Re: [libreoffice-users] convert xlsx to CSV

On 08/29/2017 01:23 AM, Cley Faye wrote:
> > > Some things seems wrong on that command line:
> > >
> > > - On most system you can directly call "libreoffice" instead of providing
> > > the full path
> > Yes, but then I get /usr/bin/libreoffice since /usr/bin is in my path.
> > /usr/bin/libreoffice is a symlink to ../lib/libreoffice/program/soffice*
> >
> > Note the file sizes and timestamps.  I don't know what the difference is
> > between the two or which is correct to use.
> >
> > ll /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/soffice*
> > -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 6012 Apr 28 07:59 /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/s
> > office*
> > -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 6304 Apr 28 12:36 /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/s
> > office.bin*
> > -rw-r--r-- 1 root root  789 Apr 28 13:32 /usr/lib/libreoffice/program/s
> > officerc
> ​The "libreoffice" command/link is there to avoid issues when/if the way
> LibreOffice is installed change. Suppose in a future release the binary is
> renamed to loffice, you could still use the ​libreoffice command without
> issue.
> The "soffice" script manage some extra command line parameters and launch
> the actual LibreOffice program; but for your purpose it should make no
> difference using one or the other, except that directly calling stuff in
> /usr/lib/libreoffice is not as futureproof.


I use the full path because it's the only one that gives output as you 
can see:

apb@yellow:/usr/local/src/greetonix/src$ 
/usr/lib/libreoffice/program/soffice -h
apb@yellow:/usr/local/src/greetonix/src$ /usr/bin/libreoffice -h
apb@yellow:/usr/local/src/greetonix/src$ 
/usr/lib/libreoffice/program/soffice.bin -h
LibreOffice 5.1.6.2 10m0(Build:2)

Usage: soffice [options] [documents...]
[snip]




> > - I'm not sure the -env:UserInstallation part is needed, unless you have
> > > some specific requirements
> > Yes.  I typically have LO open 24/7 with other documents.

I don't recall for sure, but if I'm not mistaken, the conversion 
silently fails without it.  I resolved that one awhile ago, I no longer 
remember the details.  I suppose I should mention I had this working at 
one point.  I moved the file to a subdir, made minor changes in a script 
to accommodate the subdir and it broke.  I put it all back the way it 
was and it still refused to work and that's where I am now.  Baffled.


> ​It should not​ matter when doing a convert-to. This command is useful if
> you want to launch an instance of LibreOffice using a different place to
> store your configuration/etc. You can have many document open in
> LibreOffice and use the command line at the same time.
>
> > ​- ​the \(encoded\):UTF8 part is not linked to anything, and thus is used
> > > as an input filename. This is most likely not what you want.
> > Could you elaborate what you mean by not linked to anything?  This is
> > probably the key to what I'm doing wrong.  To what would I link it, and how?
>
> ​The command line is parsed argument by argument. An argument is a single
> string, and arguments are separated by a space.​ Sometime an argument
> expect a parameter in place of the next argument. This is common practice
> for command lines.
>
> In your case, you had: --convert-to csv:Text \(encoded\):UTF8
> Which mean that you have three strings: "--convert-to", "csv:Text" and
> "(encoded):UTF8". "--convert-to" is the argument, "csv:Text" is a parameter
> to the argument, and "(encoded):UTF8" is "nothing", meaning it is
> interpreted as an input filename, so your initial command was trying to
> open a file named "(encoded):UTF8".

I copied it from a web page, unfortunately I can't find the page again 
now.  Since you're saying it's not needed (as demonstrated by you 
below), then I guess there's no need to explore this particular argument 
at this time.

> I was able to convert an xlsx to a csv in UTF-8 using the following simple
> > > command:
> > >
> > > $ libreoffice --headless --nolockcheck --convert-to csv
> > > --infilter=CSV:44,34,76,1 a.xlsx
> > I tried exactly as you stated  (I of course replaced with the proper file
> > to convert) but for me, that had no result.  There were no messages of any
> > kind, and the file was not created.
> >
> > infilter does refer to the source file, yes?  As my input/source file is
> > .xlsx, I tried changing CSV in your --infilter, to MS Excel 97, but that
> > made no difference in the result.
> --infilter does not necessarily related to the input; order is important.​\

If order is important, then I presume the docs are clear on what the 
ordering should be.  Can you link to the docs where it elaborates on the 
ordering priorities please?


> $ libreoffice --version
>
> LibreOffice 5.3.1.2 30m0(Build:2)
>
>
> ​There's no need for other parameters to do an xlsx->csv(utf8) conversion.​
> If that simple command doesn't work, maybe there's another issue.

I guess there must be another issue.    I'm all ears for ideas on 
determining what that issue is.

> You could even remove the --nolockcheck if you're sure that the file isn't
> open anywhere else and remove the --headless if you're not running this
> command on a server, it should still work.
>
>
> > The "76" is responsible for generating an UTF-8 CSV output. If that is not
> > > one of your requirements, you can slim this down even more:
> > I do in fact prefer UTF-8 CSV output.
> >
> > ​
> For information, the "44,34,76,1" thing come from this page (the CSV part
> is still applicable to LibreOffice):
> https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/DevGuide/Spreadsheets/Filter_Options
> ​

Yes, thank you.  I studied it in detail before posting.  Very dense 
page.  Took a very long time to figure out how to construct a filter 
string, especially token 5.  There was zero information regarding what 
was required and what was optional.  Your strings imply everything after 
token 4 is optional, but the docs fail to state that. So it's a great 
big frustrating mystery as to what's required and what's not.



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