[Solved] Unable to create a database

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day all

I am attempting to create my 1st OO database and getting an error message
"OO requires a Java runtime environment (JRE) to perform this task The selected JRE is defective
Please select another version or install a new JRE"

My OO is ... OO300m9 (Build 9358)
My JRE is ... JRE-7

and all I know about Java is every so often I get a Java update message on the screen and click 'okay' to download - and it happens

Q- where do I go from here please?

Regards, Phil

[Villeroy]

There is no such thing as a "Base database": viewtopic.php?f=13&t=71249&p=319683&hil ... on#p319683
What you try to create is a Base document connected to an embedded HSQLDB of version 1.8 which is entirely written in Java and therefore needs to be used as a Java component in OpenOffice: Troubleshooting OpenOffice and Java

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day mate
Thanks for the answer above

Okay - my vision [from other DB software use in the past] is to create a data table with a series of defined fields, along with several screens for data entry & data evaluation

If OO Base is not my solution to this, what is? Calc?
Thanks
Phil

[MTP]

Base can do what you are describing.
Have you tried going to Tools->Options->In the window that pops up, under "OpenOffice" (should have a - sign next to it, if there is a + click on it to expand) click on "Java", wait for a minute for the box to populate, then select a Java version (you have to click on the circle to the left of the version name - clicking on the name doesn't work). Press the OK button. I think it should just work after that. If not, maybe try rebooting your computer to restart everything.

[Villeroy]

Having some obscure "database from the past", you may be able to use Base with that database like you can use Base with dozends of different database engines. The type of database Base can create from scratch (HSQL 1.8) may not meet your expectations regarding stability, security and safety.

[RoryOF]

If you are Using Windows, you must use a 32 bit Java when OpenOffice needs Java. You can download such a Java from
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/ ... 45-oth-JPR

The 32 bit Javas have i586 in their filename. Having installed this, you have then to tell OpenOffice it is installed. You do this by using
/Tools /Options /OpenOffice(.org) /Java and waiting a moment or two while it finds the Java installations. Select the one you have just installed and all should be well.

[ozzie_traveller]

Base can do what you are describing.
Have you tried going to Tools->Options->In the window that pops up, under "OpenOffice" (should have a - sign next to it, if there is a + click on it to expand) click on "Java", wait for a minute for the box to populate, then select a Java version (you have to click on the circle to the left of the version name - clicking on the name doesn't work). Press the OK button. I think it should just work after that. If not, maybe try rebooting your computer to restart everything.

G'day MTP

I have done this before putting my 'help' call up on here
When I do this command, nothing arrives in the Java box

When I click 'add' and go thru the Win-7 [32 bit] > Program Files to find Java then JRE7, OO gives the msg "the folder you selected does not contain a Java runtime environment"

Q- could this be a negative flow on from the removal of JRE6 - no longer supported and recommended to be erased prior to JRE7 being installed?
That's the only possibility I can think of where a JRE might suddenly be missing

Otherwise - thanks for your answers so far
Phil

[ozzie_traveller]

Having some obscure "database from the past", you may be able to use Base with that database like you can use Base with dozends of different database engines. The type of database Base can create from scratch (HSQL 1.8) may not meet your expectations regarding stability, security and safety.

G'day mate

Thanks for your thoughts - what I was meaning in the earlier post is that way back in the 80s & 90s I was using DBs on mini-computers & PC's back in DOS & early Win days and I have a pretty fair idea of tables & data field construction.

Phil

[F3K Total]

Hi,
you need a 32-bit Java Version for OpenOffice. You can download and install it e.g. from here: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
R

[Villeroy]

32-bit Java and the latest "Microsoft Visual C++ runtime"

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day fellas

I have followed RoryOF's link - registered myself with Oracle - downloaded the i586 x 32bit file .... and it's made no change to things

I will have to give up and send the laptop into the local computer guru shop - I have run out of options
Thank you all for your help - but it seems that 'something' is [not] going on here as it should

Phil

[Villeroy]

Code: Select all

I have followed RoryOF's link - registered myself with Oracle - downloaded the i586 x 32bit file

No, you do not have to register at Oracle.
Which file exactly? Go to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/ ... 80261.html, click the "license aggreement, download and install the jre-7u67-windows-i586.exe (current version at time of this writing). Choose this version in the office options. If it does not show up in the office options, you can use the [Add...] button and point to the path where you installed the Java version.

What's wrong with my Troubleshooting OpenOffice and Java

Without Java you can use some non-Java database such as PostgreSQL, MariaSQL, MySQL and many more.
Create your tables, relations, indices and stuff with the tools that are recommended for your chosen product.
In order to use your new baby with this office suite, you simply connect a Base document to it via ODBC.

When I disable the use of Java (topmost option in the Java options) and then create a new database, Base creates a directory for dBase files. The built-in dBase driver does not support any relations. But may be you don't need relations. As an old database pro you may have know some better ODBC driver for dBase which can be used with OpenOffice as well.

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day Villeroy

Thanks for keeping trying for me

I have again followed your link and I do not know where I ended up previously ... wacco-land maybe
Yes I located the correct .exe file and it downloaded with the msg "this file already exists on your computer" so I re-installed it ... all okay there
In OO DB I again follow the Tools > Options > Java link and get this:-



At no stage does OO display any java choices or radio buttons

Thanks
Phil

[MTP]

You shouldn't have to press any buttons that go to file navigation. The choice box should look like the picture in this post. It takes a while for the box to populate - normally less than a minute, but try leaving the window open for 2-3 minutes to rule out it being especially slow for you. If your box just isn't populating, and following Villeroys suggestions doesn't help, I'm not sure where to go from there.

[Villeroy]

Yes, I'd expect that any installed version of Java should appear in that dialog. However, a 32-bit office should not list any 64-bit Java.
On MTP's screenshot you see the path of the selected Java below the list. It indicates
C:\Program Files\Java\jre7
which indicats that MTP either runs a 32-bit Windows or that the selected version of Java does not work with his office suite. On a 64-bit Windows the path of a 32-bit software (office and its Java) looks like
C:\Program Files(x86)\Java\jre7

[MTP]

the path... indicates that MTP either runs a 32-bit Windows or that the selected version of Java does not work with his her office suite.

Fixed that for you
(And my Windows is 32 bit.)

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day fellas

Again - thanks for trying to get a solution for me
Following MTPs suggestion, I left the dialog box open for a full game of Freecell - lost it & still got nothing in the Java dialog box

I think that i'll have to abandon things here & seek local guru help

Many thanks from a very happy OO user in the great land downunder
I use OO for all of word + calc + draw stuff daily and produce training manuals of > 100 pages per book
It's a great product to have available, and there's no way I will ever lower my standards to go back to that 'other' office product

Phil

[Greengiant224]

ozzie_traveller:

If your signature is correct, you are using OO v 3.0 on Win XP.

Do the instructions in this thread help?
http://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/vi ... 21#p267331

IIRC LO/OO up to version 4 requires Java v1.6 which defaults to MS Visual C++ 2008 (msvcr90.dll)
v4.0.1/v4.1.0 uses MS Visual C++ 2010 (msvcr100.dll).

As Java v1.6 is no longer supported, to make use of Java v1.7 you need to drop a copy of
the msvcr100.dll file into the AOO/LO program folder. Otherwise carry on using Java v1.6 or
update AOO to version 4.1.0 to 'fix' this problem. Java v1.6 and v1.7 can be installed alongside one another
without any detriment.

Hope this helps.

Greengiant224

[Villeroy]

If your signature is correct, you are using OO v 3.0 on Win XP.

Good catch. Thank you.

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day fellas

I don't know where the signature info below comes from, but ...

Windows Control Panel tells me ...
Windows 7 Home Ed, SP-1, 32-bit os
Java - 7,67 (build 1,7,0_67-b01)

OO Help tells me:-
OO 3,0,0 m9 (build:9358)

Thanks again
Phil

[Villeroy]

That version was released long before Java 7, therefore it can not handle Java 7.

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day fellas

Thanks for all you've done & offered
I can see that I have several options to consider ... OOv4 for example to there are things about it that I'm not excited about
I will close this thread at this point

Many thanks
Phil

[Villeroy]

Can you tell me the difference between OOv3 and OOv4 from the user perspective? I don't see any difference except that the maintainership changed from Sun to Apache foundation, thousands of fixed bugs, a small amount of new features which you may use or not.

Just one hint: When the installer asks you to import the settings from the old version, SAY NO! Imported settings from very old versions tend to cause a lot of trouble.

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day mate

At this moment I can't remember ... pl give me 48 hrs to reinstall a copy and look at it again

Phil

[ozzie_traveller]

Can you tell me the difference between OOv3 and OOv4 from the user perspective? ....

G'day mate

I have reinstalled v4
The thing that drove / still drives me nutz is the Properties box on the screen RHS that takes up 1/4 - 1/3 of the screen and duplicates the existing toolbar at the top of the screen

I am unable to see an option in Tools > Customise to not have it displayed

ps- Photoshop Elements is worse - their new toolbars occupy the bottom 1/3 of the screen and so the image size is constantly jumping thru large [no menu] - small [menu displayed] - large [menu cancelled] etc etc ..... it's a complete disaster

Phil

[Villeroy]

So you are unable to create a database and you are unable to hide a side bar. Well, that's really too bad.

[RoryOF]

Try unchecking /View /Sidebar (on the main menu).

[ozzie_traveller]

So you are unable to create a database and you are unable to hide a side bar. Well, that's really too bad.

G'day mate + others

I have reloaded OO-4 and have started with it ~ the side bar issue was a bad memory from something else ... my apols there - it's been a while since I looked at v4

Thanks for your suggestions re- java - I can now get into the DB module and have created a data table with 40-odd fields from 1ch to 250ch in length
When I start to create a data input form / screen, if I use the wizard, all fields come up as 50ch long ~ which I am unable to edit

I have searched the menus to try to locate an option for form design where I get a list of data fields that I 'set' onto the form - without success
I click on the form-design icon and can see the tools, but the screen layout seems to be a WP page

Where am I going wrong??

Thanks again, Phil

[MTP]

When starting out, it may be easiest to use the wizard to create a draft form, and then save, close, and reopen the form in design mode to finalize it (to open in design mode, right-click on the form's name and choose "Edit").

When editing forms (which are really Writer documents) the "Form Navigator" window is essential. The form navigator icon is on the toolbar "Form Design" (you may have to go to View->Toolbars->make sure there is a checkmark by "Form Design"). Make sure design mode is on (the icon second from the top/left of the form design toolbar that looks like a triangle with a pencil should be depressed) and click on the Form Navigator icon (the icon fifth from the top/left that looks like a rectangle with a compass in the top right).

In this window, you can see forms, subforms, and the controls belonging to each form or subform. Right click on a name and choose "properties" to open the window where you can set the data fields (and a lot of other stuff). When you have made changes you want to test, just leave design mode (click on the icon of a triangle with a pencil). You can turn design mode back on to make more changes by clicking on the triangle/pencil icon again.

You may benefit from working through some starter tutorials - see if anything in this forum's tutorial section catches your interest. Also, since your original problem is solved, you are likely to get more responses to future questions if you start a new thread.

[ozzie_traveller]

G'day MTP

Magic answer - thankyou

Phil