Brewster Gillett wrote:
I have a list of names and addresses I maintain using OpenOfficeCalc.
It does just fine - I don't need any database features.
And you don't need any spreadsheet feature. What you need least is the
flexibility of a spreadsheet where you can tear apart any list structure.
What you need most is the structure of a database which keeps your row
sets tightly together in any case.
What I got back was a list whose sort began, as expected,
with 97005. Proceeded on nicely in fine numerical order,
right on through to 98685. Trouble is, that only covered up through
the 271st item of the 337-item list. Following the 98685, it began over
again with a new 97005, and proceeded on through the numbers from there.
What you need is a database where a field of numbers contains numbers
and sorts numerically and a text field contains only text which sorts
alphabetically.
A spreadsheet is a highly flexible calculator. It has absolutely no
concept of tables. There are only rectangles of cells. Every cell is an
unrelated atom which can take any type of value, never rejecting or
enforcing anything. Most people do not understand what is going on when
they type a sequence of digits into a cell.
You need a database and everything will be fine, consistent and easy to use.
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