Re: [libreoffice-users] database or spreadsheet

This is nothing to do with MS Office vs LibreOffice.
It is to do with whole spreadsheet vs database debate.

Normal users like spreadsheets, because you can
start with a blank spreadsheet, add stuff by typing, or copy/paste,
and produce useable results straight away. Spreadsheets
are also very extensible - an average user can do amazing
things with a few formulas, which are relatively easy to
understand.
Databases - whether Access or Base - are not easy to create
from scratch. Normal users do not like databases, as they
are complex and restrictive, and take too much setting up
before you can get anything useful out. We all have
to accept that spreadsheets will always be 'abused' when
a database may be more appropriate, until someone invents
a whole new database-spreadsheet hybrid.

cheers,

Chris

____________________________________________________________

Chris Morgan

Software Manager
Lynx Information Systems Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)20 8780 2634
Email: chris@lynxinfo.co.uk
Web: http://www.lynxinfo.co.uk
____________________________________________________________


On 06/02/2012 15:37, e-letter wrote:
> Readers,
>
> There was an interesting discussion which seemed to be about using
> accounting principles/conventions with computer software.
>
> Clearly the original poster forgot to dispense with traditional
> thought processes and think critically about how new tools (first the
> computer, then more specifically open source software) offers the
> opportunity to develop new methods for solving problems.
>
> We read the all-too-common scenario: an m$ fan wanting to use LO as an
> m$ clone without learning anything new or assessing whether there is a
> better way of doing things. As always, such people want open source
> software users to help them for free. Please reconsider and revert to
> using m$; the fact that the problem was solved using m$ proves this
> option.
>
> m$ users, please take the time to do your homework, research the
> alternatives before asking for open source software to adopt the same
> behaviour, mentality and sometimes inefficient process to performing
> tasks as m$.
>
> The example of organising identical data types into multiple
> spreadsheets is so common, primarily because the average "office"
> personnel is not introduced (nor willing to accept) to the power of
> databases.
>
> Realistically, we cannot expect someone due to retire soon to suddenly
> change, but the next generation should be encouraged to be open minded
> to using new ideas.
>
> By the way, thank you for the hyperlink to the data pilot functions,
> but should this type of functionality be performed by learning how to
> use relational database queries?
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