mysql? - where to start?

[Karl F. Larsen]

Emil Payne wrote:
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> HermanAA wrote:
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>> A niece has to fill-out forms with all numbers (lines/ columns, vertical
>> added up, hor. added up).
>> Tax-forms I understand, for different clients.
>> She has type-writer experience only.
>> She bought a computer to do this. She has no Windows/Linux experience.
>>  (333 MHz CPU, 512MB mem, Windows-XP working. My old IDE hard-drives
>> found a new home)
>>
>> Until now a word-processor is used for typing the form (daughter doing
>> the donkey-work).
>>
>> I am sure this can be done well in Linux.
>>  (I am welcome to install Linux)
>>
>> What do I need? (Data-base? Spreadsheet?)
>> I will learn it (mysql?) myself, and demonstrate it.
>>
>> mysql is very BIG, count 100 or more programs in Synaptic.
>>  (but maybe it is suitable ?)
>> Surely I can beat a word-processor ......? !!!
>>
>> I have to get started somewhere ...... is mysql good for simple work?
>> I googled but could not find a simple tutorial.
>>
>> Where can I find a tutorial?
>> Best for me is a few actual cases (hands-on), tutorial-style.
>>
>> For now the goal is:
>>  Numbers only, vertical and horizontal, Added-up vertical and hor.
>> There are headers and descriptions of course.
>>   (of course the program should do the adding up)
>>   (the form filled-in and printed is the end of the computer-job)
>> (bet you: electronic submission and EXCEL compatible is going to be the
>> next problem, just my gut-feelings)
>>
>> Herman in Philippines.
>>
>>
>>
>>     
>
> As everyone is saying, use Open Office.  However, you can get either the
> Linux version OR the Windows version.  I was using the spreadsheets to
> do the Church payroll for five people and it worked fine.  Including
> automatically adding columns, figuring out taxes, etc.  Although it took
> a bit for me to figure it out.
>   
    The problem with taxes is not a bug in Open Office, it is a bag of 
bugs in a Government Office :-)


73 Karl



> http://www.openoffice.org/
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> Emil
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