how to fill a form?

[TAB]

Click on Clients.odb file, get Base window with Database, Tasks, Forms panes.
Click OpenDatabaseObject, get Writer Clients.odt read-only file; I can put the cursor in a text field but not enter anything.
Back to Clients.odb; I click on Edit, get Writer Clients.odt with DesignMode off; I can still put the cursor in a text field but not enter anything. The only responsive field is the key ID field, where I can enter numerals.
What am I missing? (I thought filling a form would be easy... Apparently, so did the program developers: Help has nothing like 'entering records', 'filling records', or 'records --entering'.)
PS There is also a file Clients.odb.lck file...

[DrewJensen]

Hello Tab

Base requires that table have a primary key, if you want to update the records using GUI controls. You can update tables without primary keys using SQL statements via the SQL window or in basic scripts, but not in forms.

Drew

[frank1v]

Drew, re your 2/25/08 11:57 a.m. post re creating a primary key for a table not having one by writing a SQL statement, can you show me the format of that kind of statement. I'm a newbie with OpenOffice Base, and don't have any SQL experience. I've OpenOffice version 2.4 on Windows XP. My Base application uses a Lotus Approach database, and I've got as far as being able to update the database from a Base form using a work around for the Read Only issue.

Frank

[DrewJensen]

Hi,

Is your data still in the lotus approach database ( your connecting to the external file in other words ), or did you migrate the data into an actual Base database?

[frank1v]

Drew, it's still in the Approach database.

Frank

[DrewJensen]

OK - then this is a dBase IV file format, IIRCC...and I take you are connecting via ODBC or are you using the dbase connector.

Either way you don't use the SQL window to do this then - that is for relational databases such as Base embedded database. ( HSQLdb engine is used )

For dBase you should not need a primary key to add data in a form..at least that is the case if you use the build in dBase driver.

Also, Base has no way to set a PRIMARY KEY per so - but you can do this.

Open your Base file and select Tables. Select the table you want to have a key Open it in edit mode.

On the toolbar you will find a button for Index Design - click that.

Now add an index to the column ( or Columns ) you want, and put a tick mark in the Unique check box. That will give you a functional equivalent.

[frank1v]

Drew, thanks. I'll give it a try and let you know.

Frank

[frank1v]

Drew, I tried your suggestion re using the Index Design, but OpenOffice crashes each time I try. I get to OpenOffice Tables Design and then Index Design okay, but then I lose my way. First, it's a movie database, and I want the movie title as the key. There are 12 fields, all Text [VARCHAR]. But the Indexes left window is blank. I select the icon for "new index", and I get "index1", and the right window turns "active" with Index field and sort order columns. I type in the name of TITLE and close the Indexes window and get a message to save. I save and OOo crashes. I'm obviously doing something wrong, but checking Help doesn't give me a clue (newbie). I guess I need a little more detail on the steps.

Frank

[DrewJensen]

Ok frank,

I wonder, since you are using Approach and I don't have approach is there anyway that you could email an approach database - doesn't have to be the same one. I am assuming it all works the same as a dBase file I create here...but maybe not.

I'll try it and be sure to give exact directions.

My email address listed on the site here will work.

[frank1v]

I sent it an hour or so ago. Let me know if there's a glitch.

Frank

[frank1v]

Drew, I forgot to mention in the earlier post that there is a sort problem when I use it in Base on this database. Sorting A to Z is fine, but Z to A isn't working. I end up in the middle of the database, and single selections from there don't go alphabetical.
Maybe this will help (I hope).

Frank

[DrewJensen]

Ok - I just got back on the computer...it is in my inbox..I'll check it out and let you know.

[frank1v]

Drew, I've resolved this issue with a work around. While I've been unable to convert my Approach databse to a text format, I was able to convert it to an Excel .xls file and then convert the Excel file to a .csv file. Then I moved that file into Calc and from there to Base to give me an internal database to work with. So, appreciate your help and thanks.

Frank