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October 22, 2005
OpenOffice includes a Database
I am considering buying a new computer next year after Windows Vista is launched. Of course buying a new system usually means buying software for it, and I was considering the costs of Microsoft Office since this is what I currently have. Unfortunately, like my computer, it could probably stand an upgrade too, although it serves my purposes. After reading about OpenOffice now including a database in its application, it will give me reason to consider my options.
I mean... we all knew OpenOffice didn't include a database in their suite of of office tools, right?
Not so.
As quoted by eWeek writer, Lisa Vaas:
"We've always had a database element and were always surprised people didn't know it," said Louis Suarez-Potts, an OpenOffice.org community manager.
The problem wasn't that OpenOffice.org lacked a database. In fact, OpenOffice.org 1.1 supported dBASE (.dbf) databases without no additional software required. For more advanced requirements, OpenOffice.org 1.1 supported the MySQL database natively, or any database, for that matter, through ODBC and JDBC drivers.
I admit! They had me fooled. I thought the only option was to buy Star Office's database program, but I've been wrong before. The new version, according to the features listed on site says:
OpenOffice.org always had database front end tools, but in past versions they were very hidden. OpenOffice.org 2.0 starts to handle databases like any other application, i.e. a new database can be created via the "File - New" menu. For novice users OpenOffice.org provides a new Table Wizard that allows creating database tables without any knowledge of databases or SQL. The new embedded HSQLDB database engine, based on Java technology, allows creating "database documents". These simple database files don't require a back end database server like MySQL or Adabas D. All information (table definitions, data, queries, forms, reports) is stored in one XML file.
Apparently, the new stand-alone database, users can create and edit forms, reports, queries, tables, views and relations. The forms, reports and queries are stored in a single file format, allowing users to handle their databases in the same way they would handle other popular databases.
If you have tried the new database, please share your review here.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at October 22, 2005 01:18 PM
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