ArtDatabase Usage Tips & Tricks

Editing the "Purchase Orders" form
If you edit the orders form, be sure to go to View>Print Layout after opening the form for editing. Otherwise, the fields will not be properly aligned.

Artwork Titles
Artwork titles must be unique, or you will receive errors when using the database.

Renaming Tables, Table Field Names or Queries
Be very careful if you want to rename tables, table field names or queries. The changed name also needs to be applied to related forms and queries and possibly the macros described in 'setup_instructions_for_first_time_use_or_after_reinstalling_ooo'. Renaming tables, table field names or queries is not recommended. If you have tried this and your database no longer works, please visit the forum for help.

Database too big/slow
A large number of images in your database will slow the performance of the database and increase the size. To condense the size of the database:
1. Go to Tools>SQL
2. Type "shutdown compact" (without the quotes)
3. Click "Execute"
4. After the message "1 command successfully executed" shows, click "Close"

Tables Without Forms
No forms have been created for the following tables:
-artwork_statuses
-opportunity_sources
-opportunity_types
-slide_statuses
-titles
To add modify or remove items from those tables access them directly in the tables section of the database.

Image Sizes
Images inserted into the 'Artwork' form must be 10cm x 13 62cm or it shall be resized to fill that space. This is currently a limitation of OpenOffice.org Base and there will hopefully be a fix to the program or a workaround for this database in the future.

Dollar- and Percentage-signs Not Showing
If the dollar- and percentage-signs are not showing in the Purchase Order form, you will also need to reapply the formatting to the table. To do this:
1. Go to the Tables
2. Right-click on "Orders" and select "Edit"
3. Click in the description column next to "asking_price"
4. Click the button in the format example row at the bottom of the screen
5. Click "Currency" and select the second format in the list (ensure the language is "English USA")
6. Click "Ok"
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for all of the fields which are dollar amounts
8. Repeat steps 3-6 for the 'discount rate' row, but select 'percentage' instead of 'currency'
9. Go to File>Save
10. Go to File>Close

Amounts Not Updating in Purchase Order Form
1. Ensure you have installed the macros
2. If you are inputting a discount or shipping amount, you must edit the field twice even if it is to type the same number twice before the numbers will update.