[libreoffice-users] Re: dBASE file access

Am 11.09.2012 22:34, Girvin R. Herr wrote:
> Greetings,
> I have several real old dBASE data files from 1985 that I would like to
> get the data from and convert to LO Base.  I keep reading about LO being
> able to access a dBASE file, but I am having trouble doing so.  I tried
> the new database wizard and although it created the new Base database
> structures, when I tried to open one of the dBASE files, it opens in
> writer, not Base.  There are no tables listed in the new Base database.
> The wizard did not allow me to select the actual files, just the
> directory they are in.  It didn't list any of the ".DBF" files.  Maybe I
> am asking too much of LO, but I was hoping the dBASE data would show up
> in a Base table.  Any help would be appreciated.
> Running: LO 3.5.3.2 under Linux.
> Thanks in advance.
> Girvin Herr

Base is a mere database frontend. It opens its own .odb files only. An 
.odb file can be connected to various types of databases.

Open Writer or Calc.
Hit F4.
Right-click "Bibliography" -> Edit Database
This loads the .odb file which is connected to the dBase Bibliography 
with one table named "biblio".
dBase is a database in a directory, so this .odb file is connected to a 
directory. The status bar of that database reads: "dBase" and the path 
to the connected directory having the file biblio.dbf.
menu:Edit>Database lets you modify the connection parameters.

Put your own dBase in a dedicated directory.
File>New>Database...
[X] Connect to existing db
Type: dBase
Specify the directory.
Check the register option (never harms).
Save the database.
Drag the table icons from this database into the embedded HSQLDB.

Warning: embedded HSQLDB must not be used with anything important. It's 
OK for educational demos and for your DVD. Base works best (fast, 
reliably and multi-user) with HSQL as stand-alone backend database. 
Embedded databases are just a caricature of a database. They are slow, 
single-user, limited and unsafe.


--
For unsubscribe instructions e-mail to: users+help@global.libreoffice.org
Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/
Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/
All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted