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User-Defined Functions

You can apply user-defined functions in OpenOffice.org Calc in the following ways:

• You can define your own functions using the Basic-IDE. This method requires a basic knowledge of programming.

• You can program functions as add-ins. This method requires an advanced knowledge of programming.

Defining A Function Using OpenOffice.org Basic

1. Choose Tools - Macros - Organize Macros - OpenOffice.org Basic.

2. Click the Edit button. You will now see the Basic IDE.

3. Enter the function code. In this example, we define a VOL(a; b; c) function that calculates the volume of a rectangular solid with side lengths a, b and c:

   Function VOL(a, b, c)
   VOL = a*b*c
   End Function

4. Close the Basic-IDE window.

   Your function is automatically saved in the default module and is now available. If you apply the function in a Calc document that is to be used on another computer, you can copy the function to the Calc document as described in the next section.

Copying a Function To a Document

In stage 2 of "Defining A Function Using OpenOffice.org Basic", in the Macro dialog you clicked on Edit . As the default, in the Macro from field the My Macros - Standard - Module1 module is selected. The Standard library resides locally in your user directory.

If you want to copy the user-defined function to a Calc document:

1. Choose Tools - Macros - Organize Macros - OpenOffice.org Basic .

2. In the Macro from field select My Macros - Standard - Module1 and click Edit.

3. In the Basic-IDE, select the source of your user-defined function and copy it to the clipboard.

4. Close the Basic-IDE.

5. Choose Tools - Macros - Organize Macros - OpenOffice.org Basic .

6. In the Macro from field select (Name of the Calc document) - Standard - Module1. Click Edit.

7. Paste the clipboard contents in the Basic-IDE of the document.

Applying a User-defined Function in OpenOffice.org Calc

Once you have defined the function VOL(a; b; c) in the Basic-IDE, you can apply it the same way as the built-in functions of OpenOffice.org Calc.

1. Open a Calc document and enter numbers for the function parameters a, b, and c in cells A1, B1, and C1.

2. Set the cursor in another cell and enter the following:

   =VOL(A1;B1;C1)

3. The function is evaluated and you will see the result in the selected cell.

Index

functions, user-defined

user-defined functions

Basic IDE for user-defined functions

IDE, Basic IDE

programming,functions

This help text is published from the OpenOffice-Help files under the Public Documentation License 1.0.