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I run an important database on Lotus Approach and I have found that
Approach will not install on a fresh version of Windows.
To surmount the problem I have downloaded Libre Office and attempted to
transfer the database on to it. I appear to have succeeded but the result
is what looks like a spreadsheet and I cannot find a way to display one
record at a time.
I am pretty computer savvy even though ninety years of age. I could do with
a simpler manual than the one I have found on the web which is hundreds of
pages long and I cannot copy the sections which look as thought they might
be helpful. Can you help?
Ernest Dale
ernest.dale18@gmail.com
Hello Ernest,
I don't know whether I understand your query completely, but - have you tried
the various filtering capabilites that are available in the menu bar of Base?
Regards
Heinrich
P.S.: I am also quite an oldie - was around (IBM) before the time Ed Codd "invented"
SQL/Rel.DB
I have been considering using Approach as a database/language like Foxpro
under Linux/Wine. Have you tried this or are you using MS Windows.
John
... I appear to have succeeded but the result
is what looks like a spreadsheet and I cannot find a way to display one
record at a time.
As already suggested filtering can limit the number of rows that are
displayed. If you prefer to see the data in a form (which shows only one
record at a time regardless of filtering) rather than what appears to be a
row in a spreadsheet...
1. Open your LO Base database.
2. Select "Forms" from the column of icons on the left side of the window
3. In Tasks, near the center top of the window, select either option. I
suggest selecting "Use Wizard to Create Form..."
4. Use the options in the Wizard to create a form that displays one record
at a time.
-- Form arrangement options are in step 5 of the form wizard. Chose any
"Arrangement of the main form" options *except* "As Data Sheet"
... I could do with
a simpler manual than the one I have found on the web which is hundreds of
pages long and I cannot copy the sections which look as thought they might
be helpful. Can you help?
Ernest Dale
If you haven't already found this link
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Publications#LibreOffice_Base_Guide
it connects to several varieties of documentation. A full manual which you
apparently found and several smaller guides as well.
I don't have any idea what is causing your problem "...I cannot copy the
sections..." The link provided above goes to user guides in both PDF and
ODT format. Individual pages can be printed from any of these documents.
And, anything in those documents can be copied using the usual method
- select with mouse
- right click selection
- click copy
- go to destination
- paste copied text/image into destination
Since Approach used the dBase file format as its default, did you import
the data using the LO dBase import filter? If you did, it's likely that you
imported it into LO Calc, which is a spreadsheet program. You can open the
spreadsheet in LO Base, but it will be read-only.
Please let us know the operating system us are using and the version of LO
you are using, along with more details, such as whether you really need the
capabilities of a relational database and the kind of reports you need to
produce.
Hi 
Can Base directly connect to a Lotus Approach database and use it as
the back-end?
@Ernest, Have you still got access to the old Windows and thus the
Lotus Approach directly or was this an upgrade (or a machine exchange
or some sort)? I take it you exported the data as a ".csv" file and
that is what is looking like a flat spreadsheet?
Alan B's way of making a form sounds like the best as it should allow
easy data-entry. If you need people to be able to access it in only
read mode then it might be good to make a form in Writer so that they
have all the tools they are familiar with
Regards from
Tom
Hi,
To surmount the problem I have downloaded Libre Office and attempted to
transfer the database on to it. I appear to have succeeded but the result
is what looks like a spreadsheet and I cannot find a way to display one
record at a time.
1) How did you transfer the database ? LO can not read APR files per se.
2) LO can read the dbf files that Lotus Approach creates to store its data :
- by default in Calc, the spreadsheet component, this might be what you
are seeing on your screen, but you don't give enough detail to clue us
in a bit more - however, this will not be a database, and there are
known issues when re-exporting (i.e. saving) your data from Calc in DBF3
format ;
- you can import the dbf files into a new LO Base file, using the
database creation wizard, and choosing "Connect to existing database".
DBF should be in the drop down list of selectable db types. Make sure
that the tables you want to connect to are all in the same directory.
When importing multiple DBF tables into an ODB file (LibreOffice
database file), you will lose all relationship constraints. DBF support
in LO does not extend to multitable queries, foreign key setting or
relational integrity. You will lose all your forms and queries. You
might be able to export your queries from Approach as SQL (haven't
checked), but if they involve joins, they will no longer work in LO.
The only way I know of currently, at least on Windows, to have
multitable DBF queries with LO is to use ODBC, which means you would
have to find a driver that will work for you.
Note that once you have created your ODB file referencing DBF tables,
you could re-import them from the DBF/ODB by drag and drop into a
default embedded hsqldb ODB file of your making (File > new Database),
and then reconstruct the key constraints, queries and forms.
Alex
Tom,
Can Base directly connect to a Lotus Approach database and use it as
the back-end?
No. Never has and probably never will.
@Ernest, Have you still got access to the old Windows and thus the
Lotus Approach directly or was this an upgrade (or a machine exchange
or some sort)? I take it you exported the data as a ".csv" file and
that is what is looking like a flat spreadsheet?
Lotus Approach saves its databases as an APR file extension, but the
actual data is stored as a group of DBF tables. Any binary (e.g. image)
data or extended character data (Memo fields, etc) are stored in a
separate DBT file which is referenced in some way by the APR file and
thus appears in the DBF file that contains the binary field.
It was/is for its time a brilliant piece of kit that held its own with
Access and FMPro. It had an accessible UI and form builder, had a fairly
competent SQL parser, and could even be scripted with Lotus Smartscript.
In fact, from the user perspective, it was "intuitive", everything which
LO Base is not. I fully understand why people have stuck with it.
However, it was essentially, single OS (well it did run on OS/2 as well
for a while in Windows compatibility mode), as the software was provided
for the Windows platform only.
Alex
** Reply to message from Alex Thurgood <alex.thurgood@gmail.com> on Mon, 20
Jan 2014 09:19:13 +0100
Tom,
> Can Base directly connect to a Lotus Approach database and use it as
> the back-end?No. Never has and probably never will.
>
> @Ernest, Have you still got access to the old Windows and thus the
> Lotus Approach directly or was this an upgrade (or a machine exchange
> or some sort)? I take it you exported the data as a ".csv" file and
> that is what is looking like a flat spreadsheet?Lotus Approach saves its databases as an APR file extension, but the
actual data is stored as a group of DBF tables. Any binary (e.g. image)
data or extended character data (Memo fields, etc) are stored in a
separate DBT file which is referenced in some way by the APR file and
thus appears in the DBF file that contains the binary field.It was/is for its time a brilliant piece of kit that held its own with
Access and FMPro. It had an accessible UI and form builder, had a fairly
competent SQL parser, and could even be scripted with Lotus Smartscript.
In fact, from the user perspective, it was "intuitive", everything which
LO Base is not. I fully understand why people have stuck with it.
However, it was essentially, single OS (well it did run on OS/2 as well
for a while in Windows compatibility mode), as the software was provided
for the Windows platform only.
Alex,
Slight correction, Approach was written for OS/2 Warp4 as well as Windoz. I
am using ver 1.6 on eCS running in VBox on my Mac. As you say it is very
intuitive and easy to make queries. I would change over to Base if it was
straight forward, but there's no way Base would be anywhere near as easy to
use so I'm sticking to eCS.
Cliff
Hi
@ Ernest, errr, if you could upload your screen-shot or file to Nabble that
might help get some advice from Alex and the others here.
Follow the links to Nabble and in the correct thread reply to any suitable
post. Just above where you type in the message is a row of buttons with the
last being "More". The top one there is "upload" which works much the same
as upload an attachment to an email except that it puts a line of html code
into the message. You can move the inserted code around a bit if you need
to, or even edit it if you are comfortable with html
@ Alex, thanks for the insights and summary there.
Regards from
Tom