Open Office Tutorials

Database: "ooBase", aka "Base"

The database shipped with OpenOffice, version 2 does typical database tasks well, and is as easy to use as anything of comparable power. It accepts SQL. Read on for help mastering ooBase.

Forget any experiences with Adabas, which came with the commercial version of OpenOffice 1. The OpenOffice version 2 database, ooBase, is unrelated.

Remember: the whole OpenOffice suite, being open source, is free, including ooBase. (You will also see ooBase referred to as "Base".) Speaking of the wonderful world of opensource programs, have you tried the open software and open hardware Arduino microcontroller? A lot of fun, if you like tinkering with electronics. And if you are only into software, there's the multi-platform Pascal called FPC, which I promote at the same page as my Arduino material. FPC comes in versions for Window, Linux, and Macs.

My pages are browser friendly. Make your browser window as wide as you want it. The text will flow nicely. It is easier to read in a narrow window... and the rest of your screen will be free for your ooBase exercises!

Page contents © TK Boyd, Sheepdog Software ®, 2/06.

First section:

I recommend starting with these tutorials if you are new to ooBase. They give you a tour of some common matters with limited repetition and overlap. You can jump around if you wish, but doing them in sequence may be more productive.
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Introduction to working with databases. If you've worked with Access, dBase, Paradox, etc.... you could skip this, but it isn't long, even if you have. Probably best to skim through it, just in case.

Installing OpenOffice and its database If you've got ooBase running smoothly, then you can skip this page. It is brief notes about the Java engine requirement of ooBase, and links to already invented wheels.

A simple addressbook table (names, addresses and phone numbers): Just to get us started.

Alternate way to create tables: You don't need to read this one. Creating tables with the Design View.

A simple form: Managing the addressbook data with a form, which is the right way to do it. (The "Using Forms / Cloning Databases" tutorial covers using forms, too, in more depth. It also covers some additional material along the way.)

A simple query: A first look at queries, using the addressbook data.

Printing (selected) address labels: An extension of the addressbook tutorial. Also discusses sorting and filtering.

Using Forms / Cloning a Database Basic techniques you should master. This tutorial is long, perhaps tedious, but I suggest it is important, not so much for the information on forms, but for the general information covered along the way ooBase works. If you complete this tutorial, you will learn how to present your table with the fields in the order you want. There are also a few quick notes on how to clone a database, which is important if you want to back up your work or move it to another computer. (The "Simple Form" tutorial covers some of the central points contained in this tutorial, but less comprehensively, and without considering as many peripheral topics.)

Using multiple tables, and relations This tutorial was heavily edited in June 2007. It is much longer than many, but with good reason... there is a lot of material in it. When you have a basic grasp of ooBase, and are ready to move on from simple things, and have an hour to spare, I would commend it to you. This tutorial also covers generating a report based on a query. (Oops! There is overlap between this and the "Getting started with multiple tables, relationships" tutorial. This one is probably better, but that one will make less demands on you and your time. Try both?!)

Second section:

Consider these after you are comfortable with what's in the tutorials in the first section.

Importing tables from other databases. Don't retype all that data!

Some points relating to "registering databases". Explanations of such mysteries as I've cracked to date...

Database with Images... and some general skills The ostensible goal of this tutorial is to show you how to build a database with pictures or diagrams in one of the fields. Even if you aren't interested in that, it might be worth skimming through the tutorial for some of the general points on form design which it contains.

ListBoxes, ComboBoxes, and other data validation tools. Aids to keeping your tables free of bad-data.

Creating a form with a calculated field. An important skill; exercises other elementary skills.

Multiple tables, relationships, referential integrity. Written 6/07... a better-than-average tutorial.

Getting started with multiple tables, relationships. Important topics. Written before 6/07, but heavily overhauled 4/08. Create a database with two tables, and create queries and forms to extract information from the tables. This tutorial does not involve any report... the "result" is a form that assembles your data in one easy to use window. (Oops! There is overlap between this and the "Using multiple tables and relations" tutorial. This one is probably better if you want a quick, "normal" tutorial. The other is better if you are willing to devote some time to working through it. That one includes the use of a report, which this one doesn't cover. Try both?!)

Displaying fields from multiple tables in one query. Using Joins. This is an unusual tutorial. For a start, it contains an introduction to buying and selling stock market calls and puts. It looks at a "bigger" project than is typical in these tutorials. It is long, but, I hope, worth it! It is also unusual in that there's a link allowing you to download the finished database.

The wonderful Report Builder extension from Sun Microsystems. How to install. A quick introduction to basic use.

"How To"....

The pages in this section contain little snippets of "how to" information. They are less "tutorial" than those in the previous section.
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Looking up things in the manual. There's a manual? Where do you get it?

Concatenate fields Turn strings from two fields into one string. Jane and Smith - > "Jane Smith", for instance. Or even "Smith, Jane"!

Discourses:

The following pages are less "keystroke- by- keystroke", less in the "how- to" vein. They are more like lectures. They are probably not as easy or as fun to read, but do give them a try? I will be trying to put them in order from "easy/ important" to "less easy / less critical" topics. While the one about data types isn't particularly easy, it is particularly important!

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Data "types" A critical element in specifying table fields.

Case Studies:

Examples of satisfying specific needs via databases. I hope you won't look at the subjects of these case studies and say "Telephone numbers list? I don't need to do a telephone list. I won't bother to read that one."

If it felcitously happens that you do need to set up a telephone numbers list, the case study might be particulary useful, However, I have written these case studies with more general usefulness in mind. In each, you read about decisions I took in solving a particular problem. You read about tools that I've used. I have tried to set things up so that that you will take away ideas which are useful in many databases... for instance the one you happen to need to create at the moment!

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Annual giving to charity: A database for keeping track of donations to worthy causes. No "rocket science"; a fairly basic system.

Further comments...

With OpenOffice 2, you get a free, capable, useful database program. It derives from an existing product, HSQL. To quote from www.hsqldb.org:

"Our group was formed in 2001.... We have.... released six new versions of the database (RDMS) since April 2001... The project enjoys a top 50 ranking among all SourceForge projects (100,000) with over 380,000 downloads.

"(HSQL is) completely free to use and distribute under our licenses, (which are) based on the standard BSD license."

And from the OpenOffice page....http://www.openoffice.org/product/base.html.....

"With BASE, you can:
Create new tables for your data - and also change them as your needs change
Maintain indexes on the tables to make data access faster
View a table in an editing grid and add, change, and delete records
Use the Report Wizard to produce impressive reports from your data
Use the Form Wizard to create 'instant' database applications

"Using BASE, you can not only browse your data, but also:
Perform simple (single column) or complex (multi-column) sorts
View subsets of your data with simple (one-click) or complex (logical query) filters
Create powerful queries to show your data in new ways, including summaries and multi-table views
Produce reports in a wide variety of formats using the Report AutoPilot

"BASE includes a full version of the HSQL database engine, storing data in XML files. It can also access dBASE files natively for simple database work.

"For more advanced requirements, BASE supports many popular databases database natively (Adabas D, ADO, Microsoft Access, MySQL), or any database through industry-standard ODBC and JDBC drivers. It also supports any LDAP compliant address book, as well as common formats such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Windows, and Mozilla."

Editorial Philosophy

I dislike 'fancy' websites with more concern for a flashy appearance than for good content. For a pretty picture, I can go to an art gallery. Of course, an attractive site WITH content deserves praise... as long as that pretty face doesn't cost download time. In any case....

I am trying to present this material in a format which makes it easy for you to USE it. There are two aspects to that: The way it is split up, and the way it is posted.

The way it is split up...

These tutorials derive from an old project of mine which explains Delphi programming. The site you are reading now was started early in 2006, when I was new to OO ooBase 2. As it grew, I split it up into 'bite-sized' pieces. I indicate which pieces are basic, of general importance, and which address more specific issues which also happen to be complex, or depend on more fundamental issues.

In other words, I try to show you how to walk before asking you to run.

The way it is posted...

OpenOffice users have an HTML capable wordprocessor, so I make some use of HTML in these documents. Is this a problem?

You should be able to read the tutorials on-line without difficulty. However, you should ALSO find it easy to capture them for off-line use. You should be able to save the pages from a browser, and re-load them from your hard disc later. Create a folder for the tutorials so that you can retain my filenames with no risk of name duplication.

On-line, use your browser to view the tutorial you want to capture.

Use the browser's File | Save As... to save the web-page to your disc. At this point you can log off, or visit other pages, perhaps saving them, too.

When you have logged off, just use your browser's File | Load command to view the material.

Please remember the material is copyright. (TK Boyd, 2006) The procedures above are suggested only for convenient personal use of the material.

Filenames/ folders: I've tried to be organized: All of the tutorials about OpenOffice's "Base" are in the folder "FDB", for "Free Data Base". the filenames begin with "fdb" and a digit. (I think "OO" ("oh, oh") is too easily confused with "zero, zero".. and no browser will accept one where the other is expected.)

Feel free to use this information in computer courses, etc, but a credit of the source would be appreciated. If you simply copy the pages to other web pages you will do your readers a disservice: Your copies won't stay current. Far better to link to these pages, and then your readers see up-to-date versions. For those who care- thank you- I have posted a page with more information on what copyright waivers I extend, and suggestions for those who wish to put this material on CDs, etc.

Other resources....

When I started this in early 2006, I was new to OpenOffice, as you may have guessed... but not new to computers, or to writing tutorials on the web.

There are other OpenOffice tutorials out there that I would commend to you.

For ooBase, try the following....

Of course, you should read OpenOffice's own Getting Started With ooBase. I wish I'd found it sooner!

Solveig Haugland's: Good for complete novices, and probably for more advanced students, too. She has worked very hard for you and included many screenshots. (I find creating the text quite enough work, thank you!)

Andrew Pitonyak has a site with help on ooBase, and other OO topics, and other topics!

There's a good introduction for new users within the OpenOffice forum. The following might take you there, if not, access the forum, and search in the ooBase forum for "Beginners - Example Database - ooBase Tutorial". Direct (I hope) to forum thread.

For general OpenOffice tutorials, try the following....

A fine site, with LOTS of information: "Tutorials for OpenOffice"

The following will give you links to a bunch of good OpenOffice tutorials, covering much more than ooBase...Off The Wall articles.

Tutorials on Writer: "Writer help from About.com"

Tutorials on Calc: "Calc help from About.com"

A collection of links to Tutorials, manuals, how-to's and other information pages for OpenOffice.org.

Tutorial: Creating a book with OpenOffice Writer. I include this not because many of us are going to undertake such a substantial project, but because the tutorial is well written, and seems to be part of an archive which might reward further exploration.

Please don't ask for a link from here to your site unless a) your site already has a link to this site, and b) the Wayback Machine will show me that your site has been up for more than two years, or at least since December 2005 in the case of ooBase stuff.

And if you liked what you found here, or want different things, here are some more pages from the editor of these tutorials....

The homepage of Sheepdogsoftware.co.uk., my biggest site. (Apologies if the "?FrmFdb" I added to that link causes your browser problems. Please let me know, if so? It is there to help me learn my visitors' preferences.)

Pages about using computers in Sensing and Control, e.g. weather logging.

Programming: Delphi and Pascal tutorials.

Introduction MicroLan: a powerful family of devices for sensing and control. This is not consumer-level stuff, but neither is it not beyond the means of enthusiastic amateurs. I also have tutorials for you about programming 1-Wire (tm) chips and devices for MicroLans (tm).

Another of my sites. (Arunet)

Ad from page's editor: Yes.. I do enjoy compiling these things for you... I hope they are helpful. However this work doesn't pay my bills!!! If you find this stuff useful, (and you run an MS-DOS or Windows PC) please visit my freeware and shareware page, download something, and circulate it for me? Links on your page to this page would also be appreciated!

Click here to visit editor's Sheepdog Software (tm) freeware, shareware pages.

To email this page's editor, Tom Boyd.... Editor's email address. Suggestions welcomed!

Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org

One last bit of advice: Be sure you know all you need to about spyware.

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