> I'd rather see the GUI improved than abandon it as a bad deal and expect the > general user to be conversant with SQL (any brand!).
You want to improve a GUI on top of a house of cards? Base is a development tool. General User works with the forms and reports you develop. I've seen quite often general users beeing intelligent and patient enough to get behind the concept of a database, but wasting too much time filing issues and developing macros (Dinbandhu on this list and dba.devel, several users on oooforum.org). SQL is not the reason why people give up using Base. SQL is easy enough. Particulary when seeking help in a forum or list, SQL is easier to communicate than screenshots. SQL can be copied and pasted. SQL is the most simple computer language that helps you to build, maintain and operate *any* database. SQL can do when the GUI must fail due to nested, conditional, recursive tasks or when you need to use the database engine. How far can you get with spreadsheets when you don't know the formula language? From my experience some people get too far. They start writing convoluted Basic macros because they do not understand what the application could do for them. In Base you reach that point very quickly simply because the application can't do it (calculate a date/time, link foreign tables, copy a record, set default values in form controls, filter by listbox, call a form, call a report, customize error messages, click hyperlinks in fields, ... just to mention a few). --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
