from com.sun.star.beans import PropertyValue
# import uno  # doesn't seem necessary

# I confess I still don't really understand the structures 
# in the next 6 lines - I just hacked away until it all worked.
desktop = XSCRIPTCONTEXT.getDesktop()
ThisComponent = XSCRIPTCONTEXT.getDocument()
sheet = ThisComponent.getSheets().getByIndex(0)
frame = ThisComponent.getCurrentController().getFrame()
ctx = XSCRIPTCONTEXT.getComponentContext() 
dispatcher = ctx.ServiceManager.createInstanceWithContext( 'com.sun.star.frame.DispatchHelper', ctx )

def StartHere():
	for i in range(0,7): # generate a block of unformatted numbers
		for j in range (7, 10):
			sheet.getCellByPosition(i, j).setValue(42) 
 
	FormatColumn("A")	
	FormatColumn("B")	
	FormatColumn("C")
	FormatColumn("D")
	FormatColumn("E")
	
	# If column C is run last, you can see the entire column is selected
	# FormatColumn("C")
########################################################################

########################################################################
# Originally this routine formatted some columns to $xx.xx
# I changed it so it writes desired cell location instead.
def FormatColumn(column):
	for i in range(2,7):
		# create newcell, e.g. 'A3'
		newcell = column+str(i)

		# Can't find another way to do this except dispatcher.  Ugh.
		oProp = PropertyValue()
		
		# move "cursor" to cell locaton 'newcell' 
		# However if newcell points to column C, the row number
		# becomes the column number, and the entire column is 
		# selected.  For example, "C2" selects the entire B column,
		# C3 -> C column, C4 -> D column, etc.
		oProp.Name = 'ToPoint' 
		oProp.Value = newcell
		properties = (oProp,) 
		dispatcher.executeDispatch( frame, '.uno:GoToCell', '', 0, properties )

		# Idea was to set $xx.xx format for selected cell, but
		# if cell is Ci, it changes the entire column to $xx.xx
		oProp.Name = 'NumberFormatValue'
		oProp.Value = 21 # currency
		properties = (oProp,)
		dispatcher.executeDispatch( frame, '.uno:NumberFormatValue', '', 0, properties )
		
		# Writes the (intended) cell location to that cell
		oProp.Name = 'StringName' 
		oProp.Value = newcell
		properties = (oProp,) 
		dispatcher.executeDispatch( frame, '.uno:EnterString', '', 0, properties )

if __name__ == '__main__':
    StartHere(1)