Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
Hi Paul, > these databases have been simple table of information that need to be > stored, updated and printed. It would almost work as a table in a word > processed document bar the fact that you can't sort properly there. Before databases were common on Unix, this would be the province of its programming environment. One-line per record text files were a table. awk(1) can do selections, projections, and calculations, e.g. aggregations. sort(1)'s available. Combined with uniq(1) you get details of frequencies, duplications, or just a unique list. comm(1) highlights differences. join(1) does a relational join of tables, and paste(1) a simple side-by-side join. All coordinated by a shell script or too for common canned tasks and reports, troff(1) and pr(1) providing formatting pretty formatting or simple pagination. It's a fun way of learning Unix, even if SQLite is handily on-tap these days. Cheers, Ralph. -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
[Dorset] New (ish) HTML editor
Those of you who do a lot of HTML editing might be interested in the release into the open-source community of Brackets, an HTML editor. There are downloads for Debian-based systems. See http://brackets.io/ Regards to all, and see you on Tuesday, Christopher S. -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
** David Smith [2013-11-01 16:57]: > On Friday, November 01, 2013 4:27 PM Paul Tansom wrote > >I think I've been put off desktop databases by MS Access where > >I've had several > >battles to get it to do what I want it to. Generally I've wanted > >to interact > >with the SQL it generates, only to find that either it isn't > >really SQL or it > >is actually doing more behind the scenes than the SQL it presents actually > >tells it to - very nasty! It is going back a bit so it may have improved. > > I found MS Access fine for single user, but it could not cope > properly with multi user - locking inadequate I think. I've not got into that, multi-user wise I've always gone for a proper backend and a web interface, even back when I was force to work with a combination of MS SQL, Javascript and a CGI called HotSQL do develop a call logging system that should look workable in IE, Netscape Navigator and WebExplorer on either Windows 95 or OS/2 in 640x480 or above with 16 colours or more! > >Oddly, when it comes to desktop databases I've found that the MS > >Works one has > >been the one I've got on best with (OK, now everybody gets ready > >to hurl abuse > >at me!). I think the main reason for this is that the database is > >little more > >than a single table for storing data that I can merge into a > >document. Since > >this is a long time ago and that is exactly what I wanted to do it > >was easy. > >There doesn't seem to be much around that works well for > >exceptionally basic > >stuff like that these days. I've been battling LibreOffice Base a bit on > >Windows to do something simple like that just recently and not got > >on well. It > >is no wonder so many simplistic databases are done in spreadsheets! > > I need to do Joins and grouping of records etc. Spreadsheets not > good for that. Yes, for my own stuff I work like that, these databases have been simple table of information that need to be stored, updated and printed. It would almost work as a table in a word processed document bar the fact that you can't sort properly there. In a database the records stay together, I've sorted columns in spreadsheets and word processors where only the column itself has been sorted and all other columns have stayed as they were - great way to screw up the data! > I cannot understand the Firebird documentation. SQlite seems fine. > It seems that sequences of SQL statements can be executed from Linux > shell scripts. This will avoid having to write C or C++ programs. Sounds like fun :) ** end quote [David Smith] -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com/ | 023 9238 0001 = Registered in England | Company No: 4905028 | Registered Office: Ralls House, Parklands Business Park, Forrest Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6XP -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
On Friday, November 01, 2013 4:27 PM Paul Tansom wrote Interesting, I've not made massive use of LibreOffice Base yet, so I am surprised that it cannot import from .csv or run update queries. I'm going to have to explore now, if only I could install it on my machine. Unfortunately it seems that LibreOffice Base is at a different version in my repositories than the rest of LibreOffice so I can't install it! I have been using Open Office Base, which I think is much the same. On my Linux laptop the other components of Libre Office were installed but not Base. I think I've been put off desktop databases by MS Access where I've had several battles to get it to do what I want it to. Generally I've wanted to interact with the SQL it generates, only to find that either it isn't really SQL or it is actually doing more behind the scenes than the SQL it presents actually tells it to - very nasty! It is going back a bit so it may have improved. I found MS Access fine for single user, but it could not cope properly with multi user - locking inadequate I think. Oddly, when it comes to desktop databases I've found that the MS Works one has been the one I've got on best with (OK, now everybody gets ready to hurl abuse at me!). I think the main reason for this is that the database is little more than a single table for storing data that I can merge into a document. Since this is a long time ago and that is exactly what I wanted to do it was easy. There doesn't seem to be much around that works well for exceptionally basic stuff like that these days. I've been battling LibreOffice Base a bit on Windows to do something simple like that just recently and not got on well. It is no wonder so many simplistic databases are done in spreadsheets! I need to do Joins and grouping of records etc. Spreadsheets not good for that. I cannot understand the Firebird documentation. SQlite seems fine. It seems that sequences of SQL statements can be executed from Linux shell scripts. This will avoid having to write C or C++ programs. -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
** David Smith [2013-10-31 22:01]: > This may be outside what DLUG normally discusses. If so please say > and I will look elsewhere. > I am looking for free software to run under Linux to implement a > small database. A free version of MS Access would be ideal! Access > is part of MS Office professional and allows you to create and run > SQL queries by point and click rather than needing to know SQL > syntax. My database would live on one pc - no separation of server > and client. > > Initially I thought Open Office/Libre Office Base would do the > trick, but it only supports select queries, not Update queries, make > table queries etc. Access allows data to be imported from a .csv > file into a data table, and exported to .csv. In Base you have to > cut and paste between spreadsheet and table table or query - unless > of course you write VBA modules which is the hard way of doing > things. > > I have tried downloading a version of Firebird but don't know what > to do next. I cannot even find an install program. ** end quote [David Smith] Interesting, I've not made massive use of LibreOffice Base yet, so I am surprised that it cannot import from .csv or run update queries. I'm going to have to explore now, if only I could install it on my machine. Unfortunately it seems that LibreOffice Base is at a different version in my repositories than the rest of LibreOffice so I can't install it! I think I've been put off desktop databases by MS Access where I've had several battles to get it to do what I want it to. Generally I've wanted to interact with the SQL it generates, only to find that either it isn't really SQL or it is actually doing more behind the scenes than the SQL it presents actually tells it to - very nasty! It is going back a bit so it may have improved. Oddly, when it comes to desktop databases I've found that the MS Works one has been the one I've got on best with (OK, now everybody gets ready to hurl abuse at me!). I think the main reason for this is that the database is little more than a single table for storing data that I can merge into a document. Since this is a long time ago and that is exactly what I wanted to do it was easy. There doesn't seem to be much around that works well for exceptionally basic stuff like that these days. I've been battling LibreOffice Base a bit on Windows to do something simple like that just recently and not got on well. It is no wonder so many simplistic databases are done in spreadsheets! I'd forgotten all about Firebird. I used that briefly back in its Interbase days, but got force across to MS SQL Server, which again wasn't proper SQL. That said there were features I missed when I moved to MySQL, although in spite of that I've never made the leap across to Postgres, I guess because a lot of what I do now is simply installing it to backend a website - boring! -- Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. | http://www.aptanet.com/ | 023 9238 0001 = Registered in England | Company No: 4905028 | Registered Office: Ralls House, Parklands Business Park, Forrest Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6XP -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
On Friday, November 01, 2013 12:54 PM Andrew Montgomery-Hurrell wrote: Oh, regarding firebird, I find on my ubuntu box that: sudo aptitude install flamerobin Installs firebird and a GUI client called flamerobin, if you've got a preference for firebird over sqlite. Thanks but will try SQlite first -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
Oh, regarding firebird, I find on my ubuntu box that: sudo aptitude install flamerobin Installs firebird and a GUI client called flamerobin, if you've got a preference for firebird over sqlite. On 1 November 2013 12:48, David Smith wrote: > > On Friday, November 01, 2013 11:01 AM Simon P Smith wrote > > At the risk of being burnt at the stake :-) >> > > Many good suggestions in this thread but let me throw up one more... >> > > You said "free" software. Whilst I use postgres and MySQL extensively >> some clients >> are M$ shops and so the database must reside on MSSQL. There is a an >> SQLExpress >> version of this which includes the GUI management tools and database >> back-end >> which I use for portability testing. It is "free" as a download from M$. >> > > Thanks Simon. I have no moral objection to your suggestion, provided M$ do > not gain, but I will try SQlite first. > > And thanks Ralph for your weblink. > > David > > -- > Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 > Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ > New thread on mailing list: > mailto:dor...@mailman.lug.org.**uk > How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue > -- Andrew Montgomery-Hurrell Professional Geek Blog: http://darkliquid.co.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkliquid Fiction: http://www.protagonize.com/author/darkliquid -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
On Friday, November 01, 2013 11:01 AM Simon P Smith wrote At the risk of being burnt at the stake :-) Many good suggestions in this thread but let me throw up one more... You said "free" software. Whilst I use postgres and MySQL extensively some clients are M$ shops and so the database must reside on MSSQL. There is a an SQLExpress version of this which includes the GUI management tools and database back-end which I use for portability testing. It is "free" as a download from M$. Thanks Simon. I have no moral objection to your suggestion, provided M$ do not gain, but I will try SQlite first. And thanks Ralph for your weblink. David -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
Thanks to both Ken and Andrew. I will try SQlite. I have no problem with learning SQL syntax. I just need to understand the environment in which to use it. I could not find Firebird in Ubuntu 13.04, but then I am a complete newby and am probably missing something. David -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
On 31/10/2013 22:00, David Smith wrote: > I am looking for free software to run under Linux to implement a small > database. A free version of MS Access would be ideal! Access is part > of MS Office professional and allows you to create and run SQL queries > by point and click rather than needing to know SQL syntax. My database > would live on one pc - no separation of server and client. > At the risk of being burnt at the stake :-) Many good suggestions in this thread but let me throw up one more... You said "free" software. Whilst I use postgres and MySQL extensively some clients are M$ shops and so the database must reside on MSSQL. There is a an SQLExpress version of this which includes the GUI management tools and database back-end which I use for portability testing. It is "free" as a download from M$. Si -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
Hi David, Ken wrote: > It might also be worth considering sqlite. It doesn't have the > graphical interface you are looking for but sql is quite easy to > learn. That would be my suggestion too since you talk of select and update queries. The diagrams mentioned are railroad diagrams showing the grammar; http://www.sqlite.org/lang_select.html Cheers, Ralph. -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
Re: sqlite, there are a bunch of separate GUI tools available, from Firefox plugins to things like sqliteman, though to be fair you'll still need SQL knowledge for doing anything useful. On 1 November 2013 09:41, Ken Hutton wrote: > Firebird is probably in your Linux distro's package manager. That would > probably be the best place to install it from. l haven't used it myself > though so I don't know how well it would meet your needs. > > It might also be worth considering sqlite. It doesn't have the graphical > interface you are looking for but sql is quite easy to learn. Especially > with the clear diagrams on the sqlite web site. And sqlite stores a > database in a single file with no need to setup a db server. > On 31 Oct 2013 22:00, "David Smith" wrote: > > > This may be outside what DLUG normally discusses. If so please say and I > > will look elsewhere. > > I am looking for free software to run under Linux to implement a small > > database. A free version of MS Access would be ideal! Access is part of > MS > > Office professional and allows you to create and run SQL queries by point > > and click rather than needing to know SQL syntax. My database would live > on > > one pc - no separation of server and client. > > > > Initially I thought Open Office/Libre Office Base would do the trick, but > > it only supports select queries, not Update queries, make table queries > > etc. Access allows data to be imported from a .csv file into a data > table, > > and exported to .csv. In Base you have to cut and paste between > spreadsheet > > and table table or query - unless of course you write VBA modules which > is > > the hard way of doing things. > > > > I have tried downloading a version of Firebird but don't know what to do > > next. I cannot even find an install program. > > > > Any ideas? > > > > thanks > > > > David > > > > -- > > Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 > > Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ > > New thread on mailing list: mailto:dor...@mailman.lug.org.**uk< > dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk> > > How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue > > > -- > Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 > Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ > New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk > How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue > -- Andrew Montgomery-Hurrell Professional Geek Blog: http://darkliquid.co.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkliquid Fiction: http://www.protagonize.com/author/darkliquid -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
Firebird is probably in your Linux distro's package manager. That would probably be the best place to install it from. l haven't used it myself though so I don't know how well it would meet your needs. It might also be worth considering sqlite. It doesn't have the graphical interface you are looking for but sql is quite easy to learn. Especially with the clear diagrams on the sqlite web site. And sqlite stores a database in a single file with no need to setup a db server. On 31 Oct 2013 22:00, "David Smith" wrote: > This may be outside what DLUG normally discusses. If so please say and I > will look elsewhere. > I am looking for free software to run under Linux to implement a small > database. A free version of MS Access would be ideal! Access is part of MS > Office professional and allows you to create and run SQL queries by point > and click rather than needing to know SQL syntax. My database would live on > one pc - no separation of server and client. > > Initially I thought Open Office/Libre Office Base would do the trick, but > it only supports select queries, not Update queries, make table queries > etc. Access allows data to be imported from a .csv file into a data table, > and exported to .csv. In Base you have to cut and paste between spreadsheet > and table table or query - unless of course you write VBA modules which is > the hard way of doing things. > > I have tried downloading a version of Firebird but don't know what to do > next. I cannot even find an install program. > > Any ideas? > > thanks > > David > > -- > Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 > Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ > New thread on mailing list: > mailto:dor...@mailman.lug.org.**uk > How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue > -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
Re: [Dorset] Free Database software
MySQL is probably the dominant free database running on Linux. The core RDBMS runs a command line SQL client, but GUIs can be added: you can install phpMyAdmin which gives control via a GUI web interface, including all the DML you require, and the MySL owners Oracle also make available 'MySQL Workshop' which is a standalone desktop GUI application which appears quite comprehensive. I am not sure that either of the above let you build 'queries' by point and click though, it's not something I have tried. There used to be a util called 'toad' (tool for Oracle developers) and one called 'tora' which both gave spreadsheet-like create/read/update/delete facilities. I believe Toad is no longer free; I don't know if Tora is still maintained. On 31 October 2013 22:00, David Smith wrote: > This may be outside what DLUG normally discusses. If so please say and I > will look elsewhere. > I am looking for free software to run under Linux to implement a small > database. A free version of MS Access would be ideal! Access is part of MS > Office professional and allows you to create and run SQL queries by point > and click rather than needing to know SQL syntax. My database would live on > one pc - no separation of server and client. > > Initially I thought Open Office/Libre Office Base would do the trick, but > it only supports select queries, not Update queries, make table queries > etc. Access allows data to be imported from a .csv file into a data table, > and exported to .csv. In Base you have to cut and paste between spreadsheet > and table table or query - unless of course you write VBA modules which is > the hard way of doing things. > > I have tried downloading a version of Firebird but don't know what to do > next. I cannot even find an install program. > > Any ideas? > > thanks > > David > > -- > Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 > Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ > New thread on mailing list: > mailto:dor...@mailman.lug.org.**uk > How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue > -- best regards, Victor Churchill, Bournemouth -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Tuesday, 2013-11-05 20:00 Meets, Mailing list, IRC, LinkedIn, ... http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ New thread on mailing list: mailto:dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk How to Report Bugs Effectively: http://goo.gl/4Xue
