Re: [libreoffice-users] "Description" missing in Base

On 04/17/2013 05:18 PM, Paul D. Mirowsky wrote:
> On 4/12/2013 5:30 PM, Dan Lewis wrote:
> > On 04/12/2013 04:51 PM, Paul D. Mirowsky wrote:
> > > On 4/12/2013 1:47 PM, Dan Lewis wrote:
> > > > On 04/12/2013 01:11 PM, Paul D. Mirowsky wrote:
> > > > > LibreOffice Version 4.0.2.2
> > > > > Windows 7 64bit
> > > > >
> > > > > Has anybody using Base found a way to add a description to an object.
> > > > > If it has a menu item to add, I'm not sure which to choose.
> > > > >
> > > > > "Rename" is available for Title, but no "Description".
> > > > >
> > > > > The main window for Base does show a place to display it in the 
> > > > > upper right hand quadrant.
> > > > >
> > > > > The following is from HELP.
> > > > >
> > > > > Begin 
> > > > > Quote----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >  Description
> > > > >
> > > > > Assigns a title and a description to the selected object. These 
> > > > > are accessible for accessibility tools and as alternative tags 
> > > > > when you export the document.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > To access this command...
> > > > >
> > > > > Open the context menu for the object - choose *Description*
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >    Title
> > > > >
> > > > > Enter a title text. This short name is visible as an alternative 
> > > > > tag in HTML format. Accessibility tools can read this text.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >    Description
> > > > >
> > > > > Enter a description text. The long description text can be entered 
> > > > > to describe a complex object or group of objects to users with 
> > > > > screen reader software. The description is visible as an 
> > > > > alternative tag for accessibility tools.
> > > > >
> > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------End 
> > > > > Quote
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks
> > > > > Paul
> > > >        The key to this is a phrase it contains: "export the 
> > > > document". When using Writer, this can be use for a variety of 
> > > > documents such as a graphic or frame. If you right click one of 
> > > > these, the context menu appears containing *Description*. I have 
> > > > not tried opening a slide presentation to see if it applies there 
> > > > as well. It likely will.
> > > >       However, this does not apply to the database objects found in 
> > > > the main database window. (They are not part of a document.)
> > > >
> > > > --Dan
> > > And yet, when you run your mouse over a "Task" on upper left 
> > > quadrant, under "Description" the text describing it shows immediately.
> > >
> > > Should I assume that is tied to "Base" from its origins in HSQLDB 
> > > and not able to function in LibreOffice or is just not applied to 
> > > user made objects?
> > >
> > > "Queries" drive me crazy.
> > > It would be a very convenient function and reduce the memory 
> > > exercise of how this or that was done and how it should be used.
> > >
> > > Regretfully, the language is not clear in "Help" under Base as 
> > > compared to what shows on the main window of Base and is confusing.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Paul
> >      I do not think you know what LibreOffice means when it uses the 
> > term /object/. Here is the definition, also found in help:
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> You are definitely correct. I'm not sure which "object" definition is 
> being used. But statistically, even though "two out of three ain't 
> bad", in this case two is one to many.
> >    "Object
> >
> >
> > An object is a screen element containing data. It can refer to 
> > application data, such as text or graphics.
>
> Is the "Title" displayed of a query an object when making a query? I 
> click on it and it reacts, I assume it is an object. Is this wrong?
>
> > Objects are independent and do not influence each other. Any object 
> > containing data can be assigned certain commands. For example, a 
> > graphic object has commands for image editing and a spreadsheet 
> > contains calculation commands."
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> >
> >       From this I understand that an object is something that you add 
> > to a LibreOffice document using a tool on a toolbar that places 
> > something on the screen. For example, the Drawing toolbar while in 
> > Writer, Calc, Base, or Impress. When this is visible, you can click a 
> > tool and draw it in your open document. Then you can click the 
> > "object" you just drew and select "Description from the context menu.
>
> Yes, I see that a "Form" generated in Base allows fields with a 
> "Title" and "Description". In Edit mode, I right click on a field, and 
> sure enough, it's right there in the menu, "Description...".
>
> I am just hoping it would also apply to Queries Titles.  Instead of 
> seeing "Rename" as a part of the menu for queries, I would rather see 
> "Description", that would be more consistent with what is described in 
> Help.
>
> > So, what about "queries?" What is it that you do not understand? It 
> > is a term that is used by every database program for decades. The 
> > purpose of a query is to search the data in its database for specific 
> > information.
>
> It is not that I don't understand queries. It is opening a query in 
> edit mode to understand exactly what it is doing.
> I seem to making plenty of them lately. I'm not a memory expert and 
> easier usually makes me happier.
> My hope was that I would be able to add a "Description" to the "Title" 
> of a query made by me.
> An explanation of what the query does would be easier if all I had to 
> do is roll my mouse over the Title of the query to see it.
>
> I've tried to make succinct descriptive Titles. But the result of long 
> Titles is that further down the line in a Writer document, in "Show 
> Fields", it can make things difficult.
> If they are to short, naming conventions become cryptic.
>
> > For example, when you went to Help and looked up the term 
> > "Description", you found what you quoted in your first email. What 
> > you did was to create a query whose purpose was to search for the 
> > information it had on the term /Description/.
> >
> > --Dan
> I hope I'm not being to edgy with you Dan.
> My Tower of Babel is wearing down.
>
> Thanks for responding.
> Paul
     I get edgy with myself sometimes when I can not do what I would 
like and I am confused.
     I must admit that I do not see any way to create a tip that could 
be attached to the name of a query. (It would be nice to be able to do 
this for forms, tables, and reports too.) I only see one way to do this. 
Create a table in the database that has three fields: primary key, Name, 
and Description. The primary key has Integer as its field type and 
AutoValue set to Yes. The Name field is the name of the table, query, 
form, or report. The Description field contains the description of the 
named table, query, form, or report. Just make sure the length of the 
Description field is enough for the information you want to include. 
(You might want to use the field type "memo" to make sure.) This may or 
may not make sense. It might be worthwhile, or it might not.

--Dan

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