ScriptForge.Dictionary service/text/sbasic/shared/03/sf_dictionary.xhpDictionary service
ScriptForge.Dictionary service
A dictionary is a collection of key-item pairsThe key is a case-insensitive stringItems may be of any typeKeys and items can be retrieved, counted, updated, and much more.The Dictionary service is similar to the built-in %PRODUCTNAME 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 VariantmyDict = 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 objectmyDict = CreateScriptService('Dictionary')# Load the values of dico into myDictmyDict.update(dico)myDict['D'] = 4print(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 dicomyDict = CreateScriptService('Dictionary', dico)myDict['D'] = 4print(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
NameRead-onlyTypeDescriptionCountYesLongThe number of entries in the dictionaryItemsYesArray of VariantsThe list of items as a one dimensional arrayKeysYesArray of StringsThe list of keys as a one dimensional array
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 Stringa = myDict.KeysFor Each b In a MsgBox(myDict.Item(b))Next b
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 VariantmyDict.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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;ConvertToArray
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 VariantmyDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")myDict.Add("a", 1)myDict.Add("b", 2)myDict.Add("c", 3)Dim arr as Variantarr = myDict.ConvertToArray()'(("a", 1), ("b", 2), ("c", 3)) ConvertToJson ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dictionary service;ConvertToJson
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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;ConvertToPropertyValuesAPI;PropertyValueAPI;DateTime
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 VariantmyDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")'Adds some properties to the dictionarymyDict.Add("Color", "Blue")myDict.Add("Width", 20)'Converts to an Array of PropertyValue objectsDim prop as Variantprop = 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"] = 30sfDic = 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 %PRODUCTNAME API. Exists ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;Exists
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 VariantmyDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")'Adds some properties to the dictionarymyDict.Add("Color", "Blue")myDict.Add("Width", 20)'(...)If Not myDict.Exists("Size") Then MsgBox "You have to provide a Size value"End If ImportFromJson ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;ImportFromJson
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. Beware that dictionary keys are not case-sensitive while names are case-sensitive in JSON strings.Dim s As Strings = "{'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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;ImportFromPropertyValues
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.PropertyValueDim 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.KeysFor Each k In keys MsgBox k & " - " & myDict.Item(k)Next kfrom scriptforge import CreateScriptServicefrom datetime import datetimeimport unobas = 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;Item
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 VariantmyDict = CreateScriptService("Dictionary")myDict.Add("key1", 100)myDict.Add("key2", 200)myDict.Add("key3", 300)allKeys = myDict.KeysFor Each k in allKeys MsgBox(myDict.Item(k))Next k Remove ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;Remove
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) ' 3myDict.Remove("key2")MsgBox(myDict.Count) ' 2 RemoveAll ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;RemoveAll
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) ' 3myDict.RemoveAll()MsgBox(myDict.Count) ' 0 ReplaceItem -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;ReplaceItem
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")) ' 1myDict.ReplaceItem("a", 100)MsgBox(myDict.Item("a")) ' 100 ReplaceKey --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary service;ReplaceKey
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")) ' 100myDict.ReplaceKey("oldKey", "newKey")MsgBox(myDict.Item("newKey")) ' 100