Configuring and Using Databases

From NeoWiki

While NeoOffice 1.2.x, NeoOffice/J 1.1 and OpenOffice.org/X11 1.1.x do not include a separate database component like Microsoft Access, it is possible to use all of these programs to connect to existing MySQL or hsqldb databases and enter or manipulate data, including creating detailed forms and reports. NeoOffice 2.0 includes a new database component, “Base”, but you can still connect to various external databases and manipulate data from NeoOffice.

If you do not have a MySQL or hsqldb database, you can also create a simple database in NeoOffice or OpenOffice.org/X11—or even use a Calc table if your needs are very simple.

The various pages of this article contain information on installing, configuring, and using a these databases with NeoOffice or OpenOffice.org/X11.

Maybe insert a screenshot here to balance the length of the page vs. the length of the TOC--the TOC will get shorter when the articles are done, but storing comments there now until we decide on page names, etc.

Include a reference to the Address Book article somewhere, though it's not part of this article

dbf import tip

The table structure of the dbf file for all the fields containing leading apostrophes say they are characters. This can easily seen if you import the DBF file and look at the first row. All columns have a header defining it. C is for characters (text), N would be numeric.

So Calc imports the values correctly as Characters. As the number format for the default template is set to numeric, a apostrophe is placed in front of the value to make it a text.

To change such text values to real numeric values, you have two choices.

1.) Change the field setting in the DBF from C to N and re-import the file or 2.) use the Search and replace functionality. Open the search and replace dialog and enter '.*' (without the quotes) into the search field. Type '&' (also without quotes) into the replace field. Now press on the More Button and tag the option Regular expression. Click on replace all and all the apostrophes should be gone.