This article is a short tutorial on How to Create a Database using OpenOffice.org BASE. In this tutorial the user can create a database shell in OpenOffice.org BASE.

A database, according to Wikipedia, is any structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. But the reality is much less complex than this. Instead, say that a database is any collection of records or data that is stored in a system. Structure and order are useful – but not mandatory to the definition.

Types of Databases:

While people have little trouble seeing the great databases and their use like catalogs in a library, inventories of parts, or customer and membership rosters – the list is infinite – bringing the idea into the home or small office seems complicated or even silly, it does not need to be however. Using database software like OpenOffice.org BASE one can create a database to track anything from a CD and DVD collection, photographs, to collecting information on the Mars expeditions.

But the question of how is database useful remains. Weill, address books – even the old hand-written Rolodex – are databases. Another database could be an inventory of possessions in case of theft or fire for the insurance company. Any time information is stored in a central location, and intended for some sort of cataloging, a database has been created. A software database like one created with OpenOffice.org BASE is useful because it can be backed up, transported easily, distributed to other users, ad infinitum.

How to Create a Database using BASE: A Tutorial for Creating a Simple Database in OpenOffice.org BASE
How to Create a Database using BASE: A Tutorial for Creating a Simple Database in OpenOffice.org BASE

Why use OpenOffice.org BASE?

Briefly speaking, OpenOffice.org BASE is the database software for the OpenOffice.org Suite. OpenOffice.org BASE allows data to be accessed or manipulated seamlessly within other OpenOffice.org Suite applications. Users of all levels, novice, intermediate, or expert, will find the collection of Wizards, Design Views, and straight SQL Views an intuitive means of creating and modifying tables, forms, queries, and reports, using both standalone databases like MySQL, or the built-in HSQL database engine BASE runs off of.

There is one other reason to use OpenOffice.org BASE – or any part of the OpenOffice.org Suite – it is Free software!

How to Create a Database using BASE:

This example is for a database using the native HSQL engine built into OpenOffice.org BASE in the windows environment.

First step is to load OpenOffice.org BASE which opens the Database Wizard; If not, use File → New → Database. On the Database Wizard click the Create a new database option then click Next. [Figure 1]

Next tell the Wizard how to proceed. [Figure 2] There are two options on this screen, the first is a set of radio buttons asking to register the database or not. Registering the database makes that database available to other OpenOffice.org programs like Calc or Writer.

Not registering the database means only BASE will access the stored data. While this setting can be changed at any future point, for the sake of drill, go ahead and check Yes, register this database for me.

The next two options are check boxes dealing with creating the database tables. They are, Open the database for editing, and Create tables using the tables wizard. For the sake of this exercise do not check the second option. It holds a series of predefined databases which are very useful, but this set of examples deals with working from scratch.

Click Finish, give the new database a name and save it, and the main interface for BASE loads. [Figures 3 and 4] That is it! The next step is to create the tables which hold the information in the database.