Libre Office Base

users
#1

Hi All

I'm running two copies of LO Base here - and old one using HSQL embedded and a new one using MySQL.

Firstly I notice is that if I sort the DB the sort only holds for the duration of the session. Is it possible to make a sort order "stick".
ie - I sort into Lastname then First Name and would like that to remain fixed.

Second on the new MySQL version the Tick Boxes come out very small. Is it possible to enlarge these at all?

My version of LO is 4.4.0.3 on PClinuxOS.

Thanks for any help.

IanW
Pretoria RSA

#2

Hi All

I'm running two copies of LO Base here - and old one using HSQL embedded
and a new one using MySQL.

Firstly I notice is that if I sort the DB the sort only holds for the
duration of the session. Is it possible to make a sort order "stick".
ie - I sort into Lastname then First Name and would like that to remain
fixed.

SELECT * FROM "Table" ORDER BY "what","you","want"

Second on the new MySQL version the Tick Boxes come out very small. Is
it possible to enlarge these at all?

The database engine (MySQL) has zero influence on the tick boxes.

#3

Hi Andreas

SELECT * FROM "Table" ORDER BY "what","you","want"

Thanks - I was hoping there was a way to do this from the GUI!!

The database engine (MySQL) has zero influence on the tick boxes.

OK understood - but is there any way to adjust their size??

Thanks for the help

IanW
Pretoria RSA

#4

Hi Andreas

SELECT * FROM "Table" ORDER BY "what","you","want"

Thanks - I was hoping there was a way to do this from the GUI!!

It is, more or less, in the GUI: You just have to open the Form's
properties dialog box and correct the already present query (or insert, not
sure) with the suggested one. Just a row to write in a property.

The database engine (MySQL) has zero influence on the tick boxes.

OK understood - but is there any way to adjust their size??

In this case You have to open the form in edit mode (just like for the
previous point), click on the CheckBox and resize it.

I hope to have been clear, but if not, please ask again.

#5

Hi Andreas

SELECT * FROM "Table" ORDER BY "what","you","want"

Thanks - I was hoping there was a way to do this from the GUI!!

The GUI is almost useless compared to the options that are provided by
the most basic SQL statements.
Of course you may use the idiotic "query designer" to build a similar
(though more complicated) query, but why?

The clou is: After you have defined this simple query one way or the
other, you can simply use this query instead of the original table. It
has the exact same properties as the original table, behaves exactly in
the same ways while presenting the data in the sort order you want.

The database engine (MySQL) has zero influence on the tick boxes.

OK understood - but is there any way to adjust their size??

I don't know. I would expect that the theme of your window manager is
responsible for this.

#6

In this particular case the query designer is stupid because you need to
include all the fields in the right column order. You can not select *
(all fields) and then apply some sort order on fields that are not visible.

And you can not define something like

SELECT "want", "what", "you"
FROM "Table"
ORDER BY "what","you","want"

where the field order differs from the sort order which does not matter
since the column order means nothing. In your forms and reports you are
free to use the fields in any column order.

There are many more reasons why the query designer is completely
inefficient and inadequate in the context of a relational database.
Writing down simple SQL statements is so much easier than using this GUI
rubbish. Quite often the designer turns a valid SQL statement into an
invalid one. Very often it fails to do mildly advanced stuff.
There are similar issues with the table designer, the index designer and
the form designer. The form designer is the worst member of the crew.

#7

I posted this 2 days back but don't see it coming up on the Form - Let's try again .....

Hi Gabriele

/It is, more or less, in the GUI: You just have to open the Form's properties dialog box and correct the already present query (or insert, not sure) with the suggested one. Just a row to write in a property. /

Where is the Form's Properties Dialog Box?? Can't seem to find anything with this name!

    /Re-sizing Check Boxes/

/In this case You have to open the form in edit mode (just like for the previous point), click on the CheckBox and resize it./

This does not work - You can enlarge the box but this only creates a larger gray area round two sides of the Check Box which keeps it's original size!!??

Thanks for the help

IanW
Pretoria RSA

#8

What you are forgetting is that all of those functions are supposed to
provide the equivalent experience as Microsoft Access does in MSO.

jonathon

#9

There are many more reasons why the query designer is completely
inefficient and inadequate in the context of a relational database.

What you are forgetting is that all of those functions are supposed to
provide the equivalent experience as Microsoft Access does in MSO.

Like this one?

#10

I have read with interest the comments about Libre Office. Over the years I have managed large (100 Million records and small databases ( 1 million records or less) using Oracle, running in Unix machines. I have also developed a number of small ( less than 100,000 records ) using a variety of data base software (e. g. Paradox, Dbase, MS Access etc ). Over the last few years, since I retired I have run Oracle on Linux. Mysql, and now Libre Base. For my current needs I have found Libre Base more than adequate. I use straight out of the box and use its internal data base engine. I currently run four data bases, the largest has about 10,000 records. I have found it possible to produce the reports I need and the data summaries etc just as easily as I could in MS Access or even Oracle. The developers deserve congratulations on producing this product. If I were forced to pay for MS products I would have to stop my computing since XP is no longer supported and I cannot afford to buy the latest windows and associated software.

Like all software Libre Base has its quirks and the documentation probably needs improving but overall it is a very useful product. If problems occur it is well worth reading the available documentation and then if the solution is not obvious e-mail the list.

Regards

Peter Goggin

#11

Indeed, I have no important office document that is not connected to
some type of database -- one way or the other, dBase, HSQL server, csv,
spreadsheet or H2 SQL.
My users are very happy with my data sources but whenever they need
something different or something new, they have to contact me.

Common misconceptions:
Base is a development tool. It is not for end users. The result of your
work should be aimed at end users.
As soon as you create your first database table, you develop your own
data structure, a user-defined storage format so to say where data types
play the most important role. Most office users can not even comprehend
the difference between text and values in a spreadsheet. Relations and
indices are further refinements of your data structure. Proper database
design requires some knowledge beforehand. Learning by doing is not an
option here.
The database has nothing to do with Base. HSQL, MySQL, Calc or your
Microsoft ADO driver work independently. First of all, you work with
these programs while developing with Base.
Base provides forms for the aledged end user to fill your predefined
data structures. The input form transfers meaningful information into
data which are stored in your structures. Form design is development
work as well. It requires that you fully understand the underlying data
structures and how to utilize the limited set of (sub-)forms and their
form controls. Form design is also the place where most of the macro
development takes place (if any).
Queries turn meaningless data into meaningful information. Reports dump
information to printable office documents.

End users load forms to type information into the right places of your
structure and they load reports, form letters, spreadsheets to fetch
some of the stored data as meaningful information.
All the questionable "helpers" that were implemented back in 2005
(OpenOffice.org 2.0) have not much improved since then and they are
mostly obsolete. Any person with the mind set of a developer is better
off without them.
Nevertheless, we have to recognize that >90% of all Base documents out
there link spreadsheets to form letters. In this very limited context,
the existing primitive query designer adds some extra value for those
who never wrote a single SQL statement.

#12

Hi Ian,

This does not work - You can enlarge the box but this only creates a
larger gray area round two sides of the Check Box which keeps it's
original size!!??

Yes, this is a longstanding known limitation of the tickbox control
object. It can not be resized, the object frame around it can, but not
the object itself.

Alex