1. Creating a Database

2. OpenOffice Base
 Base provides a powerful set of tools for:
• Entering and updating information
• Deleting information
• Sorting data
• Searching for specific data
• Creating reports
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3. OpenOffice Base (continued)
 Forms
• Designed to simplify data entry process by making
screen-based report look like a printed form
• Data can be viewed one record at a time
• Allow customization of the way records are
displayed by:
 Selecting particular fields
 Specifying field order
 Adding descriptive field labels
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4. How is data organized in a
database?
 Base creates relational databases
• Data is organized in easy-to-visualize tables
• Can contain more than one table
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5. How is data organized in a
database? (continued)
 Components of a table
• Records
 Contain fields of data about a single entity
• Fields
 Contain single fact that describes the record
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6. How is data organized in a
database? (continued)
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7. What’s in the Base window?
 Use Database Wizard to:
• Search for an existing file
• Create a new database
• Open an existing database
 Data can be displayed and manipulated in
many different ways (unlike documents and
spreadsheets)
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8. What’s in the Base window?
(continued)
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9. What’s in the Base window?
(continued)
 Use tools in Database Objects list to
create, modify, and display data
• Tables
• Queries
• Forms
• Reports
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10. How do I create a new database or
open an existing database?
To create a  First, save an empty database
database  Then, specify structure of tables,
records, and fields
To open an  Select name of database from
existing database Open an existing database file
option in Database Wizard
window, or
 Use Open button on Base toolbar
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11. How do I create a new database or
open an existing database? (continued)
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12. How do I create a table using a
Wizard?
 After creating a new database
• Select Tables in Database Object list
• Click Use Wizard to Create Table
 Table Wizard
• Helps you create fields correctly
• Has four steps
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13. How do I create a table using a
Wizard? (continued)
Table Wizard Steps
Step 1  Click Business or Personal option to
display sample tables; select appropriate
type
 Choose minimum number of fields that
describe the records in your database
 Add or remove fields as needed
Step 2  Modify field names, formats, and order
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14. How do I create a table using a
Wizard? (continued)
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15. How do I create a table using a
Wizard? (continued)
Table Wizard Steps
Step 3  Let Base create the primary key (field that
uniquely identifies each record) or select
your own primary key
 Each table is also assigned its own primary
key
Step 4  Begin to enter data; make sure Insert data
immediately option is selected
 Name the table (not necessarily same as
name for the database)
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16. How do I create a table using a
Wizard? (continued)
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17. How do I create a table using a
Wizard? (continued)
 When the Wizard is finished:
• Completed table is displayed and ready for data
entry
 Title of each field displays at top of each column
 First blank record appears as first row of fields
• Table is saved along with entire database
 If saving to floppy disk, leave disk in drive until Base
window closes (to avoid corrupting the file)
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18. How do I create a table using a
Wizard? (continued)
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19. How do I enter and edit data in a
table?
 Data for each entry becomes one record, or
row, in the table
 An empty record always displays at the
bottom of the table
 Enter data in a consistent manner
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20. How do I enter and edit data in a
table? (continued)
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21. How do I enter and edit data in a
table? (continued)
To edit data  Click cell containing data
 Use left-arrow and right-arrow keys to
move insertion point within field
 Use Backspace and Delete keys to
delete text to left/right of insertion point
To delete an  Right-click gray box to left of row
entire record containing that record
 Click Delete rows on shortcut menu,
then click Yes button
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22. How do I create a table in Design
View?
 If sample tables in Table Wizard don’t
suffice, create your own table using Design
View
• Requires more planning
• Requires that you specify a field type for each field
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23. How do I create a table in Design
View? (continued)
 Field types determine what kind of data can
be entered: Text, Memo, Number, Date/Time,
Yes/No
 When Base defines the primary key, an ID
field is created
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24. How do I create a table in Design
View? (continued)
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25. How do I create a form using a
Wizard?
 Form Wizard
• Assists in design of an on-screen form in which
you can enter and manipulate data for each record
of a database
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26. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
 Select fields
• Select all fields
• Select individual fields
• Remove fields
 Select subforms
• Add subforms to show related data from other
tables and queries
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27. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
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28. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
 Select layouts
• Columnar-Labels Left
• Columnar-Labels on Top
• As Data Sheet
• In Blocks-Labels Above
 Apply styles
• Determines font, font color, and background of the
form
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29. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
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30. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
 Name the form
 Data entry
• Enter new data or modifying existing data
• Actions can be restricted
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31. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
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32. How do I create a form using a
Wizard? (continued)
 Form design and layout can be modified
• Move a label and associated data field
• Delete a label and data field
• Edit a label
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33. Summary
 How data is organized in a database
 Components of the Base window
 Creating a new database; opening an existing
one
 Creating a table using a Wizard
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34. Summary (continued)
 Entering and editing data in a table
 Creating a table in Design View
 Creating a form using a Wizard
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