I am having a problem creating reports using the LibreOffice Base Report application.
I am trying to migrate an Access database to Base. I have migrated the 3 tables into an embedded Base odb file, and I have a working query. I am now trying to create forms and reports.
I am moving from an old XP systems to a new dual boot system: Window 7 Pro, and Linux Mint 17.2.
Some key new system parameters: cpu i7, 16 GB memory, and 1 TB hardfile. So, I do not think my problems are due to the lack of system resources.
Linux Mint 17.2: LibreOffice v5.4.5.1 and Java 1.7.0_151
Win 7 Pro: LibreOffice v5.4.5.1 and Java 1.8.0_161
I will try to summary my crash experiences since the details are too long for posting at this time.
1. I migrated the 3 tables to Base (embedded database).
2. I created the query using the parameter LIKE code suggestion from Ratslinger (Mar 13th).
3. Depending upon which database copy and when I was working on the report, I only have the report wizard option available. When I first started I think I had both the “design” and “wizard” options.
4. I created a report using the wizard and saved the report as rpt_Report_01.
5. I started editing the report with periodic saves of the report.
◦ Added 3 levels of grouping
◦ Added group subtotals using =Accumulate(field) for the 3 groupings.
◦ Adjusted font size for the data to 8.
◦ Adjusted field widths to try to fit my data on the page.
6. During the editing process, I got multiple crashes. I think the crashes are related to overlapping data fields as I was adjusting data field placements and widths.
7. Selected “Recovery” when reopening the database. This may not have been a good choice based on researching some other AskLibreOffice postings. “Recovery” only recovers some of the information in the database.
8. I lost my existing rpt_Report_01 after the recovery, and I needed to recreate the report.
9. At some point, after one of the recoveries, I got a dialog box saying I needed to install libreoffice-report-builder.
10. Installed libreoffice-report-builder using the Linux Mint Software Manager.
11. The libreoffice-report-builder-bin is also currently installed (not a new add). I think this came with the LibreOffice v5.4.xx install.
12. Now I have a different report wizard format. This may be an older Sun version?
13. The new report wizard creates a report with several different format options.
14. However, the edit mode of the new report does not seem to provide the ability to change groupings, nor add subtotals for the existing groups.
What should be my next steps:
1. Uninstall the libreoffice-report-builder?
2. Uninstall LibreOffice and reinstall? Which version to reinstall?
3. Is LibreOffice Base Report stable and usable?
4. What are the reporting alternatives for embedded databases?
5. Any other suggestions?