I was referring to sBasic. At the time I tried to write something, Python was not there yet. I haven't seen any examples, but if it is standard Python and there is a documented API, it would be great.

However, I am still pulling the hairs out of my head when I have to create a graph in Calc or have to do something even more complicated. Hence awk/GNUPlot.

And Latex is really superior to MsWord or Writer, it just has a bit of a learning curve. But only 10-6 % of the world population agrees with me on that, and makes me as incompatible as hell.

jlinkels

Yes it's the standard Python, with a built-in editor/IDE inside LO (allows for debugging as well) - unfortunately autocomplete / intellisense is something alien to this. Though the API is just as badly documented as was for sBasic, perhaps even more so since the examples are mostly in sBasic/JavaScript, so you need to translate into Python and not simply copy-n-paste.

+1 on that score. I find Writer ever so slightly better than Word, especially on combined documents and styles based editing ... but it's a far cry from Latex or even just Word Perfect. It really depends on what you want to use it for, if all you do is write memos / letters / perhaps the odd office protocol document, then you should have ample features with Writer/Word, well perhaps not "ample" but enough. However if you have to do stuff like specification documents, I'd hate to do them in Word - Writer is about minimum for these. If you want to go write a product manual / handbook, then you absolutely need Word Perfect or preferably Latex.

To me the only thing where Excel shines head & shoulders over Calc is in Table Formatting ... but then only Excel 2007+, earlier is much on par with Calc. I don't do many graphs so I can't say much about that.

.

This is more of a generic reply about graphs. I do a lot of them. I've used Excel, Calc, Origin and QTIPlot. I gave up on graphs in spreadsheets almost immediately. It's just too limited, both in terms of analytic tools and in terms of formatting tools. Nothing ever seems to work quite like you'd expect - and sometimes a feature doesn't work at all. I've never tried AWK but have dabbled a bit with gnuPlot. In the final analysis, QTIPlot comes out on top by an enormous margin. Don't take that as a vote against the other graphing programs (except perhaps the spreadsheets). Origin is good, it's just to expenesive, licensing terms are too restrictive and there is no Linux port. gnuPlot does a good job, it's just too obscure for me. I had to study QTIPlot a bit, but in the end, (IMO) it is the hands down winner. In fact, I was so impressed that I pretty much re-wrote the documentation a while back.

If the problem is that the Data is in Excel/Calc already then just export a copy into QTIPlot and use its much more flexible and extensive graphing/curve fitting capabilities. It really is worth a try:

1) Native Linux code.
2) Not that it's much of an issue here, but there is a Windows port available (roll your own for free or inexpensive pre-compiled binary.)
2) Nearly complete documentation.
3) Fully open source.
4) Versions are available from various repositories.
5) Actively developed.
6) Author is responsive and accepts reasonable suggestions (but don't expect hand-holding or extra features unless you have a support contract).
7) Very reasonable support contracts are available.
8) Roll your own from svn possible for the intrepid.

It really doesn't get much better than this.

What I have seen on the QtiPlot website it certainly looks like it is worth the effort to take a look at it. I like the Python scriptability and Latex output.

BTW, AWK is a text record processor. I use it to preprocess data files to something which can be read by GnuPLot. It is not a graphics package.

jlinkels

I would like to see photoshop ported. I have used photoshop forever and if you actually apply yourself its simple, im doing graphic design and its a pain getting on windows and to be honest, gimp is so unprofessional.

You really think so?
It's funny. I always prefered photoshop until I lost my license and had to go with Gimp. I'm so used to it now, I don't think I could go back.

+1 from me ... after I worked in Gimp and learned to do it the "gimp"-way I actually find PhotoShop's methods tedious. My biggest gripe is that in PS you usually need to click 3 to 5 buttons/tab bars/menus/etc. to get the same tool which is available in Gimp immediately with one click.

... as several times asked by several people, when this topic will finally organized in sub-topics like as per softwware typology (graphics, network, productivity/office, internet.. etc..) ?!?

You may wish to check out latest Gimp version 2.8, with single window mode. I'm no graphic artist but this looks and works as professional as any paid software out there.

Regards.

You should ask this question in Suggestions & Feedback, really, since only Jeremy or the mods can answer it. I don't think it's likely to happen, though, as someone would have to go through the entire thread by hand :/.

I agree with you nothing can beat MSAccess now but we are waiting ..

Kareem I remember when linux had no m.s. type programmes that were really a fit replacement for m.s. originals. Nowadays we have so many we are spoilt for choice. There are no M.S.programmes I need anymore with some far better bloatless offerings in Linux to choose from. Everyday a new one appears and they are all gratis and updated, just wait awhile and someone will come up with a worthwile replacement for Access, keep watching the repo's, cheers Bob.

I would love to see Itunes ported to Linux so I can add music to my Ipod without using my mothers laptop, or if a Linux company released a device that is like or better then the Ipod that was open source would be amazing

That post was from 2003, since then Open Office and LibreOffice has what's called Base. In most Linux distro's it's not installed by default - but you should be able to get at it through your software / package manager.

I'm the first to admit it's no full replacement for Access, but at least it's better than having nothing but SQL to fall to. It does have a reasonable form / report designer - though not as awesome as Access's. The Query builder is about on par with Access's (IMO), and the table creation wizard is also about the same.

One nice thing is that it can link to nearly every type of database you can throw a stick at (including Access mdb files and even MS SQL server), but usually you'd use it either on its own for small DB's or in conjunction with MySQL/PostGre. Though don't expect it to import the forms/reports you created in your MDB file .

My biggest gripe with Base is the inability to link to more than one database source in a single ODB file. That was as easy as pie in Access: right-click --> Link --> Browse --> voila. In Base there's no such possibility, if the backbone you're using doesn't have some form of linking to different datasources then there's no way for you to extract data from more than one database at a time. By "database" I mean something like a MDB file with multiple tables inside, and linking between db's is linking between 2 or more MDB files.

Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPodLinux ;-)