OpenOffice.org Base

OpenOffice.org Base

OpenOffice.org Base 3
Developer(s)	Sun Microsystems
Stable release	3.3 / January 25, 2011; 9 months ago (2011-01-25)
Development status	Active
Operating system	Cross-platform
Platform	Java
Type	Database
License	GNU Lesser General Public License
Website	www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice.org Base ("Base" for short), a database module, initially appeared with OpenOffice.org version 2.0. As of 2010, it builds on the HSQLDB database engine written in Java.

OpenOffice.org users can connect to external full-featured SQL databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and 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.

Released under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public Licence, Base is free software.

Product specifications

Early provisions for integration with database information appear in the Open Office Specification version 1.0.^[1]

History

The OpenOffice.org team evaluated another database engine, SQLite^{[citation needed]}, but decided to use HSQLDB after evaluating the features, connectivity and embed quality of both database engines.

Functionality

Starting with version 2.3, Base offers report-generation based on Pentaho software.^[2] Base is integrated into the rest of the OpenOffice.org productivity suite. It can provide mail merge functionality in conjunction with Writer and spreadsheet integration with Calc.

Limitations

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

As a result, HSQLDB 2.0 was released in 2010 with a vast list of improvements and new features^[4] HSQLDB 2.x is scheduled for inclusion in OpenOffice.org 3.4,^[5] although LibreOffice has yet to commit.^[6]

Documentation

OpenOffice.org provides a full integrated help system, as well as tutorial documentation and a web-based wiki.

See also

Free software portal

• HSQLDB
• Kexi - a similar free software/open source application
• Comparison of office suites

Notes and references

1. ^ Michael, Brauer; et al. (2004-03-22). "Open Office Specification 1.0: Committee Draft 1" (PDF). Oasis. p. 112ff and 200ff. http://d-axel.dk/pub/documentation/sgml/office-spec-1.0-cd-1.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 
2. ^ "Report Designer will extend the Database Application". http://blogs.sun.com/GullFOSS/entry/report_designer_will_extend_the. 
3. ^ "HSQL page about integration with OpenOffice.org". http://hsqldb.org/web/openoffice.html. 
4. ^ "New Features in HyperSQL 2.0". http://hsqldb.org/web/features200.html. 
5. ^ "OOo Base 3.3 New Features". http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?p=166659#p166659. 
6. ^ "Libreoffice hsqldb update". http://www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg03818.html. 

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
• Tutorials for new and intermediate ooBase users, from Sheepdog Guides

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)
• Tutorials on using ooBase from Sheepdog Guides

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
  • 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