use mailmerge if it would reliably send the documents rather than sometimes say 0 of 0 messages sent despite there are two messages to be sent --- and if the PDF created that way wasn't messed up. And it would even be really useful if changing the properties when sending documents as PDF would work rather than crash LO. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Hi :) It might be a good time to file a bug-report about the pdf properties issue http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/BugReport Regards from Tom :) From: lee l...@yun.yagibdah.de To: users@global.libreoffice.org Sent: Sat, 25 June, 2011 20:32:18 Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document John B jo...@email2.me writes: I have tried the mailmerge facility in LO and I as yet cannot get anywhere with it. Hm, it's not too difficult to get to the point where you could finally save, print or send your documents. Just make sure that there are no unmatched fields. As someone described, you can even drag and drop fields from a database into your document. I could use mailmerge if it would reliably send the documents rather than sometimes say 0 of 0 messages sent despite there are two messages to be sent --- and if the PDF created that way wasn't messed up. And it would even be really useful if changing the properties when sending documents as PDF would work rather than crash LO. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Am 25.06.2011 21:32, schrieb lee: Hi Lee John Bjo...@email2.me writes: I have tried the mailmerge facility in LO and I as yet cannot get anywhere with it. Hm, it's not too difficult to get to the point where you could finally save, print or send your documents. Just make sure that there are no unmatched fields. As someone described, you can even drag and drop fields from a database into your document. I could use mailmerge if it would reliably send the documents rather than sometimes say 0 of 0 messages sent despite there are two messages to be sent --- and if the PDF created that way wasn't messed up. And it would even be really useful if changing the properties when sending documents as PDF would work rather than crash LO. If you are still interested in a reliable macro that can export to PDF with a password I have coded some lines for You: (StarBasic code) sub export_pdf_with_password odoc=ThisComponent.CurrentController.Frame sURL = file:///C:/Users/Nansen/Documents/RundschreibenTest0096.pdf 'variable to hold the Path dim args1(5) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue 'args1(0).Name = UseTaggedPDF 'args1(0).Value= true args1(0).Name = ExportFormFields 'just schow the contens of the Form.Filds args1(0).Value= false args1(1).Name = Printing ' you don't need that. args1(1).Value= 2 args1(2).Name = RestrictPermissions 'If true, selects to restrict some permissions. The permissions can be changed only when the user enters the correct password. args1(2).Value= true args1(3).Name = PermissionPassword args1(3).Value= www2 'coud be a variable args1(4).Name = EncryptFile 'If true, selects to encrypt the PDF document with a password. The PDF file can be opened only when the user enters the correct password. args1(4).Value= true args1(5).Name = DocumentOpenPassword args1(5).Value= www 'coud be a variable 'here you can enter some more options from the http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/API/Tutorials/PDF_export if you want dim args2(2) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue args2(0).Name = FilterName args2(0).Value = writer_pdf_Export args2(1).Name = FilterData args2(1).Value = args1 thisComponent.storeToURL(sURL,args2()) end sub I have done a complete solution for your hole problem (not totally complete jett). I used a database (instead of a Calc file) . I can send the solution to you but I think you have to reconnect the Writer-document and the Database on your computer. Regards Frieder -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Hi :) I have been wondering about trying to run a more stable version of LO on Debian. Can Debian run PPA repos from Ubuntu? or is that a bit hitmiss due to differences within the Debian family? Even if you are not able to get the 3.3.3 or 3.3.2 from the Debian repos the untweaked debs from the LO/TDF website might be an improvement on what you have now. There are instructions on the wiki for installing more than 1 version of LO/OOo at a time so that you can test without throwing away anything that you have set-up so far. I don't know if that is a good route tho? Regards from Tom :) -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Le 24/06/11 15:13, lee a écrit : Hi Lee, Now I would like to make it so that I can press a button and be presented with a form or the like that lets me fill in the variable data, inserts the data at the appropriate places into the document, saves the document to a file I specify and exports the document as PDF with a password for access rights to the PDF file set. How do I do that? Does it take some kind of advanced programming? If you don't want to go down the mailmerge route, then the answer is yes, you will need to be able to program it in Basic or some other scripting language that LibO knows how to interpret (Javascript or Python for example) and can bind with UNO dialog components. Really, the simplest way would be to use a Calc spreadsheet to hold the data, and then bind those fields to your text document. Even here though, if you want it to automatically export your filled in text document as a password protected PDF, you will need to learn some kind of programming to automate it. Alternatively, use text placeholders in your document, but this will force you to type in each time for each and every different data set. Alex -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Alexander Thurgood alex.thurg...@gmail.com writes:
Le 24/06/11 15:13, lee a écrit :
Hi Lee,
Now I would like to make it so that I can press a button and be
presented with a form or the like that lets me fill in the variable
data, inserts the data at the appropriate places into the document,
saves the document to a file I specify and exports the document as PDF
with a password for access rights to the PDF file set.
How do I do that? Does it take some kind of advanced programming?
If you don't want to go down the mailmerge route, then the answer is
yes, you will need to be able to program it in Basic or some other
scripting language that LibO knows how to interpret (Javascript or
Python for example) and can bind with UNO dialog components.
Well, I'm thinking about using it, I just don't see yet how I could make
it really useful.
Really, the simplest way would be to use a Calc spreadsheet to hold the
data, and then bind those fields to your text document.
That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. The workflow is like:
while(webpages) {
check out the web page
decide whether to send my document or not
if(I send it) {
create a new directory to save the document in // this is already
// automated by a
// shell script
paste a unique reference number generated by the shell script into
the document
copy and paste some data like a company name and address and a
persons name into the document
adjust the salutation as needed
go to another place in the document and enter the companys name and
city
save the document in the directory created by the shell script with
a meaningful file name (like documentname-company)
export the document as pdf with a permissions password set
create an email by editing an email template appropriately to send
the pdf file by email
save the webpage in the same directory as the LO document
make a note in a text file that the document was sent in response to
the particular web page
}
}
I can hear this crying for (at least some more) automation from 10 miles
away ...
It is possible to gather the data inserted into the document in
advance. The problem is that when I do that, I think it would become
rather difficult to keep track of what happens. And I need to keep track
of what happens because I have to do some of the steps manually because
it would be too much effort to automate all of them.
Perhaps there is way to make things easier that I just don't see? I'm
free to change the workflow in whatever way I like, only the outcome
needs to be the same.
Even here though, if you want it to automatically export your filled
in text document as a password protected PDF, you will need to learn
some kind of programming to automate it.
Hm, I think someone here posted about commandline options for converting
to PDF. Perhaps I can use those ...
Alternatively, use text placeholders in your document, but this will
force you to type in each time for each and every different data set.
Placeholders ... can you address placeholders from the commandline? For
example, I'd create a document that has 5 placeholder fields and tell LO
on the commandline to process the document so that the data for the
fields I supply on the commandline is inserted into the document. Then
the document is converted to a PDF file.
Or can I use sed to modify the content.xml file and then use LO
commandline options to turn the file into a PDF? If that's possible, I
could make a script to produce the PDF files I need automatically ...
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Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Am 24.06.2011 18:28, schrieb lee:
Alexander Thurgoodalex.thurg...@gmail.com writes:
Le 24/06/11 15:13, lee a écrit :
Hi Lee,
Now I would like to make it so that I can press a button and be
presented with a form or the like that lets me fill in the variable
data, inserts the data at the appropriate places into the document,
saves the document to a file I specify and exports the document as PDF
with a password for access rights to the PDF file set.
How do I do that? Does it take some kind of advanced programming?
If you don't want to go down the mailmerge route, then the answer is
yes, you will need to be able to program it in Basic or some other
scripting language that LibO knows how to interpret (Javascript or
Python for example) and can bind with UNO dialog components.
Well, I'm thinking about using it, I just don't see yet how I could make
it really useful.
Really, the simplest way would be to use a Calc spreadsheet to hold the
data, and then bind those fields to your text document.
That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. The workflow is like:
while(webpages) {
check out the web page
decide whether to send my document or not
if(I send it) {
create a new directory to save the document in // this is already
// automated by a
// shell script
paste a unique reference number generated by the shell script into
the document
copy and paste some data like a company name and address and a
persons name into the document
adjust the salutation as needed
go to another place in the document and enter the companys name and
city
save the document in the directory created by the shell script with
a meaningful file name (like documentname-company)
export the document as pdf with a permissions password set
create an email by editing an email template appropriately to send
the pdf file by email
save the webpage in the same directory as the LO document
make a note in a text file that the document was sent in response to
the particular web page
}
}
I can hear this crying for (at least some more) automation from 10 miles
away ...
This is crying for for some macros and for a database.
if you already know how to use shell scripts, it's not hard to learn to
program some macros.
and you can use command-line commands inside macros as well.
so you can integrate your scripts into the macros. ( Coder : shell (
command-line command , options , ,).
If you make a database in Base with a table(or better more, with are
linked together) with a column for each entry you have to make in the
writer-document (and some more for information and ID) ,
you can connect the fields (columns) to text-boxes in the document (with
invisible borders).
create a form (in Base), to insert the new data.
Then you need a macro to
Sub.
-create a new directory to save the document in
-paste a unique reference number generated by the shell script (bette the
macro)
into the document (better the database)
-save the document in the directory created by the macro with
a meaningful file name (like documentname-company(use the database
to find this name)
-export the document as pdf
-save the PDF with a permissions password (schell command inside the Macro)
-create an email by editing an email template(using again the data from the
database) to send
the pdf file by email
-save the webpage in the same directory as the LO document
-make a note in the database that the document was sent in response to
the particular web page
End Sub
regards
Frieder
It is possible to gather the data inserted into the document in
advance. The problem is that when I do that, I think it would become
rather difficult to keep track of what happens. And I need to keep track
of what happens because I have to do some of the steps manually because
it would be too much effort to automate all of them.
Perhaps there is way to make things easier that I just don't see? I'm
free to change the workflow in whatever way I like, only the outcome
needs to be the same.
Even here though, if you want it to automatically export your filled
in text document as a password protected PDF, you will need to learn
some kind of programming to automate it.
Hm, I think someone here posted about commandline options for converting
to PDF. Perhaps I can use those ...
Alternatively, use text placeholders in your document, but this will
force you to type in each time for each and every different data set.
Placeholders ... can you address placeholders from the commandline? For
example, I'd create a document that has 5 placeholder fields and tell LO
on the commandline to process the document so that the data for the
fields I supply on the commandline is inserted into the document. Then
the document is converted to a PDF file.
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Hi Lee On Fri, 2011-06-24 at 16:18 +0200, Alexander Thurgood wrote: Le 24/06/11 15:13, lee a écrit : Hi Lee, Now I would like to make it so that I can press a button and be presented with a form or the like that lets me fill in the variable data, inserts the data at the appropriate places into the document, saves the document to a file I specify and exports the document as PDF with a password for access rights to the PDF file set. How do I do that? Does it take some kind of advanced programming? If you don't want to go down the mailmerge route, then the answer is yes, you will need to be able to program it in Basic or some other scripting language that LibO knows how to interpret (Javascript or Python for example) and can bind with UNO dialog components. Really, the simplest way would be to use a Calc spreadsheet to hold the data, and then bind those fields to your text document. Even here though, if you want it to automatically export your filled in text document as a password protected PDF, you will need to learn some kind of programming to automate it. Alternatively, use text placeholders in your document, but this will force you to type in each time for each and every different data set. Alex Another possibility that works very well when you need a document that needs the same type of content is to use an Input Field. To do so: INSERTFIELDSOTHER (or CTRL F2) click on Functions Tab then click on Input. Enter the name of the field in the Reference Box. Click Insert and Dialog Box opens. Your cursor should be in the large empty box, if not, click on the large box. Type the place holder text you want that will displayed when SHOW FIELDS is active. Click OK then click Close. Do this for every location you want insert text. I would save this document as a template. When you open this template Writer will ask you to enter data for each field in the order they were created. This method works well when you have only a few documents you want to create each time. -- Jay Lozier jsloz...@gmail.com -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Am 24.06.2011 18:28, schrieb lee:
Alexander Thurgoodalex.thurg...@gmail.com writes:
Le 24/06/11 15:13, lee a écrit :
Hi Lee,
Now I would like to make it so that I can press a button and be
presented with a form or the like that lets me fill in the variable
data, inserts the data at the appropriate places into the document,
saves the document to a file I specify and exports the document as PDF
with a password for access rights to the PDF file set.
How do I do that? Does it take some kind of advanced programming?
If you don't want to go down the mailmerge route, then the answer is
yes, you will need to be able to program it in Basic or some other
scripting language that LibO knows how to interpret (Javascript or
Python for example) and can bind with UNO dialog components.
Well, I'm thinking about using it, I just don't see yet how I could make
it really useful.
Really, the simplest way would be to use a Calc spreadsheet to hold the
data, and then bind those fields to your text document.
That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. The workflow is like:
while(webpages) {
check out the web page
decide whether to send my document or not
if(I send it) {
create a new directory to save the document in // this is already
// automated by a
// shell script
paste a unique reference number generated by the shell script into
the document
copy and paste some data like a company name and address and a
persons name into the document
adjust the salutation as needed
go to another place in the document and enter the companys name and
city
save the document in the directory created by the shell script with
a meaningful file name (like documentname-company)
export the document as pdf with a permissions password set
create an email by editing an email template appropriately to send
the pdf file by email
save the webpage in the same directory as the LO document
make a note in a text file that the document was sent in response to
the particular web page
}
}
I can hear this crying for (at least some more) automation from 10 miles
away ...
It is possible to gather the data inserted into the document in
advance. The problem is that when I do that, I think it would become
rather difficult to keep track of what happens. And I need to keep track
of what happens because I have to do some of the steps manually because
it would be too much effort to automate all of them.
Perhaps there is way to make things easier that I just don't see? I'm
free to change the workflow in whatever way I like, only the outcome
needs to be the same.
Even here though, if you want it to automatically export your filled
in text document as a password protected PDF, you will need to learn
some kind of programming to automate it.
Hm, I think someone here posted about commandline options for converting
to PDF. Perhaps I can use those ...
ther is a Basic example for a macro to export to PDF
its not clean code, but it should work:
|sub export_to_PDF
rem define variables
dim document as object
dim dispatcher as object
rem get access to the document
document = ThisComponent.CurrentController.Frame
dispatcher = createUnoService(com.sun.star.frame.DispatchHelper)
dim args1(3) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args1(0).Name = URL
args1(0).Value = file:///G:/test/test.pdf ' you can use a variable to
hold the path
args1(1).Name = FilterName
args1(1).Value = calc_pdf_Export
args1(2).Name = FilterData
args1(2).Value =
Array(Array(UseLosslessCompression,0,true,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(Quality,0,90,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(ReduceImageResolution,0,false,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(MaxImageResolution,0,300,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(UseTaggedPDF,0,false,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(ExportNotes,0,false,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(UseTransitionEffects,0,true,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(IsSkipEmptyPages,0,false,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(FormsType,0,1,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE),_
Array(Selection,0,,com.sun.star.beans.PropertyState.DIRECT_VALUE))
args1(3).Name = SelectionOnly
args1(3).Value = true
dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, .uno:||ExportDirectToPDF||, ,
1, args1())
end sub
if you want I can translate this code in clean code without using the
dispatcher
regards frieder
|
Alternatively, use text placeholders in your document, but this will
force you to type in each time for each and every different data set.
Placeholders ... can you address placeholders from the commandline? For
example, I'd create a document that has 5 placeholder fields and tell LO
on the commandline to process the
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
Frieder delo...@googlemail.com writes:
Am 24.06.2011 18:28, schrieb lee:
while(webpages) {
check out the web page
decide whether to send my document or not
if(I send it) {
create a new directory to save the document in // this is already
// automated by a
// shell script
paste a unique reference number generated by the shell script into
the document
copy and paste some data like a company name and address and a
persons name into the document
adjust the salutation as needed
go to another place in the document and enter the companys name and
city
save the document in the directory created by the shell script with
a meaningful file name (like documentname-company)
export the document as pdf with a permissions password set
create an email by editing an email template appropriately to send
the pdf file by email
save the webpage in the same directory as the LO document
make a note in a text file that the document was sent in response to
the particular web page
}
}
I can hear this crying for (at least some more) automation from 10 miles
away ...
[...]
ther is a Basic example for a macro to export to PDF
its not clean code, but it should work:
[...]
if you want I can translate this code in clean code without using the
dispatcher
Hm, I just tried out the macro recorder and recorded a macro that
exports my document as PDF. It looks very much like the one you
posted. It even stores the permissions password I entered in readable
form.
It strikes me odd that I shall have to learn another programming
language to do something this simple ... Anyway, what bothers me the
most at the moment is this bug with all the fields disappearing from
data sources: Even if I don't enter more than one data set into a data
source through a form and some programming, I won't get anywhere when
the fields of the data source eventually disappear.
Hm. I can't even register a data source as described in the
documentation[1]. The only available selection the wizard offers is
Other external data source, and selecting that and trying to get to
the next page of the wizard brings up an error message:
,
| SQL Status: HY000
|
| The connection to the external data source could not be established. No
| SDBC driver was found for the given URL.
|
| A connection for the following URL was requested
| sdbc:address:evolution:local.
`
So is it trying to use some data from Evolution? I don't have Evolution
installed.
Hm. I have created a database to use instead of a spreadsheet. When I'm
trying to mail the document to myself as PDF, I can specify Properties
in the mailmerge wizard. There I could apparently add a text message so
that the PDF is sent as an attachment to it. I could use that to mail
the PDF documents to myself with the reference number in the text part
for easy further processing, or I might even be able to send them
without any further processing.
Unfortunately, LO crashes when I try to send the message:
,
| X Error: BadMatch (invalid parameter attributes) 8
| Major opcode: 42 (X_SetInputFocus)
| Resource id: 0x5001822
| #
| # A fatal error has been detected by the Java Runtime Environment:
| #
| # SIGSEGV (0xb) at pc=0x7f2cabeb5751, pid=21389, tid=139829845436192
| #
| # JRE version: 6.0_18-b18
| # Java VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (16.0-b13 mixed mode linux-amd64 )
| # Derivative: IcedTea6 1.8.7
| # Distribution: Debian GNU/Linux unstable (sid), package 6b18-1.8.7-4
| # Problematic frame:
| # C [libuno_sal.so.3+0x43751] rtl_uString_release+0x1
| #
| # An error report file with more information is saved as:
| # /home/lee/hs_err_pid21389.log
| #
| # If you would like to submit a bug report, please include
| # instructions how to reproduce the bug and visit:
| # http://icedtea.classpath.org/bugzilla
| #
|
| [error occurred during error reporting , id 0xb]
`
It doesn't seem worthwhile to put any effort into programming when
everything that uses datasources is buggy in one way or another,
especially since the mailmerge tool would do a lot of what I want if it
would work.
So what's the alternative to LO? Can I convert my document to koffice?
Is koffice any better?
LaTeX would be my favourite choice; it's only too long ago I used it
last time, and when I tried more recently, I didn't manage to figure out
how to create tables that go across several pages and contain
tables. Perhaps I should give that another try; the result would look
much better anyway ...
[1]:
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/cgi_img_auth.php/0/05/0211WG3-UsingMailMerge.pdf
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[libreoffice-users] Re: using fields in a text document
In news:87iprv49kt@yun.yagibdah.de, lee l...@yun.yagibdah.de typed: John B jo...@email2.me writes: Hi Lee Its called mailmerge you will love it. Tools Mailmerge Please don't top-post. The mailmerge tool requires an address list, which is something I don't have and don't want to create in this case. Without a maling list data file you pretty much limit yourself out of a very easy process. Somehow you've not been clear with your message or you don't understand somethng IMO. Did you look at mailmerge in Help under Writer? HTH, Twayne` -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+h...@global.libreoffice.org In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmas...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
