Python UNO component

This page shows you how to pack and deploy already written UNO component. I'm using my Wavelet class as an example of a very simple component.

More detailed info is in the Developers Guide.

Python loader

The Python loader is not able load classes that are not it its own path. Thus it's necessary to copy any classes or modules you will use into the OPenOffice Python lib directory, and it may be necessary to restart OOo before they are picked up.

Sample Python component

Wavelet class

We will use my sample Wavelet class which replaces space with non-breaking space before the Czech prepositions. Put the following code in the Wavelet.py file.

import uno
import unohelper
from com.sun.star.task import XJobExecutor

class Wavelet( unohelper.Base, XJobExecutor ):
    def __init__( self, ctx ):
        self.ctx = ctx
 
    def trigger( self, args ):
        desktop = self.ctx.ServiceManager.createInstanceWithContext(
            "com.sun.star.frame.Desktop", self.ctx )
 
        doc = desktop.getCurrentComponent()
 
        try:
            search = doc.createSearchDescriptor()
            search.SearchRegularExpression = True
            search.SearchString = "\\<(k|s|v|z|o|u|i|a) "
            
            found = doc.findFirst( search )
            while found:
                found.String = found.String.replace( " ", u"\xa0" )
                found = doc.findNext( found.End, search)
 
        except:
            pass

Wavelet class registration

You have to tell the Apache OpenOffice what is the main class of your component. Put the following code at the end of your Wavelet.py file.

g_ImplementationHelper = unohelper.ImplementationHelper()
g_ImplementationHelper.addImplementation(
        Wavelet,
        "name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet",
        ("com.sun.star.task.Job",),)

Component integration

Icons

You can create your own icons for the Menu item or the Toolbar button. The easiest way is to create two true color BMP files - the first one should be 26×26 and the second one should be 16×16.

If you want to use alpha (transparent color), use #FF00FF (RGB) color.

This possibility is optional and you're not forced to create icons.

Addons.xcu

Component integration configuration is in the Addons.xcu file.

Header

The header of this file should contain:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<oor:component-data xmlns:oor="http://openoffice.org/2001/registry"
  xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" oor:name="Addons"
  oor:package="org.openoffice.Office">
 
    <node oor:name="AddonUI">

Office Menu Bar

Following part creates new menu item Czech (or Cestina, depends on the UI language) and the Wavelet menu item.

This menu item is associated with the name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet?execute URL. It means, that when you click on the menuitem, Wavelet.trigger method will be executed with the execute as an argument.

This menu will be visible in the Apache OpenOffice Writer only.

        <node oor:name="OfficeMenuBar">
            <node oor:name="name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet" oor:op="replace">
                <prop oor:name="Title" oor:type="xs:string">
                    <value/>
                    <value xml:lang="en-US">Czech</value>
                    <value xml:lang="cs">Cestina</value>
                </prop>
                <prop oor:name="Target" oor:type="xs:string">
                    <value>_self</value>
                </prop>
                <prop oor:name="ImageIdentifier" oor:type="xs:string">
                    <value/>
                </prop>
                <node oor:name="Submenu">
                    <node oor:name="m1" oor:op="replace">
                        <prop oor:name="URL" oor:type="xs:string">
                            <value>service:name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet?execute</value>
                        </prop>
                        <prop oor:name="Title" oor:type="xs:string">
                            <value/>
                            <value xml:lang="en-US">Wavelet</value>
                            <value xml:lang="cs">Vlnka</value>
                        </prop>
                        <prop oor:name="Target" oor:type="xs:string">
                            <value>_self</value>
                        </prop>
                        <prop oor:name="Context" oor:type="xs:string">
                            <value>com.sun.star.text.TextDocument</value>
                        </prop>
                    </node>
                </node>
            </node>
</node>

Office Toolbar

Following part creates new toolbar (with name Add-on 1, Add-on 2, …) and one button. This button is associated with the name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet?execute URL. It means that the Wavelet.trigger method will be executed when you click on the button on the toolbar. execute will be passed as an argument.

You can't rename the toolbar. It's due to the backwards compatibility with the 1.1.x version.

        <node oor:name="OfficeToolBar">
            <node oor:name="name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet" oor:op="replace">
                <node oor:name="m1" oor:op="replace">
                    <prop oor:name="URL" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value>service:name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet?execute</value>
                    </prop>
                    <prop oor:name="ImageIdentifier" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value/>
                    </prop>
                    <prop oor:name="Title" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value/>
                        <value xml:lang="en-US">Wavelet</value>
                        <value xml:lang="cs">Vlnka</value>
                    </prop>
                    <prop oor:name="Target" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value>_self</value>
                    </prop>
                    <prop oor:name="Context" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value>com.sun.star.text.TextDocument</value>
                    </prop>
                </node>
            </node>
</node>

Icons

You can associate your icons with any URL. We will associate our icons with name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet?execute URL. It means that all controls (menu item, button, …) associated with the same URL will use these icons.

%origin% is the UNO component package. We will explain it later.

        <node oor:name="Images">
            <node oor:name="name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet.image1" oor:op="replace">
                <prop oor:name="URL">
                    <value>service:name.vojta.openoffice.Wavelet?execute</value>
                </prop>
                <node oor:name="UserDefinedImages">
                    <prop oor:name="ImageSmallURL" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value>%origin%/images/WaveletSmall.bmp</value>
                    </prop>
                    <prop oor:name="ImageBigURL" oor:type="xs:string">
                        <value>%origin%/images/WaveletBig.bmp</value>
                    </prop>
                </node>
            </node>
</node>

Footer

Close all opened sections.

    </node>
 </oor:component-data>

UNO component package

UNO component package is a simple ZIP file. Obviously it contains the Addons.xcu file, images directory with icons and the Python component implementation.

Packing

You can pack our sample package with the following command:

zip -r Wavelet.uno.zip Addons.xcu Wavelet.py images

The final Wavelet.uno.zip package should contain these files:

Wavelet.uno.zip
  Addons.xcu
  Wavelet.py
  images/WaveletBig.bmp
  images/WaveletSmall.bmp

The %origin% is Wavelet.uno.zip, thus the %origin%/images/WaveletBig.bmp points to the WaveletBig.bmp file in your Wavelet.uno.zip file.

Installation

You can install your UNO component with the Extension manager (somewhere in the Tools menu) or with the unopkg tool.

/opt/openoffice.org1.9.103/program/unopkg add Wavelet.uno.zip

Uninstallation

You can uninstall your UNO component with the Extension manager (somewhere in the Tools menu) or with the unopkg tool.

/opt/openoffice.org1.9.103/program/unopkg remove Wavelet.uno.zip

Python component testing

It's not necessary to install the Python UNO component to test it. You can connect to the running Apache OpenOffice instance and test your UNO component directly.

Code

Append the following code at the end of the Wavelet.py file.

if __name__ == "__main__":
    import os
 
    # Start OpenOffice, listen for connections and open testing document
    os.system( "/etc/openoffice.org-1.9/program/soffice '-accept=socket,host=localhost,port=2002;urp;' -writer ./WaveletTest.odt &" )
 
    # Get local context info
    localContext = uno.getComponentContext()
    resolver = localContext.ServiceManager.createInstanceWithContext(
        "com.sun.star.bridge.UnoUrlResolver", localContext )
 
    ctx = None
 
    # Wait until the OpenOffice starts and connection is established
    while ctx == None:
        try:
            ctx = resolver.resolve(
                "uno:socket,host=localhost,port=2002;urp;StarOffice.ComponentContext" )
        except:
            pass
 
    # Trigger our job
    wavelet = Wavelet( ctx )
    wavelet.trigger( () )

Testing

To test your UNO component, just run your Wavelet.py in the Python interpreter.

/opt/openoffice.org1.9.103/program/python ./Wavelet.py

Resume

This part does this:

starts Apache OpenOffice and opens the WaveletTest.odt file

loop until the connection will be established

start your component in the running Apache OpenOffice context

Do not forget to remove this part before real UNO component packaging. Or comment it out.

UNO component packaging

Contents

Python UNO component

Python loader

Sample Python component

Wavelet class

Wavelet class registration

Component integration

Icons

Addons.xcu

Header

Office Menu Bar

Office Toolbar

Icons

Footer

UNO component package

Packing

Installation

Uninstallation

Python component testing

Code

Testing

Resume

See also

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