https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=520225
Bug ID: 520225
Summary: Several critical limitations make Kexi unsuitable for
practical use: no CSV export, data loss on schema
change, broken multi-table reports, static images not
working
Classification: Applications
Product: KEXI
Version First unspecified
Reported In:
Platform: Other
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: major
Priority: NOR
Component: General
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
Target Milestone: ---
Title: Several critical limitations make Kexi unsuitable for practical use
Description:
I have been testing Kexi as a FileMaker Pro alternative on Linux Mint (Kexi
version from Ubuntu Noble repositories). After extensive testing I found
several critical limitations that make it unsuitable for real-world use:
1. Data loss when modifying table structure
When adding or modifying a field in an existing table, Kexi drops and recreates
the table instead of using ALTER TABLE, resulting in complete data loss. While
a warning is shown, there is no way to preserve data without an external
workaround.
2. No native CSV export
There is no built-in export function for table data. The only workaround is
using sqlite3 from the command line, which is not acceptable for non-technical
users. Combined with issue #1, this makes data safety practically impossible
without technical knowledge.
3. Reports do not support multiple tables
When a report is based on one table and a field from a second table is added
(e.g. a logo from a separate "settings" table), the report loses its connection
to the main table and all field contents become empty.
4. Static images in report headers do not display
Adding a static image (e.g. a company logo) to a report header via file path
does not work — the image area remains blank regardless of the resize mode
setting.
5. Instability with BLOB fields
Kexi crashes when handling large BLOB fields in forms, especially when using
image controls.
Suggested fixes:
Use ALTER TABLE instead of DROP/CREATE when modifying table structure
Add native CSV/Excel export functionality
Fix multi-table support in the report engine
Fix static image rendering in report headers
Improve BLOB handling stability in forms
These are fundamental features for any database application aimed at
non-technical users. Kexi has excellent potential as a FileMaker alternative on
Linux — fixing these issues would make it a serious tool.
Environment:
OS: Linux Mint (Ubuntu Noble base)
Kexi version: from official repositories
Database backend: SQLite
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