CONVERT_OOO Function (LibreOffice Calc)
The CONVERT_OOO function is a legacy unit-conversion function preserved for compatibility with old OpenOffice.org spreadsheets. It behaves similarly to CONVERT but uses the historical OOo unit codes.
Compatibility
▾| Excel | ✖ |
| Gnumeric | ✖ |
| Google_sheets | ✖ |
| Libreoffice | ✔ |
| Numbers | ✖ |
| Onlyoffice | ✖ |
| Openoffice | ✔ |
| Wps | ✖ |
| Zoho | ✖ |
What the CONVERT_OOO Function Does ▾
- Converts a number from one unit to another
- Uses OpenOffice.org’s legacy unit codes
- Preserves behavior of old OOo spreadsheets
- Exists only for backward compatibility
- Should be replaced with CONVERT in modern files
Syntax ▾
CONVERT_OOO(number; from_unit; to_unit)
Arguments
-
number:
The numeric value to convert. -
from_unit:
Legacy OOo unit code. -
to_unit:
Legacy OOo unit code.
Basic Examples ▾
Convert meters to kilometers (legacy syntax)
=CONVERT_OOO(1000; "m"; "km")
→ 1
Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (legacy)
=CONVERT_OOO(0; "C"; "F")
→ 32
Convert grams to pounds (legacy)
=CONVERT_OOO(1000; "g"; "lb")
→ 2.20462
Advanced Examples ▾
Convert liters to cubic meters
=CONVERT_OOO(500; "L"; "m3")
Convert Pascal to bar
=CONVERT_OOO(101325; "Pa"; "bar")
Convert miles to meters
=CONVERT_OOO(1; "mi"; "m")
Convert joules to calories
=CONVERT_OOO(4184; "J"; "cal")
Legacy Unit Code Notes ▾
CONVERT_OOO uses older OOo unit identifiers, which may differ from:
- modern LibreOffice
CONVERT - Excel’s
CONVERT - SI standard prefixes
Examples of legacy quirks:
"m3"instead of"m^3""cal"vs"cal_th""lb"vs"lbm""deg"vs"°"
Because of these inconsistencies, CONVERT_OOO is not recommended for new formulas.
Edge Cases and Behavior Details ▾
CONVERT_OOO returns a number
Behavior details
- Accepts only legacy OOo unit codes
- Incompatible units → Err:502
- Case-sensitive
- Temperature conversions use nonlinear formulas
- Errors propagate
When to use CONVERT_OOO
- Only when opening old OpenOffice.org spreadsheets
- Only when the original formulas must remain unchanged
- Only when migrating legacy documents
When NOT to use it
- New spreadsheets
- Engineering models
- Scientific workflows
- Anything requiring modern unit standards
Common Errors and Fixes ▾
Err:502 — Invalid argument
Cause:
- Using modern unit codes with CONVERT_OOO
- Mixing legacy and modern units
- Unsupported legacy unit
Fix:
- Replace with modern CONVERT
- Check OOo unit code lists
Wrong conversion result
Cause:
- Legacy unit code mismatch
Fix:
- Migrate formula to modern CONVERT
Migration Guidance ▾
To modernize a spreadsheet:
Replace:
=CONVERT_OOO(value; "old_unit"; "old_unit")
With:
=CONVERT(value; "new_unit"; "new_unit")
Example:
Legacy:
=CONVERT_OOO(1000; "g"; "kg")
Modern:
=CONVERT(1000; "g"; "kg")
Best Practices ▾
- Use CONVERT for all new spreadsheets
- Keep CONVERT_OOO only for legacy compatibility
- Migrate old formulas whenever possible
- Document any remaining legacy units in comments
If you see CONVERT_OOO in a spreadsheet, it’s a signal that the file originated from OpenOffice.org. Modernize it with CONVERT for long-term stability.
Related Patterns and Alternatives ▾
- CONVERT — modern unit conversion
- Legacy OOo functions — compatibility layer
- ROUND / TEXT — formatting converted values
By understanding CONVERT_OOO, you can safely migrate legacy OpenOffice.org spreadsheets into modern LibreOffice Calc environments.