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Hello, I have a couple of questions regarding use of the site. Having joined shortly ago I would now like to use the site to publish a series of tutorials for Base. Question 1, is this a proper use of the board?Expecting an affirmative response on the first question here are the detail questions. Currently I am working on three tutorials, each targeted to a different type of user. Perhaps I should say I am actively working on two tutorials and laying the ground work for a third. Tutorial 1, which I am calling "OooBase in 60 minutes" is targeted to a new user of Oo.o and one that has no experience creating a computer database. The subject of the tutorial is the creation of a student tracking database (Courses, Students, Marks and Recommendations - the idea was taken from a post on the OooForum board). The database is quite simple, and uses the embedded database engine HSQL - only a four tables, two data entry forms and three reports. There are only one to many table relationships (no many to many, in other words, as these tend to confuse very new users ) and everything is created using the Base design dialogs or wizards ( No macro code used in other words, no 'hand' entered queries). This tutorial is pretty much wrapped up, it has been proof read once by another person [A good friend of mine who happens to teach English, and lets just say it was interesting :-! ] and I am now going over it with an eye to the OooAuthor style guide. I should be submitting it for review this weekend. Question 2, the tutorial consists of the Writer document, which is the tutorial, and the supporting database file. What is the recommended way to handle this secondary binary file?Tutorial 2, working title "OooBase in the small office". This tutorial is targeted for a user that is new to Base (Aren't we all) but has light to moderate experience creating database applications in another environment such as MS Access. The developer is also a user, with other users, if any, in direct contact. The particular application is again taken from a conversation on the OooForum site. It is a small application to generate quotes sheets, track work progress, generate invoices and track payments for a small skilled trade company. (i.e. Plumber, Electrician, Carpenter...) This tutorial will include not only the supporting database but additional template files used to produce the quotes, invoices and billing statements. (Writer and Calc documents) It includes a library of StarBasic routines. Currently the database is finished, most of the templates have been created and the outline for the tutorial is in place. I will turn to working on this in earnest this coming week, and hopefully can have the first draft ready by next weekend. Question 3, just an extension of question 2 - Here I will have a collection of files that will make up the tutorial, again what is the best way to handle this situation? Would one put each file up separately or perhaps put them all into a zip file?Tutorial 3 - Which I am hoping will not earn the sub-title "A bridge to far" is going to target Base developers (either in-house or VAR). I already have the target application in mind (actually yet another idea taken from the OooForum site) and the starts of high level design. My SWAG at a first draft date would be sometime in October or November depending on, err, lots of things. Actually I am planning to put some feelers out and see if I might not be able to find one or two other people interested in working on this as a team. (If anyone thinks they might be interested and you want more details on the application idea, or the development plan, drop me a direct email) Thats it for the questions - for now anyway. Thanks in advance for any ideas or comments. Andrew Jensen |
