[authors] Base Tutorials - Request for opinions and help

[Andrew Jensen]

Hi, I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone on this board for a while, as I have been on an extended vacation. First, let me apologize. When last I posted a message I offered to put some work into the example Base database spec'd on the board. I started before the vacation and then just kind of it languish. I did create the actual schema in a Base format and a simple form, but that was all. The reason I am writing today however is regarding a personal project. Back in October of this year I posted a somewhat lengthy thread at OooForum with details on creating a first database. The database is simple, based on the employees table definition that ships with Base. Over a week or so I kept updating the post with each step as I went until it was finished. Since returning from vacation I find it has been a bit of a hit. Just under 8,500 reads on the thread. Literally dozens of folks that have let me know they followed the steps. I have also noticed it is sometimes referenced by still others, when asking questions about their projects on the board.   Additionally I have, as of this morning, had three requests for permission from people that are translating the text into another language for posting on an OpenOffice support site, in their country. (The fact that OO.o 2.0.0 shipped with a bug such that following the steps that worked, correctly, with 1.9.xxx caused the final step to crash the system, made it even more interesting to follow up on some of the comments I received)  Needless to say I am surprised by the apparent interest in the simple tutorial. In truth it is more to do with timing then anything, I just got it there first. Now the reason for this mail. I would like to take the text and screen shots I used for the posting and move them into a written tutorial. My plan is to use the chapter template from this site for the format. Additionally there have been a few people asking if I have something similar that would cover some of the issues (views, real use of sub forms and macros) in the same fashion as this tutorial. Looking at another of the postings from the forum I am immediately struck with  a database I helped a fellow make for tracking Layaways at his retail store.  It covers exactly the things asked for, in what I think is a clear and concise way. The posts are very detailed and the final product is actually quite nice. OK...so, I would like some input on this. I copied the postings text and pasted into a writer document, dropped in the screen shots and exported the document - raw, if you will - as a pdf file. I have moved this file up to the oooAuthors board at my home page, it is named employees Table Tutorial    It is roughly 7,000 words and perhaps a dozen screen shots. The style is very conversational - which is a nice way of saying - I just spewed it out off the top of my head. I am not asking for someone to ghost write the published version, just give me an opinion as to if you think it is worth the effort trying to clean it up. I am not adverse to someone wanting to take a more active role with me however and would surely give credit accordingly. A second question I have is this. Given that the first tutorial has already been out on the forum board for a while, do folks think it might make more sense to work on the second 'Layaway' tutorial first. My initial thought is no, because it truly does seem like a perfect fit as a second and complimentary companion to the techniques covered in the first. I will be coalescing the multiple messages from this thread into the same type of post on the board over the next few days, either way. So, if anyone has a few spare minutes I would very much appreciate your input. Thanks Andrew 'Drew' Jensen