Pierre, I have been following the rapid progress with SQLNotes, and see the possibility that in many ways it may end up being the killer app, the holy grail that CRIMPERs yearn for. It will certainly be all and more that some of us had hoped ADM would be.

I have one concern -- though I use computers a lot and am familiar with a lot of programs, much of this stuff isn't as intuitive for me as it may be for others.

When I look at SQLNotes I see the possibilities, and you have set up some applications of it, but I am as intimidated as can be.

My plea is that there be a help guide for dummies that comes with it (at some point, I realize that right now there are other priorities, but...).

Lack of such a help file has kept me from using UltraRecall to the fullest. Its help file has been primarily a visitor's guide to all the neat features, rather than a helpful kind of "here's how to use the neat features."

For people who think in terms of databases, what I am asking for may not be as necessary. But as for me....

I think that the ability to have a real clear, here's how to use SQLNotes for specific functions help file will be a big plus in getting sales.

Also, there's a need to provide illustrations of how different people might use it for different functions, for example, a journalist, a therapist or doctor, a lawyer, a general knowledge data base, etc.

Thanks, Pierre.

And I might add I have a lot of respect for how you have progressed with this project, and kept us all in the loop. Thanks for that also.

Daly

I agree with Daly on all counts.

I am excited by the potential of SQLNotes, and I very much appreciate Pierre's communication and dedication to seeking input from the user community.

However, although I have downloaded and installed the beta twice, I have not begun to make use of it. Why? Simply because it is overwhelming. There is obviously a lot of power there, but there is also a lot of complexity, and it is difficult to figure out where to begin.

And I'm a dedicated CRIMPer, and have played around with dozens of information managers!

Years ago, one of the frequent knocks on ECCO was that "the learning curve is too steep for general users." I hope that this problem can be avoided as development progresses on one of the most promising programs I've seen in ages. As Daly says, I'm sure you are very busy, Pierre, but I do hope that you keep this challenge in mind.

And thanks for listening!

Yep, me too. And I've already made this same plea earlier on this forum.

I won't touch SQL Notes until there's a proper help file - and, unlike some others here, I don't have the time or inclination to fiddle with software in the hope of working out how it can help me :-)

I do appreciate that SQL Notes is in beta, but I've always wondered how people succeed in beta testing a program with that sort of power without a help file - I wouldn't know where to begin.

Graham

PS: 138 minutes (and counting) in the queue to contact my ISP - is this a record? :-(

Graham, perhaps beta users tend to be different from the average user in that more things are intuitive to them, or they are prepared to play around with it longer.

Having said that, since writing my note, I have been over to the SQL site, and see that some good work has been on documentation, to wit, a start-up guide that seems to me pretty understandable.

So that is a good sign.

Daly

Graham Rhind wrote:

Yep, me too. And I've already made this same plea earlier on this forum.

I won't touch
SQL Notes until there's a proper help file - and, unlike some others here, I don't have
the time or inclination to fiddle with software in the hope of working out how it can
help me :-)

I do appreciate that SQL Notes is in beta, but I've always wondered how
people succeed in beta testing a program with that sort of power without a help file - I
wouldn't know where to begin.

Graham

PS: 138 minutes (and counting) in the queue
to contact my ISP - is this a record? :-(

Thanks Daly, and good work Pierre - I'll put reading that onto my todo list!

Daly de Gagne wrote:

Having said that, since writing my note, I have been over to the SQL site, and
see that some good work has been on documentation, to wit, a start-up guide that seems
to me pretty understandable.

Thanks Daly, and good work Pierre - I'll put reading that onto my todo list!

Daly de Gagne wrote:

Having said that, since writing my note, I have been over to the SQL site, and
see that some good work has been on documentation, to wit, a start-up guide that seems
to me pretty understandable.

Daly,

You are right, SQLNotes is the tool for old ADMers. Further, it is so feature rich that I can't see all opportunities at the moment. I will take the time to dive into SQLNotes even I don't have it... But it is a feeling like when I first looked at ADM (or EccoPro years, years ago).

The expected price of USD 49 is very, very fair, Pierre.

Dominik

Daly de Gagne wrote:

I
think that the ability to have a real clear, here's how to use SQLNotes for specific
functions help file will be a big plus in getting sales.

Also, there's a need to
provide illustrations of how different people might use it for different functions,
for example, a journalist, a therapist or doctor, a lawyer, a general knowledge data
base, etc.

+1
I often think that showing how other peoples uses their software would be the most useful help, more than a standard help file (I already know that when I'm clicking on button labelled "Create a pivot table" I'm going to create a pivot table...but I still don't really know what is its usefulness).
Seeing samples (at least for me) is the fastest way to understand a function of a software.

Unfortunately, often software developpers forget to show to users how other users do with their software...

Sincerely,
Christophe.

PS : If you have the funny idea that my english is...well...let say...strange...you'll be right, and please accept my appologizes for that, it's not my mother tongue.

@ All,

I don't quite know where to start answering questions... One at a time I guess.

@Christophe
You wrote:

I often think that showing how other peoples uses their software would be the most useful help, more than a standard help file (I already know that when I’m clicking on button labelled “Create a pivot table” I’m going to create a pivot table...but I still don’t really know what is its usefulness).

Seeing samples (at least for me) is the fastest way to understand a function of a software
--------------------

I'm the same. You'll find in the wikispace the getting started guide and 5 other uses in the Examples section, which guide you through, step by step. Regarding pivot tables, the Basketball stats, Time tracking, and Finances examples shows uses. Suggestions for improvements and other samples are welcomed. And anybody can modify the wikispace, so don't be shy. http://sqlnotes.wikispaces.com/

A couple questions for you Pierre - these are things that I find really confusing about SQLNotes, which have kept me from using it:

1.) what is the difference between a form and a grid? Both of them seem to be just a set of fields?

2.) How do you determine what grids an item will appear in? Sometimes I create an item and it magically appears in 2 grids; sometimes, it only appears in one grid. Sometimes it seems to disappear from a grid where it previously appeared.

3.) What is the "date source" of a grid (appears in the "manage grids" dialog)

OK - I think those three will help a lot, and then I'll get back to you after those sink in...
- Dan

Hi Dan7000

1.) what is the difference between a form and a grid? Both of them seem to be just a set of fields?

Good question. For a text-oriented outlines, one would use a single column, the item column. BTW I'm writing up a page on outline formatting which I'm sure will be very useful: http://sqlnotes.wikispaces.com/Formatting

SQLNotes also supports data oriented outlines (such as Excel, Outlook grid views, Access). In this case, other columns are also used to enter pertinent info.: category, due date, done, tags, comments, amounts, durations, etc. 4 data types are available: text, number, dates and yes/no. Those are called fields

Field can be displayed in a grid and/or in a form. In a grid, fields are displayed as columns. For forms, they are shown as lines. The grid has the advantage of showing values for all displayed items. Forms show the field values of the currently selected item only.

I recommend to limit the number of fields shown in the grid, though there is no system limitations. When you have large number of columns, you may want to lock a few to ease right-left scrolling. Tip: CTRL-mouse-wheel to scroll left-right.

Since forms are displayed vertically, they are more compact. So fields that are less used can be put in forms. But remember one important thing. Whereever they are displayed (grid, form, elsewhere in the properties pane), field values can be added/modified and changes will be reflected where needed.

2.) How do you determine what grids an item will appear in? Sometimes I create an item and it magically appears in 2 grids; sometimes, it only appears in one grid. Sometimes it seems to disappear from a grid where it previously appeared.

Yes, another key thing. SQLNotes separates actual information, from the display of this information (unlike Word or Excel where they are locked together)

As you enter text, number, dates, etc, these are entered in the database. You choose which of those items are displayed in the various grids. There are many ways and tools to help you display just the relevant information. These are: (1) Grid source (2) Grid filter (3) Alpha toolbar (4) DateFilter toolbar. These give you great flexibility in displaying the information. Details here: http://sqlnotes.wikispaces.com/Filtering

3.) What is the "date source" of a grid (appears in the "manage grids" dialog)

It is item (1) (Grid source) above and is shown in the Grid properties and in the Source bar (Alt-S). Simplifying a bit, you can view the source as specifying the folder to show in the grid. One interesting metaphor is to view fields as folders. Folders can "contain" items. To put an item in a folder, you tick the folder checkbox (when a yes/no type). Then, selecting that folder as a source, will display all items it "contains".

I hope this helps. I'll add these excellent questions to the Q&A page: http://sqlnotes.wikispaces.com/Q+%26+A

Hi all,

I recommend going through the Getting Started guide. When you create a new database, you'll find it in the "Welcome" grid. As you go through it, and as you try things out, the lights will start to go on. I'm still going through it and now learning about searching.

The user interface is pretty non-intuitive, I think, but it is certainly learnable. I think it might help to have something like Ecco's "folder pane" or UltraRecall's "data explorer" pane.

jim

The user interface is pretty non-intuitive, I think, but it is certainly learnable. I think it might help to have something like Ecco's "folder pane" or UltraRecall's "data explorer" pane.

jim

Agreed that a beginners mode would be very useful, which would only show menus/toolbar buttons for the basic outlining functions.

You'll find that the Properties pane does what Ecco's folder pane did and more. As for URp data explorer (i.e. as a 2 pane outliner), every grid can be seen as a data explorer. It is like having many many data explorers in the same database.