My research has convinced me that I do not have neither the time nor the resources to set up and maintain a database. I might consider it if all of the data were received in the same layout, but the layout is as varied as are the sources. Since I am the only one that is using the data, a spreadsheet serves me best as I am able to freely add, delete, and modify the layout, format, calculations, etc. Something a for which a database has never been designed.
If I had many collaborators to work on the project, perhaps a database may be of more use, but since I do not, I do not need the added headache of trying to setup and maintain an additional level of complexity. This is the conclusion I have drawn based upon the available documentation on the internet and conversations with people that have worked with their company's database. They all say it does not work until the processes are resolved to the point that they need not change. One person explained the problems that occurred when their processes did require a major modification. After weeks of attempting to make the required modifications, it was decided to set up another database. Then they went through months of consultation and headache to get the essential data transferred from the old database into the new one. A database is a good tool to keep track of large amounts of data and tracking processes, but unless it is a big company that has unchanging processes, a database may be more of a liability than a help. With my data constantly evolving, a database would need to be modified on a regular basis and I am unwilling to invest the extra time to do so. All my data fits on a spreadsheet and is easily modified as the sources are added or deleted as each source has a different idea as to how the data should be presented. -- View this message in context: http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/Date-will-not-format-or-sort-when-imported-into-calc-ods-tp4004907p4006921.html Sent from the Users mailing list archive at Nabble.com. -- For unsubscribe instructions e-mail to: users+h...@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