OpenOffice.org Base Switchboard-1.0.3

The Switchboard extension generates a Switchboard/Main Menu interface to access Base forms and reports. The switchboard can be grouped into categories, each of which can contain any number of menu entries. Furthermore, you can specify the size and screen location of the form to be opened.

The generators creates three database objects.

1)The SWITCHBOARD table which has some basic information about the switchboard such as size and location of main form as well as size and positioning of menu entries.
2)The SWITCHBOARDITEMS table which has the menu entries configuration information.
3)The SWITCHBOARD form. This is a blank form generated by the wizard, and is populated with the menu entries. This form document can be modified by the user—keeping in mind that the menu entries need to be positioned at runtime.

All these items are generated automatically when the extension main hook is launched, and that database document does not have said objects. The main hook can be accessed through the Tools | Add-ons | OpenOffice.org Base Switchboard menu option. The extension can only be opened from a Registered Base document.

Currently, there are four types of menu entries that can be generated. Forms, Reports, Switchboards, and Switchboard Links. The Form and Report entries open a form or report, respectively. At runtime, the difference between a Switchboard and Switchboard Link is trivial. A Switchboard is an entry that appears as the parent of other entries (a menu). A Switchboard Link is an entry that links to another Switchboard menu—but does not have entries; this is usefully to get back to another menu (such as main menu) from an entry that may be nested somewhere down the hierarchy.

A Database form or report need not be located in the database where the Switchboard is located. This feature makes it possible to have a main switchboard that gives access to forms and reports from any number of databases.

Version 1.0.2/1.0.3 Notes

Fixed several bugs: strange errors that occurred when loading the extension dialog. These were due to failure in trying to fish out the database name from the current frame. Added several other methods of getting database name, should the first fail. As a last resort, it will open a file picker where you can select a registered database—or cancel. Also, fixed bug that deleted the the target menu instead of deleting a switchboard link item—in configuration dialog.

Size bug: There was a bug I thought I had fixed on version 1.0.3, but was still there in some OOo installations--the configuration dialog opened with a size much smaller than the actual settings. This should hopefully be fixed now. Should the error persist, double-click anywhere on the dialog to expand. If nothing happens, you may be clicking on a label which happens to have a transparent back ground. If there is no dialog area that is not covered by a label, you can also double click on the white area at the top-left corner. Continue to double-click until the dialog is the desired size.

I have re-uploaded with a new release/version such that it is caught by the OOo extension manager and you are notified of the update--if you have a recent version of OOo.

Features added: Hungarian translation (Thank you Zoltan Reizinger). Added ability to include a entry button icon as well as specify label font (size, color, Bold, Italic). The font size is especially important, as Base 3.0 forms default to a very small size—also in some Linux versions.

Thank you all who reported bugs and suggestions, and Zoltan for providing translations as well as testing.

Here
is a sample Switchboard with icons.