Openoffice.org with SQL Databases: Difference between revisions

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(PostgreSQL driver for MacOSX: JDBC)
(some more screenshots)
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[[Image:oo_calc_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_calc.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oo_calc_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_calc.png|larger screenshot]])


'''2. Open OO-Base with a connection to the database (see above for details), then paste (right mouse button) into the table section (select from left menu):'''  
'''2. Open OO-Base and establish a connection to the database (see above for driver installation):'''  


Go File -> New -> Database to launch OO-Base.
Go File -> New -> Database to launch OO-Base.
[[Image:oobase_pg_connect1_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oobase_pg_connect1.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oobase_pg_connect2_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oobase_pg_connect2.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oobase_pg_connect3_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oobase_pg_connect3.png|larger screenshot]])
'''3. In the table wizard, paste (right mouse button) earlier selected OO-Calc spreadsheet into the table section:'''
First select "table" from left menu, then paste into it:


[[Image:oo_base_paste_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_paste.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oo_base_paste_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_paste.png|larger screenshot]])


'''3. A wizard opens, define a table name (when connecting to PostgreSQL, write "public." as prefix for the schema):'''
'''4. A wizard opens, define a table name (when connecting to PostgreSQL, write "public." as prefix for the schema):'''


[[Image:oo_base_newtable1_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_newtable1.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oo_base_newtable1_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_newtable1.png|larger screenshot]])


'''4. Select the columns you want to transfer:'''
'''5. Select the columns you want to transfer:'''


[[Image:oo_base_newtable2_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_newtable2.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oo_base_newtable2_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_newtable2.png|larger screenshot]])


'''5. Define primary key (right mouse button on desired column) and all column types:'''
'''6. Define primary key (right mouse button on desired column) and all column types:'''


[[Image:oo_base_newtable3_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_newtable3.png|larger screenshot]])
[[Image:oo_base_newtable3_small.png|none]] (see also [[media:oo_base_newtable3.png|larger screenshot]])


'''6. Save and enjoy. The table is now written into your SQL database.'''
'''7. Save and enjoy. The table is now written into your SQL database.'''


Note that the conversion can take some time.
Note that the conversion can take some time.

Revision as of 19:22, 3 December 2006

Do you also dislike it to manually convert Excel tables into PostgreSQL? Not having real fun in exporting to CSV, then manually writing the SQL header and importing the stuff in PG? This article here explains how to convert a table into an SQL database via OpenOffice. Essentially you open the Excel (or whatever) table with OpenOffice-Calc, select and copy the full table or a subset to the clipboard, and simply paste it into OpenOffice-Base with the right mouse button. A wizard pops up which let's you define the type of each column and a primary key. Save & done. Can't be easier!

Usage of OpenOffice-Base with various drivers

  • See Database drivers page for overview. There are drivers for PostgreSQL, SQLite and MS-Access mdb files.

PostgreSQL (OpenOffice.org 2.x)

Installation of PostgreSQL driver (MS-Windows and Linux)

  1. download postgresql-sdbc-X.Y.Z.zip driver (take the "recommended" file) and save the file to your disk.
  2. Start OpenOffice, choose 'Tools/Package Manager'. Click on the add button and select the downladed file (DO NOT EXTRACT IT !) in the upcoming File dialog. The driver gets installed now, afterwards, the file is listed in the dialog with state enabled. In case you have installed an older version of the driver, remove it now. Close the dialog.
  3. Restart openoffice (even the quickstarter on windows must be shut down !!!).
  4. Done (did you really close openoffice? Please do.)

Usage of PostgreSQL driver (MS-Windows and Linux)

After starting OpenOffice.org again, use: File -> New -> Database to enter the DB dialog.

  • Connect to existing database (select driver): postgresql
  • Connection settings: We have to define the server ("host") name and the name of the database, probably also the user name in case you have to connect with a different user name. To find out, ask your DB administrator or use in a terminal "psql -l " or, if the database is on a remote server, "psql -h host.mydomain.org -l". An entry may look like this:
       dbname=pgtest host=my.databaseserver.org
  • User name (the login name): yourname
  • Finish brings you to a 'Save as' dialog for the connection, saves these settings as file. This file you can use later to re-establish the connection (instead of defining all again).
  • Then click on 'Tables' in the next screen to see the existing PG tables in the database. Usually the 'public' scheme contains the user tables.
  • The 'Queries' button takes you to the query mode, it contains a graphical query designer.

Installation of PostgreSQL driver (MacOSX)

Please use the JDBC driver.

MySQL (OpenOffice.org 2.x)


DBF files (OpenOffice.org 2.x)

No installation needed, the driver is included in the standard version of OpenOffice.org.


MS-Access mdb files (OpenOffice.org 2.x)

Note that the driver is somewhat behind the mdbtools.sf.net development.


SQLite files (OpenOffice.org 2.x)

Converting Excel, CSV, ... to PostgreSQL/MySQL/... via OO-Base

  • Bringing data into OpenOffice 2.0's database: You can for example open an Excel file with OpenOffice, select contents, then open a DB connection in OpenOfficeBase and paste the table into it. The wizard allows to define the type of each column before creating the table. Using the right mouse button on a column name, you can define it as primary key. Important: If generating a PostgreSQL table, prefix the new table name with "public." (example: public.table1) to avoid that the user name is used as schema name.

Step by step DB import procedure (MS-Windows and Linux)

Here we show how to get a spreadsheet table into a SQL database.

1. Mark and copy to clipboard the relevant table parts in the Excel/CSV/whatever table (OO-Calc):

Open the original table with OpenOffice-Calc. For CSV files, they need the .csv extension.

(see also larger screenshot)

2. Open OO-Base and establish a connection to the database (see above for driver installation):

Go File -> New -> Database to launch OO-Base.

(see also larger screenshot)

(see also larger screenshot)

(see also larger screenshot)

3. In the table wizard, paste (right mouse button) earlier selected OO-Calc spreadsheet into the table section:

First select "table" from left menu, then paste into it:

(see also larger screenshot)

4. A wizard opens, define a table name (when connecting to PostgreSQL, write "public." as prefix for the schema):

(see also larger screenshot)

5. Select the columns you want to transfer:

(see also larger screenshot)

6. Define primary key (right mouse button on desired column) and all column types:

(see also larger screenshot)

7. Save and enjoy. The table is now written into your SQL database.

Note that the conversion can take some time.

You can now connect the table to GRASS, R-stats, ... as you like.

Step by step DB import procedure (MacOSX)