How is the best way to quickly and comprehensively learn to use LibreOffice Base?
This might seem like an obvious question that needs no answer here. A web search turns up many pages. There are the official help pages. But even they are not complete, nor that useful.
(Please do NOT close this question. I think it would be best to leave questions like this open so it can be extended and answers voted on, to make it an even better resource for students.)
Understanding Interface-based Programming Jan 1999 - An excellent introduction to Interface programming.
StarOffice Programmers Tutorial - 131 pages, May 2000
The Definitive C++ Book Guide and List, includes this free download book set:
LibreOffice.org: (a fork of OpenOffice)
Latest Base Handbook: Version 4.0.
Base Handbook 4.0 (database) - 259 pages overall.
The newer documentation is found at the LibreOffice Document Foundation wiki site, and includes:
Getting Started Guide - Chapter 8 - Getting Started with Base - Relational Databases in LibreOffice - 47 pages - June 2016
Getting Started Guide - Chapter 13 - Getting Started with Macros - Using the Macro Recorder … and Beyond -for recording macros - 22 pages - June 2016
Base Handbook, and in particular Chapter 9 - Macros - 93 pages
See also:
Tutorial: Creating a Relational Database using Base - 40 pages
Relational database sample (Base .odb file)
When starting from OpenOffice.org, the documentation was a bit hard to find. Look here.
Because browsing is a little slow you might want to download pdf manuals, but there’s a trick: Select the page you want, then click PDF (but you won’t get the manual yet). Then click on Download as PDF in the left pane under Print/export. Once rendering is finished click Download to get the pdf file.
Administration Guide - OOo3.2.0 - 39 pages
OpenOffice.org 3.2 BASIC Guide - OOo3.2.0 - 176 pages - March 2010
OpenOffice.org 3.1 Developer’s Guide - 1656 pages – OOo3.1.0
OpenOffice.org Macros Explained - OOME_3_0 -669 pages - Good introduction to BASIC, but object set discussed is mostly for Calc and Writer, not Base.
BASE TUTORIAL - From Newbie to Advocate in a one, two… three!
Step-by-step guide to producing fairly sophisticated database applications with OpenOffice.org Base, from initial problem to final product complete with forms and reports. by Mariano Casanova
Note! Even thought it doesn’t say it here, the installed version in LO is currently the older HSQL 1.8, not 2.3!
New 2.3 features can only be used if you split your database (i.e. use a connector to V2.3), and not use the “Embedded database”.
Firebird - The new, upcoming default embedded data base to someday take over in place of HSQLDB.
MariaDB - A free binary replacement for MySQL, from the original developer of MySQL. - Commercial products are at .com or Community (free) products are at .org
1) MRI - UNO Object Inspection Tool (required):
“My Reflection and Introspection” tool is an UNO object browser which allows a UNO object’s properties, methods, interfaces and services to be easily examined.
2) XRay Object Inspection Tool (alternate to MRI above)
3) Access2Base (optional) - Library: emulate MS Access VBA.
LibreOffice Documentation website on Base:
https://documentation.libreoffice.org/en/english-documentation/base/
I have watched the first 4 videos in the tutorial series cited at the top of this answer and all I can say is “Fantastic!” My career as a software developer has not led me in the direction of learning to use LibreOffice but I’ve kept it installed on my Linux boxes since my start with Linux back in 1999… through the StarOffice => OpenOffice => LibreOffice eras… The one thing I’ve always avoided is LibreOffice Base because I just didn’t know what to do with it. I’ve been a MySQL admin and user since I first discovered it in 2000 but have always worked with it via the CLI (i.e. bash). I finally grew tired of avoiding LibreOffice Base tonight and decided to come here for guidance with it… and in that video series I have found it! Thank you ever so much for pointing me to its existence.
For anyone interested in helping to improve Base Documentation for LibreOffice you are cordially invited to get involved with LibreOffice Documentation Team.
Information on getting started with the group (slightly out of date and actively being updated) can be found here:
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Development (One example of the changes happening, in the past the group used web resources at the ODFAuthors web site, which was hosted by TDF, for collaboration and work flow management - the group is transitioning to use the TDF NextCloud server with LibreOffice Online integration for this and the ODFAuthors site will be retired.)
For English speakers there is a weekly on-line meeting every Wednesday. All that is required to join in one of the meetings is a web browser and a microphone that works. Details are available on the documenation mailing list at The Document Foundation. ( You find information about that ML at https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Documentation/Mailing_List )
For non English speakers the Native Language groups have their own arrangements.
At present the group is focused on, and actively working on, the update of the Calc Guide to bring it current with the pending LO 6.2 release.However with the looming switch from HSQLdb to Firebird for the embedded database in Base there will be a push to address Base documentation soon.
Looking forward to meeting you there.
Go to http://www.libreoffice.org/ and click GET HELP and then select DOCUMENTATION. You arrive at the LO Documentation page.
AOO has manuals - see AOO Documentation
If this helps then please tick the answer and/or show you like it with an uptick.
There is no AOO manual for Base
The LibreOffice Base Guide 6.2 has been released. You can download the pdf here:- https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/images/b/bf/BG62-BaseGuide.pdf The LibreOffice 6.4 Guide will be released soon. The Docs team is working on it. You can help by joining the docs team:- Join the Documentation Team ! | LibreOffice Documentation - Your documentation for LibreOffice
a) Personally, I find the “offical” guides excellent. However, it can be nice to hear something more than one way…
… so…
b) Table of Contents - LibreOffice / OpenOffice Database: Base Tutorials - fdb1main OpenOffice / LibreOffice database guides, tutorials, and “how To’s”. (Text and graphics only. No videos.)
May be of interest. Yes! That looks like it is “all about OpenOffice Base”… but much of it remains relevant. Some pages have been edited to explain differences, where differences exist. In a few cases, whole new, LibreOffice Base from- birth- pages have been created, for instance…
http://sheepdogguides.com/fdb/LO0FirebirdOn.htm How to allow Firebird as an option as the embedded database in LibreOffice:
… which I commend to you on general grounds… both the tutorial, and the idea of switching to Firebird.
