Re: [libreoffice-users] Any Manuals available for Spreadsheet and/or base, ?

Hi :)
There is a Handbook for Base.  The guide itself 'only' has the first
couple of chapters but each of those chapters is larger than manuals
so they might well be exactly right for what you need.  Database
programs are much more complex than something like Writer.

A database program has 4 components in much the same way that
LibreOffice has about 6 modules/apps/components.  In LibreOffice you
might use Impress for doing presentations but it's probably not the
best tool for writing letters or drawing objects.  The 4 components of
a database program are
*  Tables = these contain data in something that looks a lot like a
spreadsheet.  Generally it is best to have your data in an "external
back-end".  That means a separate program that you seldom open or do
anything with.  Like a sock-draw you just keep things in it.  Unlike a
sock-draw you don't have to open it to get things out or put them
back.  A Calc spreadsheet could be a back-end but there are usually
programs that are designed for the purpose.  Calc is for something
else.
*  Queries = These do calculations, sort the data, apply filters,
bring data together from different tables.  They do NOT create a
duplicate of the data.  They just look-up what's in the table and act
on that.  it's like looking in through a window.  if a light is
switched on you see that happen through the window but it's not the
window itself that switched the light on and the window doesn't
contain a duplicate of the light-source.  This is the main function of
the database program.
*  Forms
*  Reports
These last two are the way a normal user sees or uses the data.  it's
only the designer who would look at the Queries.  Base allows you to
use Writer to make the Forms and Reports so that normal users can stay
in familiar territory.  A Form might show one of the addresses in your
address book and show their photo alongside (actually i have never
quite managed to do this but i think others have).  Forms and Reports
can access the back-end data directly but to make your database more
robust and flexible it is better to make them take the data from a
query.

Regards from
Tom :)



On 20 November 2013 08:39, Ady <ady-sf@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > To Users: I have not used either the Spreadsheet nor the Base parts of
> > Libre office, as I do not know how to.
>
> I am not sure if a user with no prior knowledge at all can actually
> use the current LibreOffice guides by himself without at least some
> additional guidance.
>
> In any case, take a look at
>
> https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Publications
>
> which includes guides for Calc and Base.
>
> Regards,
> Ady.
>
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