LibreOffice Macro - straight quotes to curly

StraightQuotes2CurlyQuotes.bas

sub StraightQuotes2CurlyQuotes
' Thanks to Tintazul for refinements
'    https://gist.github.com/Tintazul/deb5e137cabf86ddf4c2
' Now updated to work with LibreOffice Writer Version: 5.0.x

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
rem define variables
dim document   as object
dim dispatcher as object
dim undo as object

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
rem create single undo action
undo = ThisComponent.UndoManager
undo.enterUndoContext("Educate quotes")

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
rem get access to the document
document   = ThisComponent.CurrentController.Frame
dispatcher = createUnoService("com.sun.star.frame.DispatchHelper")

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args1(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args1(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args1(0).Value = 2
args1(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args1(1).Value = 0
args1(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args1(2).Value = true
args1(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args1(3).Value = false
args1(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args1(4).Value = false
args1(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args1(5).Value = false
args1(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args1(6).Value = false
args1(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args1(7).Value = false
args1(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args1(8).Value = 1
args1(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args1(9).Value = 65536
args1(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args1(10).Value = CHR$(34)+"\<"
args1(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args1(11).Value = "“"
args1(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args1(12).Value = 255
args1(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args1(13).Value = 2
args1(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args1(14).Value = 2
args1(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args1(15).Value = 2
args1(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args1(16).Value = 1280
args1(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args1(17).Value = 3
args1(18).Name = "Quiet"
args1(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args1())

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args2(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args2(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args2(0).Value = 2
args2(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args2(1).Value = 0
args2(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args2(2).Value = true
args2(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args2(3).Value = false
args2(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args2(4).Value = false
args2(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args2(5).Value = false
args2(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args2(6).Value = false
args2(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args2(7).Value = false
args2(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args2(8).Value = 1
args2(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args2(9).Value = 65536
args2(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args2(10).Value = CHR$(34)+"([\[\(])"
args2(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args2(11).Value = "“$1"
args2(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args2(12).Value = 255
args2(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args2(13).Value = 2
args2(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args2(14).Value = 2
args2(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args2(15).Value = 2
args2(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args2(16).Value = 1280
args2(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args2(17).Value = 3
args2(18).Name = "Quiet"
args2(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args2())


rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args3(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args3(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args3(0).Value = 2
args3(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args3(1).Value = 0
args3(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args3(2).Value = true
args3(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args3(3).Value = false
args3(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args3(4).Value = false
args3(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args3(5).Value = false
args3(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args3(6).Value = false
args3(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args3(7).Value = false
args3(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args3(8).Value = 1
args3(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args3(9).Value = 65536
args3(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args3(10).Value = "\>"+CHR$(34)
args3(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args3(11).Value = "”"
args3(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args3(12).Value = 255
args3(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args3(13).Value = 2
args3(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args3(14).Value = 2
args3(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args3(15).Value = 2
args3(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args3(16).Value = 1280
args3(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args3(17).Value = 3
args3(18).Name = "Quiet"
args3(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args3())

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args4(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args4(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args4(0).Value = 2
args4(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args4(1).Value = 0
args4(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args4(2).Value = true
args4(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args4(3).Value = false
args4(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args4(4).Value = false
args4(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args4(5).Value = false
args4(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args4(6).Value = false
args4(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args4(7).Value = false
args4(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args4(8).Value = 1
args4(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args4(9).Value = 65536
args4(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args4(10).Value = "([,.;!?\]\)])"+CHR$(34)
args4(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args4(11).Value = "$1”"
args4(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args4(12).Value = 255
args4(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args4(13).Value = 2
args4(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args4(14).Value = 2
args4(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args4(15).Value = 2
args4(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args4(16).Value = 1280
args4(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args4(17).Value = 3
args4(18).Name = "Quiet"
args4(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args4())

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args5(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args5(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args5(0).Value = 2
args5(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args5(1).Value = 0
args5(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args5(2).Value = true
args5(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args5(3).Value = false
args5(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args5(4).Value = false
args5(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args5(5).Value = false
args5(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args5(6).Value = false
args5(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args5(7).Value = false
args5(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args5(8).Value = 1
args5(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args5(9).Value = 65536
args5(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args5(10).Value = CHR$(39)+"\<"
args5(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args5(11).Value = "‘"
args5(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args5(12).Value = 255
args5(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args5(13).Value = 2
args5(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args5(14).Value = 2
args5(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args5(15).Value = 2
args5(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args5(16).Value = 1280
args5(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args5(17).Value = 3
args5(18).Name = "Quiet"
args5(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args5())

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args6(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args6(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args6(0).Value = 2
args6(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args6(1).Value = 0
args6(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args6(2).Value = true
args6(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args6(3).Value = false
args6(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args6(4).Value = false
args6(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args6(5).Value = false
args6(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args6(6).Value = false
args6(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args6(7).Value = false
args6(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args6(8).Value = 1
args6(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args6(9).Value = 65536
args6(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args6(10).Value = CHR$(39)+"([\[\(])"
args6(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args6(11).Value = "‘$1"
args6(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args6(12).Value = 255
args6(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args6(13).Value = 2
args6(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args6(14).Value = 2
args6(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args6(15).Value = 2
args6(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args6(16).Value = 1280
args6(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args6(17).Value = 3
args6(18).Name = "Quiet"
args6(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args6())

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
dim args7(18) as new com.sun.star.beans.PropertyValue
args7(0).Name = "SearchItem.StyleFamily"
args7(0).Value = 2
args7(1).Name = "SearchItem.CellType"
args7(1).Value = 0
args7(2).Name = "SearchItem.RowDirection"
args7(2).Value = true
args7(3).Name = "SearchItem.AllTables"
args7(3).Value = false
args7(4).Name = "SearchItem.Backward"
args7(4).Value = false
args7(5).Name = "SearchItem.Pattern"
args7(5).Value = false
args7(6).Name = "SearchItem.Content"
args7(6).Value = false
args7(7).Name = "SearchItem.AsianOptions"
args7(7).Value = false
args7(8).Name = "SearchItem.AlgorithmType"
args7(8).Value = 1
args7(9).Name = "SearchItem.SearchFlags"
args7(9).Value = 65536
args7(10).Name = "SearchItem.SearchString"
args7(10).Value = "'"
args7(11).Name = "SearchItem.ReplaceString"
args7(11).Value = "’"
args7(12).Name = "SearchItem.Locale"
args7(12).Value = 255
args7(13).Name = "SearchItem.ChangedChars"
args7(13).Value = 2
args7(14).Name = "SearchItem.DeletedChars"
args7(14).Value = 2
args7(15).Name = "SearchItem.InsertedChars"
args7(15).Value = 2
args7(16).Name = "SearchItem.TransliterateFlags"
args7(16).Value = 1280
args7(17).Name = "SearchItem.Command"
args7(17).Value = 3
args7(18).Name = "Quiet"
args7(18).Value = true

dispatcher.executeDispatch(document, ".uno:ExecuteSearch", "", 0, args7())

rem ----------------------------------------------------------------------
rem close the undo action
undo.leaveUndoContext

end sub

Hi @LMPerkins – I had to adapt the code for myself, as it was eating up punctuation; e.g. it would find "really?" and replace with “really” (note missing question mark).
Also, I wanted this to count as a single undo action; since the macro consisted of four find/replace actions, it was taking four undo actions to undo this macro. Took me over an hour to find out how to do it (newb LibreOffice programmer!), but I nailed it.
So, here’s my code – I don’t know if it solves your problem, but you might as well give it a try: https://gist.github.com/Tintazul/deb5e137cabf86ddf4c2
Cheers!

@Tintazul - thanks for the refinements! It looks to me like mixing word-boundary searches with other kinds was messing with the back-references. I'm not sure if this is related to long-reported bug as that relates to impress, but it seems to affect this "macro" for Writer, too.

I've elaborated my macro, incorporating your "single undo" wrapper. (Nice!) This will now respect/retain punctuation -- at least in my tests -- whether preceding or following the quotation marks (single or double).

I was using this macro, and I find that the word Dr.'s is turning into Dr.‘s, with the wrong kind of single quote (with an opening single quote instead of a closing single quote).

Thanks for the code! I had to update it a little bit to get it to work on my copy of LibreOffice, version 5.2.0.4. Not sure exactly why the extra SearchItem.AlgorithmType2 with value 2 needed to be added to this particular Find and Replace, but without it in my particular document I ended up with literal a little "$1”" in my text. Recording a new macro added this in. Annoyingly I can't reproduce the problem in an empty document...

https://gist.github.com/flexo/ae3758b744cf5aef852e851018a184dc