Version 4.0 Base Handbook Copyright This document is Copyright © 2013 by its contributors as listed below. You may distribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either the GNU General Public License (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html), version 3 or later, or the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), version 3.0 or later. All trademarks within this guide belong to their legitimate owners. Contributors Jochen Schiffers Robert Großkopf Jost Lange Hazel Russman Martin Fox Andrew Pitonyak Dan Lewis Jean Hollis Weber Acknowledgments This book is based on an original German document, which was translated by Hazel Russman and Martin Fox. Feedback Please direct any comments or suggestions about this document to: [email protected] Publication date and software version Published 3 July 2013. Based on LibreOffice 4.0. Documentation for LibreOffice is available at http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/documentation Contents Copyright..................................................................................................................................... 2 Contributors.............................................................................................................................2 Feedback................................................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgments................................................................................................................... 2 Publication date and software version..................................................................................... 2 Preface.................................................................................................................................. 7 Who is this book for?................................................................................................................... 8 What's in this book?..................................................................................................................... 8 Where to get more help............................................................................................................... 8 Help system............................................................................................................................ 8 Free online support................................................................................................................. 8 Paid support and training........................................................................................................ 9 What you see may be different.................................................................................................... 9 Illustrations.............................................................................................................................. 9 Icons..................................................................................................................................... 10 Using LibreOffice on a Mac........................................................................................................ 10 What are all these things called?............................................................................................... 10 Who wrote this book?.................................................................................................................11 Frequently asked questions....................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 1 Introduction to Base.......................................................................................................... 13 Introduction................................................................................................................................ 14 Base – a container for database content....................................................................................14 Data input using forms............................................................................................................... 15 Data input directly into a table.................................................................................................... 16 Queries – getting information on data in tables.......................................................................... 17 Reports – presentation of data................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2 Creating a Database...........................................................................................................21 General notes on the creation of a database............................................................................. 22 New database using the internal HSQL engine..........................................................................22 Accessing external databases................................................................................................... 22 MySQL databases..................................................................................................................... 23 dBase databases....................................................................................................................... 30 Spreadsheets.............................................................................................................................31 Thunderbird address book......................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 3 Tables.................................................................................................................................. 33 General information on tables.................................................................................................... 34 Relationships between tables.................................................................................................... 34 Relationships for tables in databases.................................................................................... 34 Tables and relationships for the example database............................................................... 37 Creating tables........................................................................................................................... 40 Creation using the graphical user interface........................................................................... 41 Direct entry of SQL commands............................................................................................. 43 Base Handbook 3 Linking tables............................................................................................................................. 48 Entering data into tables............................................................................................................ 52 Entry using the Base GUI...................................................................................................... 52 Direct entry using SQL.......................................................................................................... 57 Problems with these data entry methods...............................................................................59 Chapter 4 Forms.................................................................................................................................. 61 Forms make data entry easier................................................................................................... 62 Creating forms........................................................................................................................... 62 A simple form........................................................................................................................ 62 Toolbars for form design........................................................................................................ 63 Form properties......................................................................................................................... 66 Properties of controls............................................................................................................ 69 A simple form completed....................................................................................................... 95 Main forms and subforms........................................................................................................ 103 One view – many forms........................................................................................................... 115 Chapter 5 Queries..............................................................................................................................121 General information on queries................................................................................................ 122 Entering queries....................................................................................................................... 122 Creating queries using the Query Design dialog................................................................. 122 Query enhancement using SQL Mode................................................................................ 134 Using an alias in a query.......................................................................................................... 141 Queries for the creation of list box fields.................................................................................. 142 Queries as a