[authors] OOBase: Drew, Chris, Dan

[Perry Spiller]

Drew et al

I can see that the discussion has left me behind, somewhat.
I became baffled at a certain point in following Drew's
"whatever" and gave up in favour of other things. But I was
left with one significant impression.
 
Before I detail that, let me say that I have, with commercial
s/ware, used (created) flatfile databases in the past - the
distant past. But none in more recent times - like, 15 years.
The first thing that struck me was the terminology. I'm
familiar with file, record, field, indexed and non-indexed
(i.e. searchable) , exporting data and so on.
 
When I opened Drew's Tutorial, I was struck by a range of
unfamiliar terms.
 
"database manager" Is this the same as a database? Or something else?

"table" What is this?

"SQL statement" What does SQL mean/stand for? Alone and when in a 'statement'

"HSQLDB" analogous queries to line above

"native database engine"  Engine? Native?
 
Generally there seems to me to have been higher-than-
there-should-be levels of presumption on the first-time-
users knowledge. Would a glossary / definition of terms, at
the front, be appropriate?
 
I didn't get far, because I became distracted. Drew, there
were a few other things:

"threw"  - through

"Lets"  - Let's

Inconsistent term _expression_ e.g. "auto value" and "autovalue" (with & without space)
 
I know - from my aged experience, that spaces are invalid
in field names, but would someone else be perplexed by
two different notations?
 
Regarding which type of database, perhaps an opening
statement that:

an address book, club membership list (whatever) would
best suit a flat file database;

an employee, supplier, customer list (whatever) would best
suit a relationship database;

and some comment - if appropriate - about hierarchical?
 
Then, (if it's true), an expansive statement that OO Base
will do all three! Just skip the sections on relationships for
flat file; and do something-or-other if hierarchical is
needed.
 
I'll try to keep up, better, in the days ahead. I may also need
some patient pointing to help me get the comments into the
correct forum[s].
 
Perry