[libreoffice-users] Re: Compatibility of LO Base with Access databases

On 7/31/16 4:16 PM, Girvin Herr wrote:
> On 07/31/2016 12:49 PM, Ken Springer wrote:
> > On 7/30/16 3:30 PM, jorge wrote:
> > > Hi:
> > >
> > > On GNU / Linux / Ubuntu, and of course in other distributions, there are
> > > to program that you would probe because could help you to export Access
> > > DB to open document:
> > >
> > > 1) MDBtools (View and export MSAccess db)
> > >
> > > 2) Kexi of Caligra Suite that say it is able to read MS Access db
> >
> > Thanks, jorge.  I'll have to check with my "conspirator" on how much
> > effort in learning he's willing to do to create a Linux database.
> >
> > Ken
>
> Ken,
> One thing about Kexi.  I looked at it a few weeks ago and discovered
> that Kexi has a capability of reading Access database files to some
> degree.  However, it reads and converts the access database into its own
> internal database.  Kexi has no capability to interface to and use an
> external database server (aka "Back End") such as Mariadb or MySQL, as
> LO Base does.
>
> I am using LO Base as a database client (aka "Front End") on Linux and
> connected to my Mariadb database server using a Java "connector"
> driver.  I do this because the LO internal HSQDB has limitations that
> MySQL and Mariadb do not have.  You may consider this if your
> database(s) are large or complex.

Thanks for the above info, Girvin.  I appreciate it.

I understand the concept of Front End/Back End, but never have dealt 
with it.  Nor have I ever used MySQL, Mariadb, or others.  Access and a 
bit of dBase is all I've ever used, and in general, even then that's 
more power than I've ever needed.

Another gentleman and I trying to get a social agency we both volunteer 
for out of the dark ages of computers.  Due to ignorance of computers, 
and a good bunch of resistance to change, it will be a daunting task.

> Years ago, I had my data in an access (1.1) database and needed to port
> my data to MySQL.  I managed it by using the option in access to output
> the database as a comma-separated file, much like a spreadsheet ".csv"
> file.  I then was able to set up MySQL to import this file into its
> database format.  Of course, as some others have noted, the forms and
> reports needed to be recreated.  At this time, OpenOffice (before LO was
> available) did not have a database client which would work with MySQL,
> so I chose an open source client called Rekall and had to recreate my
> data entry forms and reports.  It was labor intensive, but needed to be
> done.  Then Rekall went bust and I had to find another client.  By then,
> OpenOffice had Base, which would talk to my MySQL database engine.  I
> did not need to do anything with my MySQL database, but I did have to
> recreate all of my data entry forms and reports yet again - more labor.
> So, the bottom line is that any time you change database clients, expect
> to recreate the data entry forms and reports.  There is no standard for
> them.  One big advantage to using an external database such as MySQL or
> Mariadb, is that they use standard SQL, while the LO Base HSQDB database
> server uses a non-standard version of SQL.  So, using HSQDB could lock
> you in to it.
>
> My databases are critical to me.  All of my database software decisions
> were based on being able to easily port my data to another client or
> server and not need to recreate it.  Depending on the size of your
> database, that could take much more time than recreating just the forms
> and reports.
>
> Hope this helps with your decision.  Good luck.
> Girvin Herr


--
Ken
Mac OS X 10.8.5
Firefox 44.0
Thunderbird 38.0.1
"My brain is like lightning, a quick flash
     and it's gone!"


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