[plug] Re: OpenOffice.org does do databases

[Sol]

Just thought I'd add a little postscript to Leon's post because there
might be others out there who, like me, are new to OOo-DB connectivity.
I hit a couple of snags but got some very useful advice from a guy
called Paul on the Postgres-Novice mailing list (see attached) and from
www.unixodbc.org (check the sections under manuals - veeery helpful). On
www.unixodbc.org there's even a manual in PDF with diagrams (very
helpful for complete idiot's like me) that explains how to connect OOo
to MySQL (but it's not difficult to extrapolate to another DB). 
I'd recommend it to anyone. :)

regards,
sol

> This was asked of me off-list, but I think many people would be
interested in 
> the answer.
> 
> > I use OpenOffice.org, but I was unaware of the database interface.  How
> > do you set that up?
> 
>     http://dba.openoffice.org/
> 
> OpenOffice.org have *many* entries in their DNS! (-:
> 
> Cheers; Leon
> 
> 
> 


-------------- next part --------------
Right, now you need a terminal open and type in 'ODBCConfig', (another useful 
tip is to type the first letter and the press the TAB key and it will fill in 
the rest or give options if there is a conflict).
You will then be presented with 'ODBC Data Source Administrator', you then 
need to identify the drivers to be used.
Click on the Drivers tab, and then press 'Add' button.
Now here comes the tricky part, there is no where where this info is explained 
in any depth.

In the Driver Properties Window you will enter:-
i	Name -  this is your name to identify the driver(in the case of many 
drivers)
ii	Driver - this is found in most linux in '/usr/lib' and the part you want is 
'libodbcpsql.so', I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but I'm not au fait 
with debian.

iii	Setup - this is also in '/usr/lib' and is called 'libodbcpslS.so' (note 
the capital 'S' on end.

The rest of the properties window can be left for the mo.

The database must be setup, including network usage and users, because you 
will need the user info to setup the next part.

The next part is to setup the 'System DSN', as you intend to use across a 
network. 

Click the 'Add' button, and you will be presented with the driver window for 
driver selection, select the driver just created, and then click 'OK'.

SourceProperties window will now be displayed. The significant fields are 
'Name', 'Database', 'Servername', 'UserName' and lastly 'Password'.

i	Name  - again this your name to identify the source connection.

ii	Database - this also is the database name you created.

iii	Servername - this at the mo can remain as is 'localhost'.

iv	UserName - this is self explanetary. ( A word of warning don't use 
'postgres' or administrator's ID - bad practice, always isolate admin from 
users).

v	Password - again self explanetary.

Next to be done is the DataSource in OOo.

Go to 'Tools' on menu bar, on the drop-down menu select Data Sources.

You will then be presented with the Data Source Administration window.
Select 'New Data Source' button, and where 'Bibliography' was visible, you 
need to enter another name. This is only for your use whilst in OOo., so it 
can be the same as in the 'ODBCConfig'.
From the 'Connection' Database type drop down menu select 'ODBC'.
In the Data source URL window, you need to identify the connection setup with 
'ODBCConfig'. The easy way is to press the browse button to the right of the 
window, and this will present a list of current connections available. Note: 
this will present only the name of the connection, you created earlier.

Next click on the ODBC tab, input the user name, and check the password 
required box.

Next click on the Tables tab, this will then ask for the input of the user 
password, after input click 'OK'.  If all goes well, you will see the tables 
listed in the window.

There is more  but that will have to wait, as this above is enough to get on 
with.

Catch you later,
Paul
NB Don't hesitate to keep asking, this took us about four months to piece all 
this together....... but we can foreshorten your nightmare. 

On Wednesday 03 July 2002 04:48, you wrote:

> Thanks for your advice Paul. It's all the more timely as I'm doing this
> to migrate the charity I work for away from proprietry lock-in that we
> can ill afford. I'm actually an arts student, so I'm on a steep learning
> curve. All help is appreciated. :-)
>

> >	First things first have you installed unixODBC, which is the odbc
> > manager, this/another must be installed.

>
> yes. version 2.1.1 on Debian Sid with Postgresql 7.2.1
>

> >If  unixODBC is installed you then have to configure the driver, this is
> > all before you even think about the Data Source URL.
> >
> >Also is the connection local or across a network ??

>
> It will be both as I've installed OOo on Windows 98 clients as well as
> the server from which we run a couple of thin clients. But if I can work
> out how to connect OOo locally I think I can configure the clients too.
> (As a side point, I installed OOo last week and set it as the default
> app for MS Word docs, Excel, etc. People have started using it and
> haven't even noticed the difference! I can tell you I'm way grateful of
> all those OSS developers right now.)
>

> >Let me know before we proceed any further.

>
> I've also installed godbcConfig, but can't figure that out either. :-(
>  It's seems like the simple stuff can easily stymie progress.