Hi all,
I know that I am the "new" guy here, but I have been thinking about a Base guide for awhile now. The current layout looks vague to me and doesn't seem to address the basic idea of a user guide; to show how to use the software. Database concepts are not simple and we should focus on how to use Base and leave tutorials and concepts for the appendices. With too much basic (or remedial) instruction on design theory and such, we lose the attention of users who know about databases at various levels. I don't think this is how a guide should be written. Below you can see how we worked out the Calc guide. It has minimal explanations of spreadsheet concepts and design. Showing how to plan and design the database which is used as an example throughout the guide is a very good idea. I have included my ideas (Proposed TOC) at the bottom just below the current layout. Chapter 1 - Introducing Calc Chapter 2 - Entering, Editing, and Formatting Data Chapter 3 - Using Charts and Graphs Chapter 4 - Using Styles and Template Chapter 5 - Using Graphics in Calc Chapter 6 - Printing, Exporting, and E-mailing Chapter 7 - Formulas and Functions Chapter 8 - Using the DataPilot Chapter 9 - Data Analysis Chapter 10 - Linking Calc Data Chapter 11 - Sharing and Reviewing Chapter 12 - Calc Macros Chapter 13 - Calc as a Simple Database Chapter 14 - Setting Up and Customizing Calc Appendix A - Keyboard Shortcuts Appendix B - Calc Functions Appendix C - Calc Error Codes 1 Introducing Base 2 Planning/Designing your Database 3 Data Input and removal 4 Data Output 5 Exchanging Data 6 Customizing your Database Design 7 More Customization 8 Using Base at Work Appendix I Build the Example Database Appendix II Overview of a Database Appendix III Further Reading on Database Design Appendix IV Editing the Base Document File Proposed TOC Chapter 1 - Introducing Base Obvious, but omit the tutorial on database concepts and stick to the working environment. This should be in an appendix. Chapter 2 - Opening existing Datasources Explain how to connect to the various types of Datasources including setting up JDBC and ODBC connectors Chapter 3 - Creating a new Database Explain how to use a native base database and the features (or lack of them) of the current version of HSQLDB. Maybe a portion on the Base Document File Chapter 4 - Tables Designing, creating, and viewing with Base Chapter 5 - Relationships Managing relationships. Maybe a portion on types of relationships, but not a tutorial Chapter 6 - Queries How to query Datasources using Base. Refer to appendix C for "How-to SQL" Chapter 7 - Forms Designing, creating and using Forms Chapter 8 - Reports Report writing using Base Chapter 9 - Importing and Exporting Data Self-explanatory? Appendix A - Basic Database Concepts Here you could place some of the text from the current "Introducing Base" which does not address how to use Base, but rather database design and theory. Appendix B - Tutorial - Creating a database Here you could place the current chapter "Planning/Designing your Database ". This database could be used for examples throughout the guide...or we could have another? Appendix C - SQL Statements and Functions A chart of SQL Statements and Functions which are compatible with Base Appendix D - (Feature) Comparison of Compatible Databases Maybe a short listing to show what might be the most acceptable Datasource for a user by way of the feature set? Rick ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies... -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to [email protected] Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/documentation/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
