[dba-users] New OpenOffice specifc site and project announcement

[Andrew Jensen]

I am sending along a copy of a post I have just made on the General Discussion Board at the OOOForum site. Anyone interested in commenting on this effort, or getting invlolved please drop on by the forum and jump right in. -------------------------------- A few days ago a user on the forum asked a simple question. Has anyone converted the free Purchase Order database offered by FileMaker to Base? In the post they included the URL to the FileMaker site where the database, along with others, could be downloaded. Being the curious sort I went there to have a look see. Well, that act helped bring some rather fuzzy thoughts I have been nurturing into sharper view. This type of repository, it seems to me, is precisely what OO.o is missing. Personally my focus over the last few months has been on the Base module within OpenOffice, but gaining an understanding of the database functions was not intended to be an end, in and of itself, producing real world business solutions is the goal. In getting up to speed with the OpenOffice package it has become clear that a collection of pre-made, ready to “go to work” solutions is sorely missing for many new users. A good example of this is the current distribution files for OO.o 2.0.0. Create a new Base database file and you have the option to create tables using the table wizard. This is great, but for the average user out there offering canned table structures is not nearly enough. For many office users they will not even recognize the relationships between the tables that are supported by these template definitions. Those that do probably didn't need them in the fist place. Currently there are plenty of resources to help the intrepid end users and would be developers alike – OOExtras, 8daysaweek, this forum site, wikis targeted to basic developers, lists of tutorials and how-to documents. Each of these seems to fill a slightly different niche and each does a good job at it but none, it seems to me, is targeting this “I need to use it today” group of users. After watching the videos from the most recent OOConference I also failed to hear of anything plans along these lines, there was talk of bringing some structure to the collection of Addon's out there, but that is definitely not targeting end users. So with all that said I am proposing to start a site with a very narrow focus. The development of and repository for, fully functioning starter solutions. Simply taking a look at the pages at the FileMake site FileMaker Solutions will give you a good idea of what I am speaking of. With this in mind I have begun the task of helping this happen by submitting a registration for a new project, this day, at sourceforge.net. I will post the name of the project just as soon as I receive confirmation that the request has been accepted. The aim for this project will not be to duplicate any of the functions or services already supported in the community by the sites (projects) mentioned above, and the many I have forgotten to include. Just the opposite, the resources found at these sites will most assuredly be instrumental in attaining the goal of delivering quality free solutions to end users. Hopefully there will be others interested in contributing to this effort. Not just those that can do some macro programming or layout a usable template but those also that can offer some business expertise in specific sectors. For example – it would be desirable to have a very simple Work Order system available – and it would be even better to have someone that can help create industry Work Order systems for say a small electrical contractor, carpenter, auto body repair shop, the list could go on. Please speak up with any comments you may have about this effort, and I will follow up over the next few days with more specific ideas of how it might proceed. Thanks Andrew Jensen