Dear Open Office Dbase Help, I have been using GS6008-2018 GettingStartedWithBase.pdf as a tutorial to learn how to use the Open Office Dbase program. The document is named "Libre Office Getting Started Guide, Chapter 8, Getting Started with Base, Relational Databases in LibreOffice.
I performed all steps as instructed, up to Pg 13, but I have hit a snag at Pg 13, Figure 7, where it shows the fields in the Vacations Table. I must have skipped "MPayment" when entering the data because Line 4 has "tolls" and "MPayment, Text [VARCHAR], payment type for motel " is way down near the bottom at line 14.
I accessed the table by opening Automobile.odb, clicking on the Tables icon, and clicking the Vacations table, then clicking edit in the top toolbar, then clicking edit in the dropdown list. I see the same table as shown at Figure 7, but I can find no way to move and insert "MPayment, Text [VARCHAR], payment type for motel " just below line 3, where it belongs.
Please tell me how I can correct this error. Thanks, JC
OpenOffice Dbase Help, Stopped Pg 13, tutorial
OpenOffice Dbase Help, Stopped Pg 13, tutorial
OpenOffice 3.1 on Windows XP
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Re: OpenOffice Dbase Help, Stopped Pg 13, tutorial
You can only add new fields to the list of an existing database table, inserting between two existing fields is not practical. While it might seem a little foreign to a beginner, you will eventually learn the the order of the fields in the table is immaterial, it's only a storage location.. Normally you won't use the table GUI, it's nothing more than a tool that can be used for troubleshooting. Once you get a little further in the tutorial you will create a Form. There you can put the fields in any order you please.
If your problem has been solved, please edit this topic's initial post and add "[Solved]" to the beginning of the subject line
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.14 & LibreOffice 7.6.2.1 (x86_64) - Windows 10 Professional- Windows 11
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.14 & LibreOffice 7.6.2.1 (x86_64) - Windows 10 Professional- Windows 11
Re: OpenOffice Dbase Help, Stopped Pg 13, tutorial
@coppens1,
the order of the table columns is not important & does not impact performance.
provided that all required columns exist & are correctly defined then there is no need to worry.
HOWEVER
HSQLDB does permit a new column to be inserted at a specific position.
from the main window hit 'Tables' icon.
make a backup of your table by dragging it a little & dropping it over white space. hit 'Create'.
from the menu select 'Tools>SQL...'
paste this code & execute.
close the window
hit 'menu:View>Refresh Tables'.
open table "Vacations".
the order of the table columns is not important & does not impact performance.
provided that all required columns exist & are correctly defined then there is no need to worry.
HOWEVER
HSQLDB does permit a new column to be inserted at a specific position.
from the main window hit 'Tables' icon.
make a backup of your table by dragging it a little & dropping it over white space. hit 'Create'.
from the menu select 'Tools>SQL...'
paste this code & execute.
Code: Select all
alter table "Vacations" add "MPayment2" varchar(100) before "Tolls"; --new column at specific position
update "Vacations" set "MPayment2" = "MPayment"; --copy existing values to new column
alter table "Vacations" drop "MPayment"; --delete the old column
alter table "Vacations" alter "MPayment2" rename to "MPayment"; --rename the new column
hit 'menu:View>Refresh Tables'.
open table "Vacations".
open office 4.1.14 & LibreOffice 6.4.4.2 x64 using HSQL 1.8.0.10 (Embedded) and HSQL 2.6.0 (Split) on Windows 10
Re: OpenOffice Dbase Help, Stopped Pg 13, tutorial
To UnklDonald418 and Chrisb: Thank you both for your prompt help. Although I am proficient in Write and Calc, I decided to learn Base and Draw. I need the credit for my Continuing Professional Education so it helps.
I will try your suggestions JC
I will try your suggestions JC
OpenOffice 3.1 on Windows XP