Due to the easiness and rapid development style of BAU DB, it is a great tool for people, developers or consultants, who make applications for other people to use. Many friends of BAU DB have expressed love to use BAU DB to create database or business applications for people to use.
This release comes with some features that are useful when creating applications for other people, and some user interface and internal improvements as well. Just like all previous releases, thanks have to be given to all of you who have reported, suggested and inspired on these improvements.
Modes of Record Form (Input Pane)
Currently, each cell’s properties (settings and formulas) can be updated through clicking the “..” button on the top right corner of each cell. It’s just convenient to go with the on-screen setting.
When creating applications for other people to use, you might like to keep away the end users from wrecking the program. In this case, you can change the mode of the record form (input pane) to turn off the button. Thanks for Matthew’s inspiration on that.
Before that, record form can be changed to “Report” mode already, so that record entry cannot be edited and becomes read only. Now, these two features are combined to become the different modes of the input pane.
In Worksheet Setting -> General Settings -> Form Mode, you can choose these options:
Input / Design – Can edit data and do on-screen setting
Input Only – Can edit data only, no on-screen setting
Read / Design – Cannot edit data, can do on-screen setting
Read Only – Cannot edit data, no on-screen setting
Input / Design – Can edit data and do on-screen setting
Input Only – Can edit data only, no on-screen setting
Read / Design – Cannot edit data, can do on-screen setting
Read Only – Cannot edit data, no on-screen setting
Automatic Upgrade of Working Files
This is a feature arising from the implementing of the above. Originally, there was the setting for the report mode of a worksheet with the options of True or False. The database field holding that was a True/False data type, which is either 0 or 1. In order to incorporate the various form modes now, the database field has been changed to a Text data type which stores directly the mode names.
Since that is a change of setting in each of the existing working app files, the program will automatically apply the change when you open an existing workbook that was created before this release. This mechanism of upgrading working files will also go alongside in the future releases whenever new features happen that require changes in the infrastructure of the working files.
Adding Comments to Formulas
The formulas of BAU DB are fun and simple to be used, and you can easily understand the behaviour of each worksheet by reading each line of formulas one by one. The openness of all settings and formulas is also a good point for end-users, so that they can get help from anyone in the future to ensure the continual growing of their applications.
Although the formula, which is in SQL format, is already easy enough and understandable, it will be more convenient if comments or remarks are added, so that, no matter for the sake of the original developers or the other developers and end users as well, people can know immediately what the formulas are doing at a glance. And the good news is that you can now do so handily!
You can type in comments in any part of a formula, and enclosed with a pair of curly braces. You can add comments in formulas from all areas – formulas used in record form, record list view, data processing and validation.
Better Annotated UI of Worksheet for Newcomers
The 3 panes design of the worksheet UI (user interface) is to simplify the user experience. Users can search and edit record entry in the same screen without swapping back and forth. Though, some people who approach BAU DB the first time, may fall into a trap and don’t know where to start with. Okay, your voices are heard. 🙂 Thanks for Jan and Chris. The followings are added to make BAU DB more user friendly:
Names of the 3 Panes at Startup
In a blank new worksheet, the names of the 3 panes are displayed. With these annotations, it’s easier to understand how to go with the worksheet.
Record Form – Input Pane, for editing record entry
Record List – Browse Pane, for listing and searching of record entry
Assist Info – Info Pane, for displaying related information or selection list
In a blank new worksheet, the names of the 3 panes are displayed. With these annotations, it’s easier to understand how to go with the worksheet.
Record Form – Input Pane, for editing record entry
Record List – Browse Pane, for listing and searching of record entry
Assist Info – Info Pane, for displaying related information or selection list
Descriptions in Worksheet Setting
The titles of each part of worksheet setting are also changed to match with the above.
General Settings – edit the general properties of the worksheet.
Record Form’s Cell Properties – edit the properties of each cell in input pane.
Record List’s Column Properties – edit the properties of each column in browse pane.
Filter Box’s Properties – edit the properties of each box in filter pane.
Processing After Record Entry Saved – do some necessary data processing after a record entry is saved.
Validation Before Saving Record Entry – ensure the integrity of data by adding some rules and checking for the data entry.
The titles of each part of worksheet setting are also changed to match with the above.
General Settings – edit the general properties of the worksheet.
Record Form’s Cell Properties – edit the properties of each cell in input pane.
Record List’s Column Properties – edit the properties of each column in browse pane.
Filter Box’s Properties – edit the properties of each box in filter pane.
Processing After Record Entry Saved – do some necessary data processing after a record entry is saved.
Validation Before Saving Record Entry – ensure the integrity of data by adding some rules and checking for the data entry.
The Link “Docs” in Menu Page
The program is now “connected” with the online documentations. It’s more handy to get help from the documentations, by clicking the link from Menu Page.
The program is now “connected” with the online documentations. It’s more handy to get help from the documentations, by clicking the link from Menu Page.
Better Navigation of Worksheet Setting
Again, thanks for Matthew’s report. The followings are improved for better user experience working with the worksheet:
Shifted Positions of “Save” Buttons
The “Save” buttons are shifted a little bit to the right, so that you can still scroll on the horizontal scroll bar of the grid of multiple fields when they are collided on the same level.
The “Save” buttons are shifted a little bit to the right, so that you can still scroll on the horizontal scroll bar of the grid of multiple fields when they are collided on the same level.
Shortened Grid Heights
In worksheet setting, the grid heights of the multiple value cells were too large and difficult to navigate. The heights are now shortened and the whole grids can now completely show on a screen without the need to move up and down.
In worksheet setting, the grid heights of the multiple value cells were too large and difficult to navigate. The heights are now shortened and the whole grids can now completely show on a screen without the need to move up and down.
Removed Continuous Row Increment when Scrolling Down Multiple Value Cells
This feature seem to be of no value to user. The continuous row increment as the grid is scrolling down is now removed. The movement of the grid will be stopped when it is scrolled down to the bottom row.
This feature seem to be of no value to user. The continuous row increment as the grid is scrolling down is now removed. The movement of the grid will be stopped when it is scrolled down to the bottom row.
Countering Button Comes Out Right After Setting
This is the part two of the feature introduced in last release. Countering button is an on-screen button that you can add on the worksheet and adhere with some formulas as a way of on-demand data processing, and was explained in the previous release.
Now, this button is created immediately, right after its setting is confirmed in the cell setting screen, without the need to wait for the next startup of the worksheet.
Some Other Improvements
Removed Confirmation Message when Creating a New Worksheet
Before that, a confirmation message “Insert worksheet setting completed.” would be popped out when a new worksheet is created. This message is now removed for a smoother operation.
Before that, a confirmation message “Insert worksheet setting completed.” would be popped out when a new worksheet is created. This message is now removed for a smoother operation.
No More Displacement of Default Value Button
The default value button was displaced a little bit upward in some situations. This is now corrected.
The default value button was displaced a little bit upward in some situations. This is now corrected.
Loading a Record Entry Faster
It’s found that a record entry is loaded twice each time it is called into the record form. It is now normalised with only one shot of loading and you should feel it become faster.
It’s found that a record entry is loaded twice each time it is called into the record form. It is now normalised with only one shot of loading and you should feel it become faster.
Loading Screen Text Faster
The codes has been changed with the loading of screen annotations in a worksheet becomes faster now.
The codes has been changed with the loading of screen annotations in a worksheet becomes faster now.
Formula for Currency Selection Corrected in the Sample Application
The formula is now corrected and pointing to the petty table to display the currencies.
The formula is now corrected and pointing to the petty table to display the currencies.
User Manual – More Styles of Excel Spreadsheet Reporting
This part of user manual about the various styles of Excel spreadsheet reporting is completed. You can learn more dot dot commands that are useful in making reports. I am sure you will get a lot of funs from it.
How do I Update
As usual, download from here and install it on top of your current installation. This installation has updated the setting file – bauSetup.dbp. If your have changed anything in that file, make a backup of it and apply your own changes to the new file after installation.
Do you like the updates of this release? As always, your comments makes BAU DB better and better. I truly understand that only you, who are sitting in front of the program and using it, can tell the good and bad of it.
Eric
how do I move database to new PC. I copy .dbp and .mdb files to new laptop. Received the following message “This is BAU DB Single User Edition. If you want to share using database with other people, you are welcome to upgrade to BUA DB Pro edition.” and I’m not able to open workbooks. Could you advise how to workbooks and data copied from another computer.
Hi Vince,
Since the version is Single User edition, sharing of database among different pcs is not allowed. If you created a database application in one pc (PC1) and want to deliver it to be used in another pc (PC2), you can follow these steps :
1) Let’s say you have created a workbook called Book1 in PC1,
2) Create a workbook also called Book1 in PC2,
3) Copy Book1.dbp from PC1 to PC2. This is the file that carries all worksheet settings and formulas,
4) In PC2, open workbook Book1, and go to Worksheet Setting,
5) Inside Worksheet Setting, select each of the worksheets and click “Update DB Tables”.
You can now use the database in PC2 with BAU DB Single User Edition. In this way, you are using a new database in PC2, not sharing the same database in PC1.
The data are resided in the file Book1.mdb. You can also copy data from Book1.mdb of PC1 into that of PC2 with these steps:
1) Let’s say, copy Book1.mdb of PC1 to PC2 and place it in drive d:, and it’s path is d:\Book1.mdb in PC2
2) From the workbook Book1 in PC2, open Main Menu and click Amend Data.
3) In the window, you can apply SQL statement to copy data from d:\Book1.mdb.
This Insert statement copies the data of table A:
Insert into A Select * from A in “D:\Book1.mdb”
You can copy the data of each table one by one.
You can also refer to this menu page:
http://baudb.com/documentation/patch-n-backup-database/#recover-database
Cheers
Eric
Hi Eric,
I am back. I was in the hospital for a heart surgert. Three months of convalescence.
I want to thank you for your very good update. As always it’s fun to work with.
Have a nice day and this is very important, take care of your health.
Regards
Eric,
Hi
Is it possible to put a password to the form mode. This way no one can change it.
Regards
Hi Pierre,
It’s really great to hear from you again. I’m sorry to know of your suffering. I wish you the best of health.
Yeah, health is the most important since without health we have nothing. Let’s keep health as the top priority in our daily life.
Thanks for your suggestion. I understand the need to lock user away from changing the worksheet setting. Actually, the new release is nearly ready, though, I will add this feature before this release comes out.
Cheers
Eric
Hi Eric,
I hope you’re well. Can you tell me how to do calculations with decimals. What are the steps.
In a field I have a calculation from 2 other fields but the calculation is wrong. The decimals are missing.
Thanks for your response.
Regards
Hi Pierre,
To work with decimal number, you can change the data type of the related cells to either “currency”, “single” or “double”. For general business use cases, you can use “currency”.
Apply this formula Select val(‘e1.A’) * val(‘e1.B’) from tblDummy. You can see the difference in the result of “currency” and “single”:
Thanks for your question. I will update the manual as well.
Cheers
Eric
Hi Eric
Thank you for your response. I will do it this evening.
Regards
Hi Eric,
Everything is ok but the decimals do not sum up with the “SUM” formula. The decimals in French are like this: 0,00. I don’t know if this is the problem.
Have a nice day!
Hi Pierre,
Really thanks for your question. I have fixed some decimal issues related with European number format. Since the new release will be ready in these 2 days, I don’t update the program at the moment.
I have studied the feature of locking user away from worksheet setting. This feature will act like locking up a record entry in a worksheet. Since this will involve multi-user feature and also need some works to make it, this feature will be updated in next release.
As always, thanks so much!
Wish you all is well!
Eric
Hi Pierre,
The new release is ready now. You can download the updated program to work with decimal number.
Cheers
Eric