OpenOffice.org Base is the new database module 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^* 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 releasewhich is the version that was integrated with OOo 2.0. They have been seeking appeal for contributions[http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?t=21157 to fulfill all the feature targets, since the core database engine itself is an independent project with no external fundings.

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.

See also

• HSQLDB
• Kexi - similar Open Source application

External links

• Base information page
  • OpenOffice.org Base 2.0 project discussion
  • OpenOffice.org Database Access Project
• HSQL and OpenOffice.org
• User resources at OOo Wiki

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)

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

Database connection articles

• Getting Started with Base: Introduction to Data Sources
• Also from Database Access Project:
  External Resources, Specific problems, and Database Drivers for connecting to third-party database
  
• Other articles
  • Hooking OOo to MySQL
  • OpenOffice Base And MySQL
  • Plug OpenOffice.org into PostgreSQL (via postgresql-sdbc-driver)
  • Using SQLite Database with OpenOffice.org (via sqliteodbc or sqlite-sdbc-driver)

• 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 | Open source database management systems

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