Hello all,
How are you? I wish you have not been waiting too long for this release. I would like to give you a head start news, as I have replied Pierre in the comment, that this is the last update release before the launching of the Pro version. So, let’s enjoy the updated features of this release first.
The features of this update are all suggested from you and some come out of the projects working with you.
Improved Worksheet Setting
Thanks for Alex’s comment. You may have experienced that if the worksheet setting do not go properly, especially the row and column numbers, you cannot get the worksheet displayed properly, or it will just standing still in the “Loading worksheet …” screen. Now it is improved with the below features:
Checking is added when you save the worksheet. Non-continuous numbers in column or row is not allowed. Blank table name or field name is not allowed.
That said, there are exceptions in Input Pane, where you can add Label cell for adding description in the worksheet, or you can create a Blank cell for displaying related information, and these 2 kinds of cells have no need to adhere to a database table field.
That said, there are exceptions in Input Pane, where you can add Label cell for adding description in the worksheet, or you can create a Blank cell for displaying related information, and these 2 kinds of cells have no need to adhere to a database table field.
When copy or delete a row (using the small button on the right), the row and column number will adjust itself automatically. In this way, the numbering will always getting right.
It will be much easier now to get the worksheet setting right. Let me know if you still discover some cases that crash the worksheet setting.
Auto numbering with ::upadd as default value
You can also use numbering in the rows of multiple value cells. You can apply “::upadd” in the default value, so that when you enter the cell, the number in the upper row increased by 1 will be input automatically. Same as in worksheet setting explained above, the numbers are auto adjusted when you copy or delete the rows.
Value of Upper/Lower Row: ^’table.field’ and v’table.field’
In applying formula, you can now add “^” or “v” in front of a single-quoted field to refer to the value in the upper or lower row in multiple value cells of Input Pane (Record Form). It is a very useful feature when the formula is handling some relationship between rows of input data. For example, it is used in the checking of continuous column number in worksheet setting as described above. It is also useful in display formula, calculation formula and default value formula in other sue cases as well.
Improved Screen Design – List View / Record Form Only
Some of you reported the screen design is clustered and what you want is a simple screen to work with. Okay, simple design is always the best design and your voices are heard. Now, when you create a new worksheet, by default it is shown with the Record Form only. You can click the top left button to go to the List View and back again.
Besides that, background color of record form is changed and more space are added between rows of cells. These changes will let you feel more comfort when working with the worksheet.
You can always drag the screen by using mouse so that you can work with the List View and Record Form together. Also, you can always change the value of Pane Size
in worksheet setting, to decide the default dividing of the screen. V:0 displays Record Form only while V:1 display List View only, and a value between 0 and 1 will make List View and Record Form display together.
in worksheet setting, to decide the default dividing of the screen. V:0 displays Record Form only while V:1 display List View only, and a value between 0 and 1 will make List View and Record Form display together.
Improved List View Better for Report Printing
Thanks for Sagar’s suggestions. You can always export the list view directly into an Excel spreadsheet by clicking the arrow button. Now some features are added that make it more useful as a way to create report.
Before that, the width of all columns in Excel will be automatically expanded. Now, the column widths in the exported Excel spreadsheet are kept in the same ratio as defined in List View. This make it better to fit all columns in one page of the spreadsheet. The exported spreadsheet is also set to by default print all columns in one page.
You can now set the format of displaying number (integer, long, single, double) and currency data type in List View. You can add a format string in the “Formatting” cell in Browse Pane.
“$###,##0.00” means using thousand separator and 2 decimal digits. No matter of what your country is using, always use “,” as thousand separator and “.” as decimal mark in the format string.
You can also add any currency symbol in the first position of the format string. For “Currency” data type, if there is no format string defined, the default format follows the currency setting defined in Windows.
The currency format in Windows setting starts from Control Panel > Clock, Language and Region > Change the data, time or number format > Formats : Additional Settings > Currency :
Font Styles for Part of Text in a Cell when Printing to Excel Spreadsheet
This is a feature to add more fun in printing record entry to Excel. If you want to change the font style of part of the text inside a cell, you can now add these meta keyword to do so – <b>some words</b> for Bold, <i>some words</i> for Italic and <u>some words</u> for underline. It is a convenient feature when you are using formula to create some text together with the font style.
Sync Database Tables/Fields Definition Button
BAU DB is not only a convenient tool for end users to create self made databases, it is also a great tool that help you create applications for other people to use. This new feature helps you deploy application changes to users more easily.
It is common for an application to add some changes or enhancements at any time. A button is now added to synchronised all the tables and fields definitions in the worksheet settings (.dbp file) with the actual database file (.mdb file). When you deliver the changes to your users remotely, what you need to do is to send the “.dbp” worksheet setting file to your users, and let them click this button to update the actual database file on their side.
The location of the button is Main Menu => Db Tables => Update All Tables/Fields Settings
User Login for Single User Edition
Thanks for Sagar again for the reminder that even in Single User Edition, a user login will be useful and more secure because the computer may be used by other people. And here you go the user account login in the free single user edition.
Some Bug Fixes
Fieldname can now start with number character.
Checking of “Double” data type is corrected.
How do I Update
As usual, download from here and install it on top of your current installation.
It’s worthy to share here the experience in the recent customisation projects. I cannot forget the scene the users clapped their hands happily when they saw how the customised applications can help their works tremendously, as they were manipulating data manually over spreadsheet before that. And what I had done is only some quick settings in bau db in order to shape their business logics and workflows. This proved bau db is a useful database tool to help people and help people to help people as well. Also, thanks have to be given to the users who have pointed out the weaknesses and it’s lucky that bau db is apt to change and become better and better.
Okay, see you next time in the launch of BAU DB Pro edition.
Hi Eric
Good work and thanks again for that useful software. Please just one thing. I create un user name for the admin user but I can’t leave without that message: 2 buttons ( exit without saving and cancel).
What do I do wrong? Something I missed?
Regards
Hi Pierre,
Thanks for your comment!
Whenever add or delete a user, you have to click the “Apply” button.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your reply. That’s what I did and when I want to close that window a message pop up with
“exit without saving” and a button “cancel”. The text of that window is “setting is changed” and the two buttons.
Regards
Hi Pierre,
After you entered the user name and clicked “Apply” button, there should be a confirmation screen saying that : New user name added : “xxxxxx”, password is same as user id.
Did you get that message?
Hi Eric,
Sorry. No message at all.
Hi Pierre,
I have checked the program but nothing special is found.
You can download this file baudbse.exe, and place it in the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\BAU DB Free\
You can start the program by running (double click) that file and try adding an user account. It will display message if any program error is hit. Let me know if any error message happens on your side.
Thanks so much!
Hi Eric,
I hope everything is alright for you. I need to do financial statement and I want to know what is the best way to make a spreadsheet report showing only the totals of accounts. As always thanks for your reply.
Have a nice day!
Hi Pierre,
I hope you are well too!
You can use BulkLookup to list out the accounts, and use Lookupr to calculate the sum() amount of each account.
Hi Eric,
I need your help. My query doesn’t work. Here it is:Select Sum(‘a1.C’) from a1 where ‘d1.A’ = ‘a1.B’. All I want is summing up the total of the account in my a1.B table. a1.C is the amount for each account. a1.B is the account name and d1.A is my criteria in the report sheet. My query is not good because there is no result. But I don’t understand. Thanks in advance for your explanations.
Regards
Pierre
Hi Pierre,
Single quoted field name (e.g. : ‘d1.A’) is used for replacing value from the cell of the current worksheet. If you want to refer to the table field in the database, just use the table field name, no need to add single quote.
Assume the transaction records of each account are stored in the table a1, and now you are creating the report in the worksheet with table d1. This is the formula:
Select Sum(a1.C) from a1 where a1.B=’d1.A’
I wish this would help you.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your help. My report works well.
Have a nice day!
Pierre
Hi Eric
Are we going to get some news from you soon?
Have a nice day!
Hi Pierre,
Sorry for keeping you waiting. Originally, it’s planned to launch Pro version in the coming release. Since I have been working on some requested features from users, those features will be updated in the coming release first. The good news is that those features are very useful and will be released shortly.
Hi Eric,
Just one thing. There are two articles not completed in your tutorial. Wil they be completed before your program update or later?
Thanks
Nice evening!
Hi Pierre,
The program update will be released in these two days. After that, I will finish the manual pages and create the forum which is also long awaited. Then, it’s the Pro version to come.
Thanks for your reminder!
Hi Eric,
I’m happy to hear that. Great things will be done with your program. It’s worth it.
Good evening!