Making a user data entry form for a calc table

[Thylacine68]

Greetings,
I'm fairly new to OOo so pls excuse my ignorance if I'm overlooking something obvious.

Is anyone aware of a way to use an XML form document, which look nice and straightforward to make, to enter data directly into a calc table?

Basically I'm trying to create a couple of forms with mostly drop down lists to make some necessary data collection quick and easy for some non IT loving folk .

Can open office/calc be used for this?
I've spent ages looking through help files and tutorials without the light dawning, but it just seems unlikely to me that it can't be done, so I still assume I'm missing something.

Any assistance or helpful URL's would be most appreciated,

With Thanks

[Villeroy]

Calc is a spreadsheet program. What you seemingly try to implement is a database, which is quite a different thing.

[Thylacine68]

Hi Mate,
Thanks for the reply.
Ya, I known forms are typically a database feature - I'm not quite that ignorant

What I'm trying to create is an entry form that acts like a database form but which feeds the data into a spreadsheet table.

I found a wizard for doing this, created by 'dave' and posted on openofficetips. He even supplied the 'add-in', which he wrote saying could be added to calc - his screenshots of calc with the 'add-in' showed calc with a new drop down menu and in this was 'daves form wizard'.

He provided a link which led to an an .ODT, which I have, but when opened his new menu and the wizard don't appear.

?? If anyone knows how to use an 'add in ' in calc when it's supplied as an ODT that would be really helpful ??

I am writing all this out instead of just referring to the page with daves tip on it because as of today, all I am getting from the url:

http://www.openofficetips.com/blog/archives/2005/10/new_ooo_calc_ad_1.html

Is the godaddy parked page

I really am quite frustrated seeing that a calc data entry form can be done (dave wrote it in 2005) when I am still unable to work out how to even start making it

Any further thoughts on this from oooforum folk would really be appreciated

[Villeroy]

Forget this thing. It is not properly made. When I tried 2 years ago, it failed with non-English locales and it did not even handle simple things like formulas.
I'd like to recommend this macro of mine http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2350 which makes the sheet itself more like an entry form. It cares for the resizing of the range (including references) while copying your calculated fields.
If you like to have such an input form like in Excel because it appears to make something easier (I do not know what) then you definitively should learn how to use a spreadsheet or use a fool-proof database form.

[mrulison]

[qaz1qaz1qa]

I do not read condescension into Villeroy's comment.

Communication is only 5% content the rest is voice inflection and expression. So is it possible you are reading your own tone into the other 95%

Why dreg this up its not helpful. A post so long ago has no relevance to the current updated program.

Lastly seeing that he has been around this program for at least 8 years I would say no matter what his tone, take the other 5% and use it.
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