[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Calc menu:Data>Form... https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21=77543 includes a macro to extract and reconnect all forms from a database document. Background: https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83=40493 -- View this message in context: http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/Calc-as-a-Flat-File-Database-tp4177965p4179316.html Sent from the Users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 16/03/2016 12:06, Jaroslaw Staniek a écrit : Hi Jaroslaw, It seems that Ian wants a solution that doesn't require too much effort and just works, at least in the way that he would like. In that case, Base, and from your own answer, Kexi, will be unsuited to that task. Defining the metes and bounds of one's expectations with free software, and then expecting these things just to happen, as we all know, generally leads to disappointment. Keep up the good work with Kexi ! Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 16/03/2016 11:06, Ian Whitfield a écrit : Hi Ian, > I wrote to you directly but it seems you don't like direct contact this > way - sorry about that. Yes, that's not my thing, sorry, but I only contribute to this list when I think it is worthwhile, or I'm having a rant ;-) > there seems to be no GUI Front-end to MySQL that does what I need so I'm > now looking at your idea as mentioned above. You really need to define your requirements first, look into what each potential solution can do, and then decide what's best for you, rather than moving organically, as that is pretty guaranteed to hit a rock one day. There are plenty of GUI front-ends to mysql, seemingly just none that fit your requirements. I am someone who doesn't really need forms in all their GUI splendor to do their database work. I know there are several ways of producing a form to interface with a mysql server, one of them being a web form. I also know that I can choose a myriad of languages to program that form and get it to interact with the user in a way that would be acceptable. However, all of that takes time and effort, in particular, I would have to learn to program the web server in one or more of those myriad languages - all of this doable, if one takes the time and puts in the effort. The alternative is to take an off-the-shelf solution, and accept its limitations. The expression "there is no such thing as a free lunch", comes to mind - it might come pretty close, but it would be pretty rare to find an open source, free software product that does everything anyone could ever need (one could probably say the same for commercial software too). > > However I need some help with this please. I've looked inside an ODB > file and it seems very complicated so wonder if you can assist with > details of which files to save and move to preserve my Forms, (and > Queries??). Open your Base file in LO. Open any one of the forms, e.g. by double-clicking on it. Now go to "File - Save copy as" and save the form in an appropriate place on your hard disk/USB key, etc. The form has now been saved outside of the ODB. In order to be able to use it with the data from your mysql datasource, you will have to load the form (it is generally a Writer ODT file) into LO and then enter Form Design Mode (via the form control toolbar), activating form design mode, choosing Form properties, and then re-link to a datasource that has been registered as such within LO (in this case the mysql datasource) via the Data tab of the Form properties dialog. Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Thanks all - appreciated!! My background is 30 years in the Computer Business - Training, installations, support etc etc. Since retiring I left Windows behind and changed to Linux. What I'm not is a Programmer - except with BASIC about 20 years ago!!! My needs are to have a SOLID, RELIABLE simple Members Database that does not crash all the time and take the data with it as well. I don't even need a RDB as I have one table, one Form and a few queries, it is single user on a single machine. My Form only uses Text Boxes, Drop-Down Boxes, Check Boxes and Photos and Graphics. End of story!! i don't want to become a DB expert just a basic layout person and every day user. I did not think this would be a big problem in Linux - how wrong I was. I have battled with Base for several years and after my last crash in January, (Data lost, as is common, even with MySQL. The file is still there but it can not be accessed). I thank Jarasow for his help with Kexi but after 10 crashes in 2 weeks and some missing features and no help to try and get Drop-boxes to work I had to give up on it. It does look very promising but has a way to go yet I fear. So Alexander has told me how to save my Form (that helps a lot) and I decided to get back into Base as it seems to be the only way to go for me. But MySQL is giving me up-hill. It does not seem to want to save an empty Table for me to import my CSV into and gives me this error ... "#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(21), `NULL` ' at line 1" I seem to remember this from when I first set it up last year. It's not MY SQL - this is what the program did!! Also my first line of the CSV is the column names only and it works OK with Calc and did so as well with Kexi!! So where is the problem??!! So I'm unable to populate the DB in MySQL for Base to link to it!! Thanks all. -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Hi Alexander and all: Thank you for your clear explanation. If I understood you well, this happen when we predefined the table in Base that we think that we will need. But when I have needed do it, I didn't make the table, I only use connect option (when start BASE), with a .db (spreadsheet -.ods-) that I have in my file directory. I think that in this way BASE create the table with the characteristic of the origin (.ods file). Regards, Jorge Rodríguez El jue, 17-03-2016 a las 16:35 +0100, Alexander Thurgood escribió: > Le 17/03/2016 16:08, jorge a écrit : > > > Hi Jorge, > > > I suggest to you to open the .CSV file with CALC. Then save it as .ODS. > > Finally, import from BASE the .ODS file. > > > > The import wizard from Calc to Base is not perfect, so unless one is > absolutely sure that the data in your CSV or Calc file exactly matches > the definition of the fields in the table, then one should expect either > import errors or failure. Particular things to watch out for : > > - date / time / datetime representations > - text values over integers > - null fields > - values intended to be used in an autoincrement field > - boolean values > - memo fields > - unsigned INT field values > - zero-fill values > > etc, etc > > > Alex > > > -- Atentamente, Jorge Rodríguez -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 16/03/2016 13:27, Alexander Thurgood a écrit : You could plausibly also design your form from the ground up using a Calc sheet, inserting form controls onto it, and linking that form to your datasource, and then binding your form controls to the data fields. Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Hi Alexander On 03/17/2016 05:59 PM, Alexander Thurgood wrote: So Alexander has told me how to save my Form (that helps a lot) and I >decided to get back into Base as it seems to be the only way to go for >me. But MySQL is giving me up-hill. It does not seem to want to save an >empty Table for me to import my CSV into and gives me this error ... Again, I don't understand why you are attempting to use LO and a CSV file to import your data into your mysql database. I have managed - after a 2 day battle - to get all my CSV data back into MySQL as a Table. I needed to do this as that was the only source of my original data. I have also successfully linked Base to this Table. And can view it all in Base. But I now have the problem of bringing in the Form you told me how to save. I have it as an ODT file but can not find a way of coping it into Base!! Can you assist me with this please?? Thanks a lot. -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Hi Ian and all: Excuse me if I understood bad your problem. I understood that you need import a .CSV file to BASE with BASE. And You can't do it. I suggest to you to open the .CSV file with CALC. Then save it as .ODS. Finally, import from BASE the .ODS file. I hope this help. Regards, Jorge Rodríguez El mié, 16-03-2016 a las 22:19 +0200, Ian "Witty" Whitfield escribió: > Thanks all - appreciated!! > > My background is 30 years in the Computer Business - Training, > installations, support etc etc. > Since retiring I left Windows behind and changed to Linux. > What I'm not is a Programmer - except with BASIC about 20 years ago!!! > > My needs are to have a SOLID, RELIABLE simple Members Database that does > not crash all the time and take the data with it as well. > I don't even need a RDB as I have one table, one Form and a few queries, > it is single user on a single machine. My Form only uses Text Boxes, > Drop-Down Boxes, Check Boxes and Photos and Graphics. End of story!! i > don't want to become a DB expert just a basic layout person and every > day user. > > I did not think this would be a big problem in Linux - how wrong I was. > I have battled with Base for several years and after my last crash in > January, (Data lost, as is common, even with MySQL. The file is still > there but it can not be accessed). > > I thank Jarasow for his help with Kexi but after 10 crashes in 2 weeks > and some missing features and no help to try and get Drop-boxes to work > I had to give up on it. It does look very promising but has a way to go > yet I fear. > > So Alexander has told me how to save my Form (that helps a lot) and I > decided to get back into Base as it seems to be the only way to go for > me. But MySQL is giving me up-hill. It does not seem to want to save an > empty Table for me to import my CSV into and gives me this error ... > > "#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that > corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use > near 'varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(10), `NULL` > varchar(21), `NULL` ' at line 1" > > I seem to remember this from when I first set it up last year. It's not > MY SQL - this is what the program did!! Also my first line of the CSV is > the column names only and it works OK with Calc and did so as well with > Kexi!! So where is the problem??!! > So I'm unable to populate the DB in MySQL for Base to link to it!! > > Thanks all. > -- Atentamente, Jorge Rodríguez -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 18/03/2016 12:31, Ian Whitfield a écrit : Hi Ian, > > But I now have the problem of bringing in the Form you told me how to save. > I have it as an ODT file but can not find a way of coping it into Base!! > > Can you assist me with this please?? The whole point of saving the form as an ODT outside of an ODB is that it becomes standalone, providing you link it to the declared datasource as I mentioned in my previous mail. You can not simply slide the ODT file back into the ODB file - why would you want to do that if your original aim was to get the form out ? If you create the form in the ODB, it stays in the ODB, you don't have to bring it in again. I, imagine, although I have never tried this, that it would theoretically be possible to unzip the ODB file and copy the contents of an equally unzipped ODT file into the appropriate subfolder (e.g. /forms/Obj11/) within the unzipped ODB, re-zip it again, and thereby access it anew from within the ODB. When I look in the forms folder of an ODB file, I see a subfolder called ObjXX, where XX are digits. In this Obj folder I see 4 files, plus another subfolder /Configurations2. The 4 files of the ObjXX folder are : content.xml manifest.rdf settings.xml styles.xml These files are required to represent the form's content, style and settings, and you can probably find them in your ODT file once unzipped. The Configurations2 subfolder should be optional, but from what I understand it is sometimes required, depending on the options that appear in settings.xml. The Configurations2 subfolder contains all of the xml files for various UI parts of the UI space that a form can use. Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 17/03/2016 16:08, jorge a écrit : Hi Jorge, > I suggest to you to open the .CSV file with CALC. Then save it as .ODS. > Finally, import from BASE the .ODS file. > The import wizard from Calc to Base is not perfect, so unless one is absolutely sure that the data in your CSV or Calc file exactly matches the definition of the fields in the table, then one should expect either import errors or failure. Particular things to watch out for : - date / time / datetime representations - text values over integers - null fields - values intended to be used in an autoincrement field - boolean values - memo fields - unsigned INT field values - zero-fill values etc, etc Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 16/03/2016 21:19, Ian "Witty" Whitfield a écrit : Hi Ian, > > My needs are to have a SOLID, RELIABLE simple Members Database that does > not crash all the time and take the data with it as well. > I don't even need a RDB as I have one table, one Form and a few queries, > it is single user on a single machine. My Form only uses Text Boxes, > Drop-Down Boxes, Check Boxes and Photos and Graphics. End of story!! i > don't want to become a DB expert just a basic layout person and every > day user. Apologies if I appear rude, but then really, you should be installing Wine, or PlayonLinux, and Lotus Approach or an old version of FileMaker Pro, and using that instead. > > January, (Data lost, as is common, even with MySQL. The file is still > there but it can not be accessed). Without more detail, as to what you lost, in my experience your loss of data in mysql likely had no direct link of cause and effect between Base (a few exceptions notwithstanding) and the underlying database. Most causes of loss of mysql data are linked to table corruption in MyISAM tables (which personally I have found exceptionally rare - once in 15 years of use), incorrect backup and restoration techniques, and plain user error (i.e. trying to force mysql to accept data in fields that were not designed for it). Again, nothing to do with LO Base per se, but rather lack of understanding of how a mysql server and database functions. This lack of understanding can only be compensated for by reading the specific mysql documentation, of which there is a plethora, and yes, it means investing time. If, as you indicate, you don't want to spend that time, which I can understand, then maybe you shouldn't really be using mysql as your database provider. > So Alexander has told me how to save my Form (that helps a lot) and I > decided to get back into Base as it seems to be the only way to go for > me. But MySQL is giving me up-hill. It does not seem to want to save an > empty Table for me to import my CSV into and gives me this error ... Again, I don't understand why you are attempting to use LO and a CSV file to import your data into your mysql database. > > "#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that > corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use > near 'varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(10), `NULL` varchar(10), `NULL` > varchar(21), `NULL` ' at line 1" Without the corresponding table definition, and the particular string of data you are trying to insert into the table, the above error means nothing to us. All that it tells us is that the insert failed because either the INSERT query statement is wrong, or else the data that you are trying to insert doesn't match the definition of the fields of your table at some particular place. If you are trying to copy the data from a CSV file that you opened in LO by dragging and dropping on your empty table link in your ODB file, then there could indeed be an additional problem of the copy wizard interpeting the data values incorrectly and setting them as something which doesn't fit the mysql table definition. Date strings, time strings, autoincrement fields, integer values in an unsigned INT field, booleans, etc, all of these can potentially be misrepresented when one opens them from a CSV in LO and then tries to insert them into a mysql table. My recommendation is, as I wrote previously in another thread of yours, to use the mysql command line to import the data from your CSV file. You do this by reading a tutorial or the fine manual : http://www.mysqltutorial.org/import-csv-file-mysql-table/ or http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/load-data.html Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Hi Ian, I think what you are wanting to discover is how to open your Form - the .odt file. One possibility would be to right click on the .odt file, then choose Send to | Desktop (create shortcut). After that, simply clicking on the shortcut on the Desktop will open the . odt file. No doubt to get the Form working I would expect that you need to also have Base running before you click on the shortcut - you may need to experiment. I tried it on one of my databases. The .odt file opened OK, but I did not do the work to connect it back to the database, (or to my macros), so it didn't do anything. But if you have connected your .odt file to the database, then I think it would work. It's worth a try, if this is what you want to happen. Regards, Noel -- Noel Lodge lodg...@gmail.com On 18 March 2016 at 22:31, Ian Whitfieldwrote: > Hi Alexander > > On 03/17/2016 05:59 PM, Alexander Thurgood wrote: > >> So Alexander has told me how to save my Form (that helps a lot) and I >>> >decided to get back into Base as it seems to be the only way to go for >>> >me. But MySQL is giving me up-hill. It does not seem to want to save an >>> >empty Table for me to import my CSV into and gives me this error ... >>> >> Again, I don't understand why you are attempting to use LO and a CSV >> file to import your data into your mysql database. >> > > I have managed - after a 2 day battle - to get all my CSV data back into > MySQL as a Table. > I needed to do this as that was the only source of my original data. > I have also successfully linked Base to this Table. And can view it all in > Base. > > But I now have the problem of bringing in the Form you told me how to save. > I have it as an ODT file but can not find a way of coping it into Base!! > > Can you assist me with this please?? > > Thanks a lot. > > > -- > To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org > Problems? > http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ > Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ > All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be > deleted > -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
On 16 March 2016 at 11:06, Ian Whitfieldwrote: > Hi Alex > > On 03/10/2016 01:11 PM, Alex Thurgood wrote: > >> Why not separate out your forms from the ODB file if you are concerned >> about the stability of the ODB file itself ? It is perfectly possible, >> you can still link to a mysql db and you won't have the issues of >> screwing up your ODB just because the power goes off, or your network >> goes down, or some other life-event that seems to befall computer users >> on a daily basis. >> > > I wrote to you directly but it seems you don't like direct contact this > way - sorry about that. > > I have sort off given-up on trying to find an alternative to Base. Kexi is > too "young" and still has many problems, Glom is not available on my OpSys, > (and seems very difficult to get working on Linux in any case), there seems > to be no GUI Front-end to MySQL that does what I need so I'm now looking at > your idea as mentioned above. > Ian, Regarding Kexi, to be honest, I found out that most of your requests actually wishes, not bugs. So you received a 100% free support. Together after discussions we eventually found out that there is _zero_ data loss. If you remove database files or remove records from tables, that's not data loss, that is evident user's action. All your request are noted if there are actually understood: please excuse me but report of this kind ( https://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=221=131466) is rather hard to decipher. Let's be more systematic so also other users can follow the progress. It also would help when users don't move from one solution/idea to another and from topic to topic even in a single forum thread. Like here, jumping to Calc or even calling ODS a flat file. Experimentation is encourages in FOSS but if it's not part of the core offering, it's often more like user's risk. An idea on the back of my head is that (with support from users) eventually major FOSS products interoperate, be it Kexi launched in 2003 or its younger brother Base. Please note that in our development model you're co-author of the software so the responsibility to work efficiently is shared, well, then the fun is shared too :) -- regards, Jaroslaw Staniek KDE: : A world-wide network of software engineers, artists, writers, translators : and facilitators committed to Free Software development - http://kde.org Calligra Suite: : A graphic art and office suite - http://calligra.org Kexi: : A visual database apps builder - http://calligra.org/kexi Qt Certified Specialist: : http://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaniek -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Hi Alex On 03/10/2016 01:11 PM, Alex Thurgood wrote: Why not separate out your forms from the ODB file if you are concerned about the stability of the ODB file itself ? It is perfectly possible, you can still link to a mysql db and you won't have the issues of screwing up your ODB just because the power goes off, or your network goes down, or some other life-event that seems to befall computer users on a daily basis. I wrote to you directly but it seems you don't like direct contact this way - sorry about that. I have sort off given-up on trying to find an alternative to Base. Kexi is too "young" and still has many problems, Glom is not available on my OpSys, (and seems very difficult to get working on Linux in any case), there seems to be no GUI Front-end to MySQL that does what I need so I'm now looking at your idea as mentioned above. However I need some help with this please. I've looked inside an ODB file and it seems very complicated so wonder if you can assist with details of which files to save and move to preserve my Forms, (and Queries??). I would greatly appreciate any assistance with this - thanks IanW Pretoria RSA -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
[libreoffice-users] Re: Calc as a Flat File Database
Le 09/03/2016 10:43, Ian Whitfield a écrit : Hi Ian, > Database and re-designing your Forms etc. This has happened repeatedly > with the embedded engine and also with the MySQL engine. I'm sorry, but crashing and subsequent corruption of an ODB file that links to a mysql database does not lead to dataloss of the linked mysql db, or at least it shouldn't if you know how to manage your mysql db. At worst, you can mess up your forms, lose your query definitions and report setups, but that's about it. Yes, with embedded hsqldb, dataloss is a known problem, but not with an external database. > As far as I'm concerned there is basic unstability in Base itself which > makes it unusable on a day-to-day basis!! > This was why I was wanting to try another route. > I tried Kexi but it is still to early in its development to be reliable. > I wanted to try Glom but it is unavailable on my OpSys (PClinuxOS). > So I was hoping to try a simpler option of Calc plus a Form. Why not separate out your forms from the ODB file if you are concerned about the stability of the ODB file itself ? It is perfectly possible, you can still link to a mysql db and you won't have the issues of screwing up your ODB just because the power goes off, or your network goes down, or some other life-event that seems to befall computer users on a daily basis. You could look at Dabo (a python based UI interface to mysql dbs), or webforms using Ruby, Rails, or PHP. They all require some kind of effort to obtain a "usable" solution. Even the MySQL UI admin tool has a simple Form view mode, where you can enter data in what looks like a form - sophisticated it isn't, but it works ! Alex -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: users+unsubscr...@global.libreoffice.org Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted