[Hidden-tech] Simple database suggestions

[B. Kimo Lee]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I'm aware of the print to pdf feature in  
Mac OSX. Isn't it great! I love it and use it all the time.

When I was testing in Bento, I was looking at its export features,  
which were limited.
Bento does output a really nice looking PDF when printing in Table  
view. Certainly better looking than Excel.

I guess the issues are cost ($50) and how many fields are in the table  
— if too many fields then you either get multiple pages wide or tiny  
type size if using "fit to page". I'm guessing the same width issue/ 
type size would apply with Excel, or even a Google Docs spreadsheet  
for that matter. Having said that, the view of the PDF could certainly  
be enlarged by the user when viewing it onscreen.

I still like being able to skip the PDF step entirely and letting  
members view the spreadsheet online.

Best,
Kimo


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On Oct 6, 2010, at 2:19 PM, Chris Hoogendyk wrote:

> umm, she's on Mac OS X. Print preview generates a pdf from any  
> application -- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh1035.html 
> .
>
> -- 
> ---------------
>
> Chris Hoogendyk
>
> -
>   O__  ---- Systems Administrator
>  c/ /'_ --- Biology&  Geology Departments
> (*) \(*) -- 140 Morrill Science Center
> ~~~~~~~~~~ - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
>
> <hoogendyk at bio.umass.edu>
>
> ---------------
>
> Erdös 4
>
>
>
> On 10/6/10 10:52 AM, B. Kimo Lee wrote:
>> HI Deborah,
>>
>> I second the use of a Google Docs spreadsheet for your group info.  
>> While I really like Bento, I don't think it will export very well  
>> to PDF, at least for other to view.
>>
>> *Download to PDF*
>>
>> Using a Google Spreadsheet you can either import your existing data  
>> or build from scratch. You can then download as a PDF and using  
>> Acrobat Pro set up a password to restrict the editing of the  
>> document.
>>
>> *Even better: Online Viewing*
>>
>> You can give group members  "Can view" permissions so they can see  
>> the document in a browser at your Google Docs link, but not have  
>> editing privileges. They'll need to have Google accounts.
>>
>> The above method isn't quite as elegant as setting up a web site  
>> with a database back-end which would display each group member's  
>> profile neat and tidy and be searchable, but it is free and you  
>> could set it up in about 5-minutes and then begin populating the  
>> spreadsheet.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Kimo Lee
>>
>>
>> On Oct 5, 2010, at 4:06 PM, Deborah Chandler wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I am looking for a suggestion for a simple database solution. I  
>>> need to create a document that incorporates info about a group of  
>>> people, and then be able to share that document with the group in  
>>> a non-editable format like a pdf. There are about 115 members to  
>>> date, and the info will need to be updated as the group grows and  
>>> changes.
>>>
>>> I am working on a Mac using Tiger OS (10.4.11).
>>>