[kwlug-disc] What's the simple next level beyond OpenOffice Base?

[unsolicited]

Thank you. This does indeed look interesting, and familiar (as in, 
issues we are facing). I had not heard of them before. (Nor nextDB.net 
or hosteddatabase.com.)

I will have to examine them further.

Sadly, however, even at 20% off at Caspio for non-profits, 
$39.95/month would be more than the effort could afford.

Will also have to read your "Rekall" link closely.

Gotta love this list - thanks everyone.

Raul Suarez wrote, On 11/26/2010 8:48 PM:
> What about something like caspio?
> 
> http://www.caspio.com/customers/online-database-non-profit.asp
> 
> Here I am quoting some examples of what you can do. Sounds
> familiar"
> 
> "Examples of applications our customers have built using our
> non-profit online database solutions:
> 
> * Volunteer registration * Donor Management * Grant Tracking *
> Survey forms * Event management * Petitions * Bulletin boards *
> Staff directory * Email marketing * Time management * Training
> schedules "
> 
> --- On Fri, 11/26/10, unsolicited <unsolicited at swiz.ca> wrote:
> 
>> From: unsolicited <unsolicited at swiz.ca> Subject: [kwlug-disc]
>> What's the simple next level beyond OpenOffice Base? To:
>> "Kwlug-Disc" <kwlug-disc at kwlug.org> Received: Friday, November
>> 26, 2010, 3:40 PM I have some users migrating from paper based
>> contact and scheduling activities to computer based. OpenOffice
>> calc for the most part suffices, especially as they work through
>> their admin processes and establish what's what. e.g. They are
>> prototyping at this point, so not infrequently add columns to the
>>  spreadsheet(s).
>> 
>> As a result of working in a spreadsheet, they are running into
>> data integrity and consistency problems. So it's time to move
>> parts of the information into a database. While not losing the
>> spreadsheet ability to move things all around as they establish
>> what's useful.
>> 
>> I have been playing with OpenOffice Base and found it 
>> insufficient.
>> 
>> As one oo forum poster pointed out - Base exists as a mechanism
>> for individual users to pull other database information they
>> might have into calc, for use there. It does not create an app,
>> uses writer as its form interface, and is not multiuser.
>> 
>> Things like MS Access, FoxPro, dBase, and so on, provided a 
>> similar database browse / update facility, much like a 
>> spreadsheet. (As does Base.) However, they were also able to go
>> further into complete applications, can be multi-user, provided
>> an IDE, and facilitated maintenance tasks. (For my purpose here,
>> ignore that they are also usually tied to specific back ends.)
>> 
>> The advantage of OpenOffice is that it's FOSS, universal, 
>> cross-platform. I can hand a file(s) off to anyone, anywhere, any
>> time, and they can be productive.
>> 
>> What's the next step, app wise, with similar universality? Base
>> is insufficient, yet I have no interest in a fully programmed
>> environment where the users cannot just pop into a spreadsheet
>> like interface and get on with their day for the moment.
>> 
>> It feels like I'm looking for an Access like front end, probably
>> to talk to a local MySQL (SQLlite?) back end, but nothing occurs
>> to me as being an obvious choice, and having the same
>> universality as OpenOffice. [Most users are Windows based, but I
>> don't want to be constrained to windows, as OpenOffice is not.
>> Google Docs doesn't do it - no database functionality, and loses
>> functionality such as data validation in the file transfer.]
>> 
>> Suggestions as to what I might investigate?
>> 
>> (There is no server here, just the local machine - nor is there
>> likely any chance of there being one any time soon. Free/FOSS web
>> site suggestions, 'a la GoogleDocs', would be welcome - that
>> multiple disparate internet connected users could work against
>> simultaneously.)