OpenOffice Base

OpenOffice Base is the database module released with OpenOffice version 2.0 and later. Currently it is based on the HSQLDB database engine written in Java.

The HSQLDB developers have suggested only 76% of the target has been met in the 1.8.0 release, which is the version that was integrated (merged) with OOo 2.0. They have been asking for contributions to complete all the feature targets, since the inner database engine is an independent project with no outside funding.

OpenOffice users, however, can choose to connect to an external full-featured SQL database such as MySQL, PostgreSQL and even Oracle through ODBC or JDBC drivers. OpenOffice Base can then act as a GUI frontend for SQL views, table design and query. In addition, OpenOffice has its own Form wizard to create dialog windows for form filling and updates.

Starting with version 2.3, Base will offer report generation based on Pentaho software.

Released under the terms of the Apache License, Base is free software.

Related pages
 HSQLDB
 Kexi - a similar free software/open source application
 LibreOffice
 OpenOffice
 Microsoft Access

 Notes and references 

 Other websites 
 Base information page
 OpenOffice.org Base 2.0 project discussion 
 OpenOffice.org Database Access Project 
 HSQL and OpenOffice.org
 User resources at OOo Wiki
 Tutorials for new and intermediate ooBase users, from Sheepdog Guides

Category:OpenOffice.org