How do I make vba code compatible with libre office - excel

Question

I have recently migrated to pclinuxos from windows and seem to like it. The only problem I am facing is that libreoffice, the default spreadsheet package is not compatible with excel macros. Below is the vba code I have:
Option VBASupport
Sub DeleteToLeft()
Selection.SpecialCells(xlBlanks).Delete shift:=xlToLeft
End Sub
Function SinceLastWash()
Application.Volatile
WashCount = 0
WearCount = 0
CurrentRow = Application.ThisCell.Row
For i = 3 To 35
If Range(Cells(CurrentRow, i), Cells(CurrentRow, i)).Value = "a" Then
WearCount = WearCount + 1
End If
If Range(Cells(CurrentRow, i), Cells(CurrentRow, i)).Value = "q" Then
WashCount = WashCount + 1
WearCount = 0
End If
Next i
SinceLastWash = WearCount
End Function
Function testhis()
testhis = Application.ThisCell.Row
End Function
Is there a way to convert this code to make it compatible with libreoffice or do I have to learn an altogether new language like python? Learning python would not be a problem but is not a solution to my problem as I have many work related files in excel which have a lot of vba code and it is not possible for me to use open office/libreoffice at work...
I just want to add that the function SinceLastWash gives the correct value in some cells where I use it and in others gives an error, #NAME?
Thanks

Answer 1

From LibreOffice's online help file:
With a few exceptions, Microsoft Office and LibreOffice cannot run the same macro code. Microsoft Office uses VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) code, and LibreOffice uses Basic code based on the LibreOffice API (Application Program Interface) environment. Although the programming language is the same, the objects and methods are different.
The most recent versions of LibreOffice can run some Excel Visual Basic scripts if you enable this feature at LibreOffice - PreferencesTools - Options - Load/Save - VBA Properties.
In reality, you would most likely need to sit down with the LibreOffice API and rewrite the functionality.

Answer 2

You must translate the portions that manipulate the document to use the UNO API. Sadly, this can be tricky depending on what your macro does. Basic statements work directly. Modifying a document generally does not.
Range(Cells(CurrentRow, i), Cells(CurrentRow, i)).Value = "a"
The Cells command returns a specific cell based on a row and column. So, you need the current row. Here is some craziness to get the active cell:
Sub RetrieveTheActiveCell()
Dim oOldSelection 'The original selection of cell ranges
Dim oRanges 'A blank range created by the document
Dim oActiveCell 'The current active cell
Dim oConv 'The cell address conversion service
Dim oDoc
oDoc = ThisComponent
REM store the current selection
oOldSelection = oDoc.CurrentSelection
REM Create an empty SheetCellRanges service and then select it.
REM This leaves ONLY the active cell selected.
oRanges = oDoc.createInstance("com.sun.star.sheet.SheetCellRanges")
oDoc.CurrentController.Select(oRanges)
REM Get the active cell!
oActiveCell = oDoc.CurrentSelection
oConv = oDoc.createInstance("com.sun.star.table.CellAddressConversion")
oConv.Address = oActiveCell.getCellAddress
Print oConv.UserInterfaceRepresentation
print oConv.PersistentRepresentation
REM Restore the old selection, but lose the previously active cell
oDoc.CurrentController.Select(oOldSelection)
End Sub
When you have the active cell, you get the cell address, and from that, you have the row. You do not need to use the range at all, since you only care about a single cell, so, you get the active sheet and then get a particular cell from the sheet.
Something like this:
ThisComponent.getCurrentController().getActiveSheet().getCellByPosition(nCol, nRow).getString() = "a"
I don't feel like figuring out what this does
Selection.SpecialCells(xlBlanks).Delete shift:=xlToLeft

Answer 3

In LibreOffice 4.4, the first subroutine will not work at all (I suspect due to all the variables beginning with 'xl'. The other two work perfectly if you change ThisCell to ActiveCell.
Rather than
Option VBASupport
I am using
Option VBASupport 1
Option Compatible

Answer 4

The only automatic tool I'm aware of is Business Spreadsheets (note that I have no personal or professional experience nor any affiliation with the site).
It seems specific to OpenOffice but I think it works with LibreOffice too.
In general though, you're better off doing this yourself, as the tool is far from perfect...

Answer 5

Selection.SpecialCells(xlBlanks).Delete shift:=xlToLeft deletes blank cells if I'm not mistaken