OpenOffice.org Base

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OpenOffice.org Base

OpenOffice.org Base 2.
Developer:	Sun Microsystems
Latest release:	2.1 / December 12, 2006
OS:	Cross-platform
Use:	Database
License:	LGPL
Website:	www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org Base is the database module initially released with OpenOffice.org version 2.0. Currently it is based on the HSQLDB database engine written in Java. Note that another database engine, SQLite, has been considered[1] but the OpenOffice.org team decided to go with HSQLDB after evaluating the features, connectivity and embed quality of both database engines.

The HSQLDB developers have suggested only 76% of the target has been met in the 1.8.0 release[2], which is the version that was integrated with OOo 2.0. They have been appealing for contributions[3] to fulfill all the feature targets, since the core database engine itself is an independent project with no external funding.

OpenOffice.org users, however, can choose to connect to external full-featured SQL database such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and even Oracle through ODBC or JDBC drivers. OpenOffice.org Base can hence act as a GUI frontend for SQL views, table design and query. In addition, OpenOffice.org has its own Form wizard to create dialog windows for form filling and updates.

1 See also
2 External links

[edit] See also

Free software Portal

HSQLDB
Kexi - a similar free software/open source application

[edit] External links

[edit] General articles and resources

OpenOffice.org database application: A first look review
OpenOffice.org Base by Kevin Shockey, from TuxMagazine issue 10, p.41-46 (free PDF download after registration, lesson on creating new table and form in Base)
OpenOffice.org Writer Does More Than Just Word Processing by Kevin Shockey, from TuxMagazine issue 11, p.23-29 (lesson on Mail Merge that combines Base with Writer to provide new powerful functionality)
OpenOffice.org Base forum, with links to several tutorials and guides
Andrew Pitonyak's documents on using Macros with OOo Base
OpenOffice.org Base 2.0 (a book published in German)
Using Functions in Base Queries

[edit] Third party support

OpenOffice.org 2.0 lessons in Flash format :
- Lesson #1: How to create a new database & new table with Base
- Lesson #2: How to create a new form in Base and how to access it
- Lesson #3: How to create a new dynamic report in Base

[edit] Database connection articles

Getting Started with Base: Introduction to Data Sources (pdf)
Also from Database Access Project:
External Resources, Specific problems, and Database Drivers for connecting to third-party database
Other articles

StarOffice 7 Setting Up Database Connections Guide - a little dated for OOo 2.0, provided here for reference

OOAuthors: FAQs for Database, updated by community contributions

OpenOffice.org
Writer • Calc • Impress • Base • Draw • Math

Topics in database management systems (DBMS) ( view • talk • edit )
Concepts Database • Database model • Relational database • Relational model • Relational algebra • Primary key, Foreign key, Surrogate key, Superkey, Candidate key • Database normalization • Referential integrity • Relational DBMS • Distributed DBMS • ACID
Objects Trigger • View • Table • Cursor • Log • Transaction • Index • Stored procedure • Partition	Topics in SQL Select • Insert • Update • Merge • Delete • Join • Union • Create • Drop
Implementations of database management systems
Types of implementations Relational • Flat file • Deductive • Dimensional • Hierarchical • Object oriented • Temporal • XML data stores	Components Query language • Query optimizer • Query plan • ODBC • JDBC
Database products
Apache Derby • Berkeley DB • Caché • DB2 • DBase • Filemaker Pro • Firebird • H2 • Helix • Informix • Ingres • InterBase • Microsoft Access • Microsoft SQL Server • MySQL • NonStop SQL • OpenLink Virtuoso • OpenOffice.org Base • Oracle • Oracle Rdb • Paradox • Perst • PostgreSQL • SQLite • Sybase IQ • Sybase • Teradata • Visual FoxPro Other: Object-oriented (comparison) • relational (comparison)