OpenOffice.org Macros Explained

Although I could bore you with details concerning past attempts at automatic translation from Microsoft Office macros to OOo macros, only the final result is important. If I wanted to translate a quantity of Excel macros, I would contact Fr d ric Vuillod (f.vuillod@free.fr), because, as of February 2004, he is the only source of an automated tool that works. I hear rumors that a solution may be produced by Sun. When I asked Fr d ric about his project, he said:

• I am just beginning and can convert simple Excel macros (select cells and set formulas). My purpose is to help OOo migrations by decreasing the cost of simple macro conversion. I am a freelance consultant so I must finance my work. When the cost is covered (I need 20 days of work for a first release), the code will be given to the community. If I find no support, I will try to sell macro translation services using the tool. If I succeed, the code will then be given to the community (but it may be much longer). Here are my conclusions on which my work is based:

  • You can translate simple macros with some work-this is what the tool does.

  • You must " reconnect " controls contained in the documents.

  • You must redraw the forms.

A document that illustrates how to manually translate a VB macro to OOo has begun (see http://qa.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=9224 ).