Base graphics/visualization

users
#1

I too am interested in knowing if & how LO can do graphs, et.al..

#2

Hi :slight_smile:
As i understand it Calc and Writer are meant to be used for the Forms and
Reports.

The in-built Forms&Reports are just to make Base more familiar for people
moving away from MS Access.

Similarly Base also allows data tables to be kept internally in the
in-built back-end = just like MS Access. However, unlike Access, it is
really meant to be used with an external back-end and that could be on a
file-server or somewhere weird for security or to allow many different
machines to share the same data easily. About the 1st things Base asks for
is where the data is. In your case you could set Base to use the
spreadsheet that you already have as it's back-end = then later on move the
data to a different back-end program (such as MySql/MariaDb or Postgresql
or something) for greater stability.

This way of modularising the database means that normal users see the data
in a familiar program (eg Writer or Calc) without needing to learn all
about the complexities of database design. It means even normal users can
use existing Forms and Reports to make new ones or to make minor
modifications without much risk to the database itself.

Regards form
Tom :slight_smile:

#3

What I want to be able to do is (for now) have a pdf report that shows
the statistics (records, averages, deviations) and charts that show up
to four variables on the same axis. So the first question is can I do
that with Base and Calc? This needs to be automated so that each day I
run a report on the current data and get the report. I have no problem
with using LO scripting language if needed, I just need to know that
this can be done and generally how.

If the answer is that it can't be done, or would require extensive work,
then waht are the alternatives? I looked at MariaDb, but did not see
any built-in tools to do what I want. As I mentioned in the original
post, I'm fine with using Base and an external program like R if it can
produce waht I want.

Dave,

#4

I just went to the LO page and see they have a module called Charts. I
have 4.1, but the Charts module is not included, so my guess is that it
is part of the new release next month. Anyway, does anyone familiar
with Charts think that this may be an answer?

Dave,

#5

Dave,

The charts/diagrams have been around for a long time. You can insert one on a spreadsheet by going to the Insert menu then selecting Charts.

Best,

Charles.

#6

Yes, I have used charts in Calc. However, it looks like Charts is
being pulled out as a new module, not just in Calc.
http://www.libreoffice.org/discover/charts/

Dave,

#7

Hi :slight_smile:
This handbook and the guide might help
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Publications#LibreOffice_Base_Handbook
and the Faq
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Faq/Base
They might mainly cover the simplest cases, of using just the in-built
stuff but hopefully gives enough indication of how to use Base properly.

It is difficult for people to understand even the basics so documentation
is a big challenge.
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#8

Hello Dave,

Nope it is the same module although it is being updated.

Best,

Charles.

#9

Hi :slight_smile:
Many, many people do "goof on the resend". The mailing-lists here are
set-up to ensure that it does happen. Glad you noticed and were able to
fix it. Most people don't realise!

Apache are far better at supporting Base. Here we rely on a few regulars
who happen to be extremely good with it but they don't seem to have been
around this weekend. Sorry! :frowning: Apache forums seem quite happy answering
questions about LibreOffice. Unfortunately they seem to have 1 forum that
is over-run by spammers and 1 that is excellent and i never remember which
is which. A google search gave me this forum;
https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/
with this section for Base;
https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewforum.php?f=13
This section has some example databases (perhaps worth modifying?)
https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewforum.php?f=100

This thread seems to cover how to use Calc for a Form/Report
https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=18511
but sadly doesn't cover the final step of showing how to build a chart from
there. My guess is that the chart would be fairly easy from where that
thread finishes.

Apache have further documentation;
https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Database

Note that a LOT of the resources Apache has were originally developed by
people who are now in LibreOffice and that there are quite a few people who
work in both projects.

There are also video tutorials
http://www.spoken-tutorial.org/list_videos?view=1&foss=LibreOffice-Suite-Base&language=English
from a project funded by the Indian Government. The quality of English is
excellent and it's rare to find one with any hint of an accent
(unfortunately). I think they take quality very seriously despite but are
still quite a friendly organisation. We should advertise these tutorials
more widely imo.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#10

Tom,

It is not often I speak out in this way, and I hate to say it, but
sometimes I really do wonder whether you're on medication, drugs,
alcohol, or suffering from some form of permanent euphoric mind-altering
state.

Apache are far better at supporting Base. Here we rely on a few regulars

Well there's a nice sweeping generalisation, and a wrong one at that.
Apache don't support Base more than any other application or program or
code that is covered by their foundation.

who happen to be extremely good with it but they don't seem to have been
around this weekend. Sorry! :frowning: Apache forums seem quite happy answering
questions about LibreOffice. Unfortunately they seem to have 1 forum that
is over-run by spammers and 1 that is excellent and i never remember which
is which. A google search gave me this forum;

The fact that there is more information available about Base on the OOo
forums is not new, those forums were around a long time before LO even
existed. The posters and people on those forums were tackling real Base
problems many, many years ago. The fact that the LO project thought it a
necessity to provide some other forms of communication medium was borne
as a result mainly of differences in egos between all of the members
that had created the mammoth OOo user-based community. This created
divided user support forums, which personally, I think was probably one
of the biggest mistakes ever, particularly with regard to Base. But hey,
such is life. The fact of the matter, and I will grant you that, is that
the OOo Base forums are far more replete with useful answers than
anything the LO user support media/channels have to offfer, save perhaps
the present Base User Guides.

there. My guess is that the chart would be fairly easy from where that
thread finishes.

Have you tried this for yourself ? Have you tried using any of the more
sophisticated Base functionality at all ? When you do, then you can make
sweeping statements about how easy, or not, something can be done.

Sorry, if I appear harsh, but sometimes smiling inanely and answering
off the top of one's head just doesn't cut it.

Alex