Err:504 with DDE links since LO 4→5 upgrade

users
#1

Hey list,

We're dealing with a complex document containing hundreds of DDE
links. Worse yet, those DDE links are dynamically created, e.g.
using the following formula to reference filename ($B$2), sheet name,
($B$3), column ($B$6), and row (in column $A starting at $A8):

  =DDE("soffice";
    CONCATENATE("file:./";$B$2);
    CONCATENATE("$";$B$3;".$";$B$6;"$";$A8);
    0)

This worked very well a year ago, but when we tried to open it as of
late, we get "Err:504" (parameter list error) all over.

The only thing that's changed is that we've since upgraded from
Libreoffice 4 to version 5.

Are you aware of (a) the relevant change, and (b) a remedy to this
problem, so that we can use DDE links as we used to with Libreoffice
5.1.2?

Thanks,

#2

Works for me. DDE works with system notation ("C:\path name\file
name.ods") and with URL notation
"file:///C:/path%20name/file%20name.ods". Try the system notation.
Call menu:Edit>Links to inspect links and delete unused links.

#3

also sprach Andreas Säger <villeroy@t-online.de> [2016-04-20 17:11 +0200]:

Works for me. DDE works with system notation ("C:\path name\file
name.ods") and with URL notation
"file:///C:/path%20name/file%20name.ods". Try the system notation.

For testing purposes, I made a copy of the file and used the
absolute path in system notation. The result is the same.

I did notice that — with relative or with absolute paths — that the
DDE() calls work in some contexts, but not in others. It seems very
very brittle and I cannot figure out why.

Call menu:Edit>Links to inspect links and delete unused links.

See my other question on the list: There are thousands of unused
links there and I can't delete them other than individually, which
can't be the solution.

I wouldn't be surprised if Libreoffice just can't handle all these
inactive links and chokes.

#4

also sprach Andreas Säger <villeroy@t-online.de> [2016-04-20 17:11 +0200]:

Works for me. DDE works with system notation ("C:\path name\file
name.ods") and with URL notation
"file:///C:/path%20name/file%20name.ods". Try the system notation.

For testing purposes, I made a copy of the file and used the
absolute path in system notation. The result is the same.

I did notice that — with relative or with absolute paths — that the
DDE() calls work in some contexts, but not in others. It seems very
very brittle and I cannot figure out why.

Avoid all special characters in path names, i.e. all sorts of quotes.

Call menu:Edit>Links to inspect links and delete unused links.

See my other question on the list: There are thousands of unused
links there and I can't delete them other than individually, which
can't be the solution.

It's a heavy misuse of spreadsheets.

I wouldn't be surprised if Libreoffice just can't handle all these
inactive links and chokes.

No spreadsheet can deal with that properly.

#5

Hi Martin,

martin f krafft schrieb:

Hey list,

We're dealing with a complex document containing hundreds of DDE
links. Worse yet, those DDE links are dynamically created, e.g.
using the following formula to reference filename ($B$2), sheet name,
($B$3), column ($B$6), and row (in column $A starting at $A8):

   =DDE("soffice";
     CONCATENATE("file:./";$B$2);
     CONCATENATE("$";$B$3;".$";$B$6;"$";$A8);
     0)

Such DDE works for me on Windows. But I have no part "file:./" but for me it is "c:\". I know Linux has a different way to write a path, but are you sure about the part "file:"?

Does DDE works, if you make a new pair of documents (source and target) in LibreOffice 5?

This worked very well a year ago, but when we tried to open it as of
late, we get "Err:504" (parameter list error) all over.

You should generate a test file in LibreOffice 4 with a DDE-link, which works. (A administrative installation or a portable version should work for that.) Then go to Edit > Links.. in that version and look, what link information are actually generated. Below the list in that dialog you read 'Source file', 'Element' and 'Type'.

The only thing that's changed is that we've since upgraded from
Libreoffice 4 to version 5.

Are you aware of (a) the relevant change, and (b) a remedy to this
problem, so that we can use DDE links as we used to with Libreoffice
5.1.2?

I have tested it with a current developer built from master. [http://dev-builds.libreoffice.org/daily/] Perhaps you try such version too.

I am not aware of any relevant changes. If you can reproduce the problem with a small pair of test documents, then please write a bug report and attach the documents.

Kind regards
Regina