ScriptForge.Dictionary service

A dictionary is a collection of key-item pairs

• The key is a case-insensitive string

• Items may be of any type

Keys and items can be retrieved, counted, updated, and much more.

The Dictionary service is similar to the built-in Collabora Office Basic Collection object, however with more features. For example, Collection objects do not support the retrieval of keys. Moreover, Dictionaries provide additional capabilities as replacing keys, testing if a specific key already exists and converting the Dictionary into an Array object or JSON string.

Service invocation

The following example creates myDict as an empty dictionary.

    GlobalScope.BasicLibraries.loadLibrary("ScriptForge")
    Dim myDict As Variant
    myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
  

It is recommended to free resources after use:

     Set myDict = myDict.Dispose()
  

The example below creates an empty instance of the Dictionary service and uses the Python native update method to populate it with the contents of a Python dict object.

    dico = dict('A' = 1, 'B' = 2, 'C' = 3)
    # Initialize myDict as an empty dict object
    myDict = CreateScriptService('Dictionary')
    # Load the values of dico into myDict
    myDict.update(dico)
    myDict['D'] = 4
    print(myDict)   # {'A': 1, 'B': 2, 'C': 3, 'D': 4}
    propval = myDict.ConvertToPropertyValues()
  

It is possible to create an instance of the Dictionary service using a Python dict object as argument as shown in the following example.

    dico = dict('A' = 1, 'B' = 2, 'C' = 3)
    # Initialize myDict with the content of dico
    myDict = CreateScriptService('Dictionary', dico)
    myDict['D'] = 4
    print(myDict) # {'A': 1, 'B': 2, 'C': 3, 'D': 4}
    propval = myDict.ConvertToPropertyValues()
  

Because Python has built-in dictionary support, most of the methods in the Dictionary service are available for Basic scripts only. Exceptions are ConvertToPropertyValues and ImportFromPropertyValues that are supported in both Basic and Python.

Properties

The Keys and Items properties return their respective contents, using an identical ordering. The order is unrelated to the creation sequence.

The following example uses the Keys property to iterate over all keys in the dictionary myDict.

    Dim a As Variant, b As String
    a = myDict.Keys
    For Each b In a
        MsgBox(myDict.Item(b))
    Next b
    

Add

Adds a new key-item pair into the dictionary. Returns True if successful.

dict.Add(key: str, item: any): bool

key: String value used to identify the Item. The key is not case-sensitive.

item: Any value, including an array, a Basic object, a UNO object, a dictionary, etc.

      Dim NewValue As Variant
      myDict.Add("NewKey", NewValue)
    

Every key must be unique in the same dictionary. If the key already exists in the dictionary, a DUPLICATEKEYERROR will be raised. Keys that are made of space characters will raise a INVALIDKEYERROR error.

ConvertToArray

Stores the contents of the dictionary in a two-columns zero-based array. The keys are stored in the first column and the items are stored in the second column.

If the dictionary is empty, this method will return an empty Array.

dict.ConvertToArray(): any[0..*, 0..1]

      Dim myDict as Variant
      myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
      myDict.Add("a", 1)
      myDict.Add("b", 2)
      myDict.Add("c", 3)
      Dim arr as Variant
      arr = myDict.ConvertToArray()
      '(("a", 1), ("b", 2), ("c", 3))
    

ConvertToJson

Converts the contents of a dictionary to JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) text.

Limitations

This method supports the following data types: String, Boolean, numbers, Null and Empty. Arrays containing items of those types are also allowed, whatever their dimensions. Dates are converted into strings, however they cannot be used inside Arrays. Other data types are converted to their string representation using the SF_String.Represent service.

dict.ConvertToJson(indent: str = ""): str

indent: When indent is a positive number or a text, JSON array elements and object members are pretty-printed with that indentation level. A negative indent value will add new lines with no indentation. The default value is an empty string "" which selects the most compact representation. Using a positive integer for indent indents that many spaces per level. When indent is a string, such as Chr(9) or Tab(1), the Tab character is used to indent each level.

      myDict.Add("p0", 12.5)
      myDict.Add("p1", "a string àé""ê")
      myDict.Add("p2", DateSerial(2020,9,28))
      myDict.Add("p3", True)
      myDict.Add("p4", Array(1,2,3))
      MsgBox myDict.ConvertToJson()    
      '{"p0": 12.5, "p1": "a string \u00e0\u00e9\"\u00ea", "p2": "2020-09-28", "p3": true, "p4": [1, 2, 3]}
    

ConvertToPropertyValues

Stores the contents of the dictionary into an array of PropertyValues.

Each entry in the array is a com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue. The key is stored in Name, the item is stored in Value.

If one of the items has a type Date, it is converted to a com.sun.star.util.DateTime structure. If one of the items is an empty array, it is converted to Null. The resulting array is empty when the dictionary is empty.

dict.ConvertToPropertyValues(): obj[0..*]

    Dim myDict as Variant
    myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
    'Adds some properties to the dictionary
    myDict.Add("Color", "Blue")
    myDict.Add("Width", 20)
    'Converts to an Array of PropertyValue objects
    Dim prop as Variant
    prop = myDict.ConvertToPropertyValues()
  

Note in the example below that a Python dictionary needs to be passed as the second argument of the CreateScriptService method.

    myDict = dict()
    myDict["Color"] = "Blue"
    myDict["Width"] = 30
    sfDic = CreateScriptService("Dictionary", myDict)
    prop = sfDic.ConvertToPropertyValues()
  

Many services and methods in the UNO library take in parameters represented using the PropertyValue struct, which is part of the Collabora Office API.

Exists

Determines if a key exists in the dictionary.

dict.Exists(key: str): bool

key: The key to be looked up in the dictionary.

    Dim myDict as Variant
    myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
    'Adds some properties to the dictionary
    myDict.Add("Color", "Blue")
    myDict.Add("Width", 20)
    '(...)
    If Not myDict.Exists("Size") Then
       MsgBox "You have to provide a Size value"
    End If
  

ImportFromJson

Adds the content of a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) string into the current dictionary. Returns True if successful.

Limitations

The JSON string may contain numbers, text, booleans, null values and arrays containing those types. It must not contain JSON objects namely sub-dictionaries.

An attempt is made to convert text to date if the item matches one of these patterns: YYYY-MM-DD, HH:MM:SS or YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS.

dict.ImportFromJson(inputstr: str, overwrite: bool = False): bool

inputstr: The string to import.

overwrite: When True, entries with same name may exist in the dictionary and their values are overwritten. When False (default), repeated keys will raise an error. Be aware that dictionary keys are not case-sensitive while names are case-sensitive in JSON strings.

    Dim s As String
    s = "{'firstName': 'John','lastName': 'Smith','isAlive': true,'age': 66, 'birth':  '1954-09-28 20:15:00'" _
        & ",'address': {'streetAddress': '21 2nd Street','city': 'New York','state': 'NY','postalCode': '10021-3100'}" _
        & ",'phoneNumbers': [{'type': 'home','number': '212 555-1234'},{'type': 'office','number': '646 555-4567'}]" _
        & ",'children': ['Q','M','G','T'],'spouse': null}"
    s = Replace(s, "'", """")
    myDict.ImportFromJson(s, OverWrite := True)
    'The (sub)-dictionaries "address" and "phoneNumbers" (0) and (1) are imported as Empty values.
  

ImportFromPropertyValues

Inserts the contents of an array of PropertyValue objects into the current dictionary. PropertyValue Names are used as Keys in the dictionary, whereas Values contain the corresponding values. Returns True if successful.

dict.ImportFromPropertyValues(propertyvalues: obj[0..*], overwrite: bool = False): bool

propertyvalues: A zero-based 1-dimensional array containing com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue objects. This parameter may also be a single PropertyValue object not contained in an Array.

overwrite: When True, entries with same name may exist in the dictionary and their values are overwritten. When False (default), repeated keys will raise an error. Note that dictionary keys are not case-sensitive in Basic, whereas names are case-sensitive in sets of property values and in Python dictionaries.

The examples below first create an array with two PropertyValue objects and then convert it to a dictionary.

    Dim vProp As New com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
    Dim arrProp : arrProp = Array()
    vProp.Name = "Color"
    vProp.Value = "Blue"
    arrProp = SF_Array.Append(arrProp, vProp)
    vProp.Name = "Date"
    vProp.Value = CDateToUnoDateTime(Now)
    arrProp = SF_Array.Append(arrProp, vProp)
    myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
    myDict.ImportFromPropertyValues(arrProp, Overwrite := True)
    Dim keys : keys = myDict.Keys
    For Each k In keys
        MsgBox k & " - " & myDict.Item(k)
    Next k
  

    from scriptforge import CreateScriptService
    from datetime import datetime
    import uno
    bas = CreateScriptService("Basic")
    arrProp = list()
    vProp = uno.createUnoStruct("com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue")
    vProp.Name = "Color"
    vProp.Value = "Blue"
    arrProp.append(vProp)
    vProp = uno.createUnoStruct("com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue")
    vProp.Name = "Date"
    vProp.Value = bas.CDateToUnoDateTime(datetime.now())
    arrProp.append(vProp)
    myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
    myDict.ImportFromPropertyValues(arrProp, overwrite=True)
    for k in myDict.keys():
        bas.MsgBox("{} - {}".format(k, myDict[k]))
  

Item

Retrieves an existing dictionary entry based on its key. Returns the value of the item if successful, otherwise returns Empty.

dict.Item(key: str): any

key: Not case-sensitive. If it does not exist, Empty value is returned.

The following example iterates over all keys in the dictionary and uses the Item method to access their values.

    Dim myDict as Variant, k as Variant, allKeys as Variant
    myDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")
    myDict.Add("key1", 100)
    myDict.Add("key2", 200)
    myDict.Add("key3", 300)
    allKeys = myDict.Keys
    For Each k in allKeys
       MsgBox(myDict.Item(k))
    Next k
  

Remove

Removes an existing dictionary entry based on its key. Returns True if successful.

dict.Remove(key: str): bool

key: Not case-sensitive. Must exist in the dictionary, otherwise an UNKNOWNKEYERROR error is raised.

    myDict.Add("key1", 100)
    myDict.Add("key2", 200)
    myDict.Add("key3", 300)
    MsgBox(myDict.Count) ' 3
    myDict.Remove("key2")
    MsgBox(myDict.Count) ' 2
  

RemoveAll

Removes all the entries from the dictionary. Returns True if successful.

dict.RemoveAll(): bool

    myDict.Add("key1", 100)
    myDict.Add("key2", 200)
    myDict.Add("key3", 300)
    MsgBox(myDict.Count) ' 3
    myDict.RemoveAll()
    MsgBox(myDict.Count) ' 0
  

ReplaceItem

Replaces an existing item value based on its key. Returns True if successful.

dict.ReplaceItem(key: str, value: any): bool

key: String value representing the key whose value will be replaced. Not case-sensitive. If the key does not exist in the dictionary, an UNKNOWNKEYERROR error is raised.

value: The new value of the item referred to with the key parameter.

    myDict.Add("a", 1)
    MsgBox(myDict.Item("a")) ' 1
    myDict.ReplaceItem("a", 100)
    MsgBox(myDict.Item("a")) ' 100
  

ReplaceKey

Replaces an existing key in the dictionary by a new key. The item value is left unchanged. Returns True if successful.

dict.ReplaceKey(key: str, value: str): bool

key: String value representing the key to be replaced. Not case-sensitive. If the key does not exist in the dictionary, a UNKNOWNKEYERROR error is raised.

value: String value for the new key. Not case-sensitive. If the new key already exists in the dictionary, an DUPLICATEKEYERROR error is raised.

    myDict.Add("oldKey", 100)
    MsgBox(myDict.Item("oldKey")) ' 100
    myDict.ReplaceKey("oldKey", "newKey")
    MsgBox(myDict.Item("newKey")) ' 100
  

All ScriptForge Basic routines or identifiers that are prefixed with an underscore character "_" are reserved for internal use. They are not meant be used in Basic macros or Python scripts.