What is Reddit's opinion of Apache OpenOffice Base?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I agree that Access would be the path of least resistance...or even OpenOffice Base which is free and very similar to Access.

Hint: use the wizards in Access. It's the simplest way to go. First make tables, then make queries, then make reports. The reports are what the users will use (a printout on paper) to view the info about the seniors.

Have you looked at tracking these via a CRM? Yes, they are built for 'your customers', but they are, in fact, just a simple one to many (to many/one) database used for tracking customers/leads/etc... I see no reason you couldn't use it for your purpose; there are many free ones online.

Thinking of Microsoft Access (a simple database), you could even run simple queries and print reports that show upcoming events, upcoming deadlines/fees, and much more. With that in mind, maybe you are looking more for a basic database solution and not as much membership tracking? Open Office's Base is a possible free solution.

Take a look at Access... pretty straight forward, and can handle these sorts of data sets much easier... if you are familiar with programming, MS Access should be a breeze... If you don't have access, you could use Open Office Base...

WARNING SHAMELESS PLUG

Head over to /r/Excel, most people there will help with whatever they can...

Start with your table lay-out on something free to make sure you are collecting the right data. The Open Office database program BASE is okay.

Then read this article to get your head around some ways that other people fuck up.

Plan your tables. Collect some test data. Design some forms to do queries so you can search and review your data.

To be frank, I have done exactly this for a hand held bar-code scanner that was tracking IT assets for the defense department. When we delivered an outstanding application (for the price) on very suitable hardware, it was shelved and never used because they had done a review of their system and decided that they were not collecting the right data and it was easier to pretend it never happened than to actually admit that the questions that we had been asking them since day 1 were actually very relevant and BTW they were incompetent.

I am sure that if you look around online you can find some DB design tutorials. There are certainly some very good books written on the subject. Databases are infinitely useful in the hands of a skilled systems analyst. However, if you are just wanting to find your shit rather than learn a new skill set then go and buy a commercial off the shelf product. It will work out of the box and you won't re-invent the wheel.

I hope this is of some help.