Basic code to Delphi

Question

I'm struggling with the following:

The goal is to parametrize an automation server for openoffice and I'm programming in Delphi.

The piece of basic code I want to translate into Delphi code is:

Dim aProps(1) As New com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
aProps(0).Name = "FilterName"
aProps(0).Value = "Text - txt - csv (StarCalc)"
aProps(1).Name = "FilterOptions"
aProps(1).Value = sFilterOptions

My attempt in Delphi looks like

type TPrmRecord = packed Record  
                    Name : String;  
                    Value : String;  
                  End;

Var
  ooParams:Variant;
  MyData : TPrmRecord;
Begin
  ooParams:= VarArrayCreate([0, 1], varVariant);

  MyData.Name  := 'FilterName';
  MyData.Value := 'Text - txt - csv (StarCalc)';
  ooParams[0]  := MyData; 

  MyData.Name  := 'FilterOptions';
  MyData.Value := '59/44,34,ANSI,1,';
  ooParams[1]  := MyData;
End;

This is not working does anyone have a suggestion how to tackle this?

Answer 1

Your TPrmRecord type is not what OO.org expects. You should not try to write your own types, but use those that OO.org exposes.

There is an LPGL-licensed toolbox for Delphi: Delphi OOo. In it you will find a unit OOoTools.pas, which exports a function CreateUnoStruct(). Use this and pass 'com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue' as the name of the struct. You will get a Variant (or an array of those, depending on the other parameter value) back that you can use instead of TPrmRecord (something like the following, untested):

var
  Params: Variant;
begin
  Params := CreateUnoStruct('com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue', 1);

  Params[0].Name  := 'FilterName';
  Params[0].Value := 'Text - txt - csv (StarCalc)';

  Params[1].Name  := 'FilterOptions';
  Params[1].Value := '59/44,34,ANSI,1,';
end;

Answer 2

It looks as though you're missing the creation of the COM class, which would be the equivalent of the New com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue line in your code.

I suspect you need to import the type library into Delphi which would give you the objects, properties and methods you need to emulate the Basic behaviour.

Answer 3

Here is straight Delphi code without using Delphi OOo:

uses comobj;

var
  OO_ServiceManager: OleVariant;
  FileParams: OleVariant;

begin
  OO_ServiceManager := CreateOleObject ('com.sun.star.ServiceManager');
  FileParams := VarArrayCreate([0, 1], varVariant);
  FileParams[0] := OO_ServiceManager.Bridge_GetStruct('com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue');
  FileParams[0].Name := 'FilterName';
  FileParams[0].Value := 'Text - txt - csv (StarCalc)';
  FileParams[1] := OO_ServiceManager.Bridge_GetStruct('com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue');
  FileParams[1].Name := 'FilterOptions';
  FileParams[1].Value := '59/44,34,ANSI,1,';
end;

Answer 4

Have a look at this Thread in the german Delphi-PRAXiS forums. There is a whole delphi Unit posted doing some OOo automation.

Answer 5

use

var
ooParams:array[0..1] of TPrmRecord;

delphi uses strict type-casting, so this is causing an assignment error.