I'd like to suggest some improvments to the docs

Hi folks,

I've just recently started learning LibreOffice Base. I have lots of experience with MS Access and some experience with MySQL. In reading the beginners manual for Base, I've found the initial terminology and description of databases to be unclear and/or confusing (and also in need of some simple structure and flow diagrams). This caused me to flail around the software for several hours before I started getting the hang of it. I'd like to make some suggestions on how to fix that so that new Base users will have an easier time of it.

Best Regards,
Ken

I would be interested in your suggestions. Some specifics would be
helpful though. What I don't know yet is whether part of the problem
might be the difference in the new user's background in database
terminology. Some are well versed in database theory as you seem to be.
Others have no background at all.
     
--Dan

Hi :slight_smile:
Welcome in :)  You might find the Faqs quite helpful for Base
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Faq

The Base Guide is a work-in-progress.  Hopefully you were looking at the one at
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Publications#LibreOffice_Base_Guide
as there might be others that are outside of our control.

Another god place to get advise about Base is from the OpenOffice.org forums and documentation although i don't think they have much proper documentation for Base.  Their forums are good tho.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

Hi :slight_smile:
Jinx!  Dan is the main man in control of the Base Guide so ignore my replies about Base if it conflicts with his
Thanks and regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

I was hoping by now that you would have listed at lease some of the
terminology that gave you difficulties and why.
     If I remember correctly, the terminology used is based upon what is
used in Base. This way what the person reads is what is seen when using
Base.
     Obviously what is needed is a Caution stating that a person
acquainted with other database programs should pay close attention to
the terminologies used by Base because it may differ from what they have
used in the past.
    I find in my studies that database theory contains a large amount of
technical terms that create difficulties for a person who wants to
create a simple database for his or her personal use. Examples:
relation, schema, tuple, and attribute.

--Dan

Hi :slight_smile:
Maybe he meant the issue about RDBMS vs the other bunch of initials rather than using human-friendly names?  It's difficult to know what people mean when they don't follow through in a useful way.  Some cultures are very anti-grumbling so maybe he is shy and embarrassed now but may have some really useful points that would help move things forwards. 
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

Perhaps so. The only problem is that we don't know what chapter he
was talking about. Was it Getting Started with Base? Was it Introducing
Base? I don't know. The comments were too general in nature to know what
he meant.
     DBMS and RDBMS are being eliminated from Introducing Base as well
as Planning/Designing Your Database (Chapters 1 & 2 of the Base Guide.)
     I would like to get input from him. Remember that he has had
experience with Access and MySQL, so part of may be the difference in
terminology used in Base verses these two programs.
     With the time zone mentioned on his email, he has to be from
western Canada or US with a possibility of western Mexico. As far as I
know, these are the only inhabited areas with a Pacific time zone. We
will have to wait to see.

--Dan

I was wondering why I had not heard anything more from Ken, but it
has occurred to me that he has not subscribed to this mailing list. So,
I am CC'ing him with this email.
     I would like to know the specifics of your problems with the
"beginner's manual for Base.
     Please include some specifics including what you meant by the
"begggers manual." Was it Getting Started with Base or Introducing Base?
Or was the title something else?

--Dan