Re: [libreoffice-users] documentation for LO base

I'm only catching bits and pieces of this conversation but if someone is
interested in doing documentation on base I'd recommend joining the
documentation mailing list. I'm sure they could use some help :)


Regards,
Joel

On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Jay Lozier <jslozier@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 10/04/2012 11:04 AM, Mark Stanton wrote:
> > > Question:  How many people do you know use Base, or have tried to use
> > > Base?
> > Whilst there is some quite valid criticism of Base, I don't think
> answering
> > this question says as much about Base as it does about the general usage
> > of databases.  They are less familiar than word processors, spreadsheets
> or
> > drawing packages.
> >
> > Mark
> I use databases at work, primarily MS SQL Server. My observation is to
> be good at using databases (Base included) takes more time and effort up
> front than most realize. Most people have a very rudimentary
> understanding, if any, of databases. Often, they think of and use
> spreadsheets as databases, which only works at a very rudimentary and
> simple level (table of contact information for mailing list generation).
> Any marginally more sophisticated use and spreadsheets fail as databases.
>
> Database design is less obvious to most. I think most people do not
> understand that databases are a type of model of the real world. The
> accuracy of the model for the user's needs is what is important and this
> not always easy to determine or model.
>
> Beyond the conceptual problems with databases, they use a querying
> language. Most (all?) relational databases like Base use a variant of
> SQL. So to move beyond the wizards and have more control and
> understanding one eventually needs to learn some SQL, another level
> learning with more time and effort.
>
> Word processors, spreadsheets, presentation packages, drawing packages,
> etc. conceptually tend to follow how one would do the task manually.
> Fundamentally, writing a document in Write at its most basic level is a
> much nicer way of typing it than on typewriter. Because the program can
> do more than just display the text, such spell check, auto format, auto
> number lists, etc., the program adds considerable value beyond simply
> typing. The early word processing programs had one feature that
> typewriter could never do; save the document for later editing without
> have to retype it in part or in entirety.
>
> --
> Jay Lozier
> jslozier@gmail.com
>
>
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-- 
*Joel Madero*
LibO QA Volunteer
jmadero.dev@gmail.com

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