Background:
I've made a database for a company I work for, and I would like to put it onto the company's server computer so that all five employees can access it. My questions are about the particulars of running HSQLDB in server mode, of configuring a .ODB file to work as a server, and of whether these two are, in fact, the same thing). I have read several of the forum posts and tutorials on the topic, and I've found statements that seem to be contradictory (though I think this stems from my own misunderstanding of the situation)
The database itself has been split using the excellent template and tutorial provided by DACM at this post: viewtopic.php?f=83&t=17567 All of my forms were designed in Writer and then connected to Base, and currently reside in a folder within the folder called "Dedicated Split Database" that DACM recommends making as part of the "splitting" process. The "server" computer that we use is actually the desktop computer of our office manager, with a power backup. That is to say, it is not a stripped down machine, and I have full access to it if I need to install any additional software. We are all using OpenOffice 4.0.1 on Macs running OSX version 10.8.5.
Questions:
1) Is making HSQLDB run in server mode something that is done from within the Base application, or something that is achieved through Java commands in the OSX terminal?
2) Is making HSQLDB run in server mode a change that affects only the specific .ODB file that is running? Or is it something that is done to HSQLDB across the entire system?
3) How is a specific .ODB "configured" to run as a server? Is this a different process than making HSQLDB run in server mode? Does it refer to the process of "splitting" the database? Does it refer to the process of adding the JRE class path and driver class? Or are these different configurations altogether?
4) Does running a Base database in server mode mean that there are actually TWO .ODB files running simultaneously that reference one another (such as 'mydb.server.odb' and mydb_wizard.odb')? Or instead should the content be transferred from the .ODB file that isn't "configured" as a server to the one that is?
Steps Taken So Far:
I've attempted to use the instructions provided on the Base wiki at https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/FAQ_(Base), but I get tripped up at the fourth step:
Following the hyperlink in the above sentence takes me to a forum question about the topic of making HSQLDB run in server mode, which in turn points to the forum tutorial on how to split a database (which I've already done, thank you again DACM), and a link back, full circle, to the open office wiki where I started. There are also some links to Windows-specific"Ensure HSQLDB is running in server-mode either locally or on a network computer with an accessible database folder."
The forum question itself contains a sentence by DACM:
which seems to suggest that, by splitting my database, it is already functioning in server mode. However, in a different forum post about multiple databases on a single server (found at this link: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=64052) DACM writes:"a split-database is essentially a 'client-server' configuration. There's no inherent distinction…"
which suggests that something must be done to the actual .ODB file to make it function in server mode."The Base template (Split_HSQLDB_Wizard_v3c.odb) is setup for single-user file-mode access only. Since that template is macro-enhanced, you'll have to disable the macro in order to setup server-mode access, "
Then, looking back at the tutorial on the open office wiki, there is a template file called "mydb.server.odb", which is pre-configured to run in server mode. I downloaded the file and tried opening it from various locations on my computer (the folder called "downloads", where it originally landed, and the folder called "dedicated split database" which I created to hold all of my database files). In neither situation did this new template connect to the database I have already made. Instead, I got the error message.
I've also tried looking at the documentation of HSQLDB itself, at this link: http://hsqldb.org/doc/guide/ch01.html#N10148. These instructions contain command line code which is quite new to me, and want to make sure that it is necessary before I begin sussing it out."The connection to the data source "mydb.server" could not be established. The driver class 'org.hsqldb.jdbcDriver' could not be loaded"
DACM, if you're reading this, I hope it doesn't seem like I'm picking on you, as it's quite the opposite: you have SO MUCH helpful writing that I'm just trying to understand it all.
Again, thanks in advance to anyone that can assist!
Best,
Andy