I would like to prepare reports that include unrelated information. Is this something that might be possible in future releases? I love how reports output into LO Writer, and then you can customize them. That makes them perfect for newsletters and such. If I could have subreports in there, it would be just divine!
While most of the info for my project will be related, the queries aren’t always combinable (at least not at my skill level). I want to have weekly data as well as daily data on the same report. On top of that, the weekly data needs to be distinct. In any event, I would like to be able to just have a subform with any info I chose, like the weather for the week, next to another section with average test scores for the week.
More specifically, I am designing a database to store lesson plans. Lesson are numbered and dated and linked to one or more state standards using an association table. Likewise there are vocabulary words linked to each lesson. I would like the top of my weekly report to display all the state standards covered that week without repeating them (distinct), and another section showing all of the vocabulary words covered that week. Below that I want each lesson for that week sorted by date with several lesson fields printed out.
The principal requires printed reports in a certain format, however so far it looks like I’ll have to print separate report pages to accomplish this which doesn’t quite hit the mark. One for weekly state standards, one for Weekly vocab, an then one for the lessons. However I would rather have them all in one report, especially because paper is so precious. Currently teachers are using MS Word to fill in a template, but time is even more precious than paper, and I think I can show them a far better way, if I can get this to work, and for free.
I am exploring alternatives. I have already set up Base as a front end for the MySQL database incase I need to experiment with some free report (BI) platforms (overkill?). Also I can design web based reports myself that look exactly like I want at the cost of lot more time in this volunteer venture. I am also learning more about database incase I can figure out a way to overcome this with better queries or something, but I still wouldn’t have the flexibility that I desire.
At the end of the day I really don’t have a need for Business Intelligence suites or a website, just simple sub-forms would do. And if my finished report could be output into LO Writer which could be edited to slip in a bi-weekly newsletter, it would be like magic!