base 5.2 to 5.3

[RPeters1]

Releaser Notes for Base for V 5.3 say:
ODB files created by LibreOffice < 5.3 can be manually converted to LibreOffice 5.3 format by using Firebird 2.5 to convert the data to archive format, and replacing the database data within the ODB by the archive format version. To do this, install a stand-alone Firebird 2.5, and use its “gbak” tool to convert the file “database.fdb” to “database.fbk” within the odb file. Don’t forget to remove the .fdb file.

A STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL WOULD BE NICE! It is not obvious what all this “text” means. It appears that until I “convert” I cannot move to 5.3. (This is really poor quality work and documentation!)

[Ratslinger]

Hopefully you realize this is ONLY for Firebird DB’s and that it is in experimental stage only. If not using Firebird, no conversion is necessary.

[RPeters1]

So, what is the “embedded” database in the LO 5.2 and 5.3 series? HyperSQL? (what it has been for years)
I saw some notes that LO was switching to Firebird, or is that still in the indefinite future? Talk of Firebird in the release notes confused me…

[Ratslinger]

LO has been using HSQLDB v1.8 for some time now. It lacks quite a bit of functionality available in newer versions or other DB’s. The ‘experimental’ feature of Firebird has been available for a while now. Tried it in v5.2.x and after 5 minutes abandoned it. It, to me, has quite a way to go for production use in LO Base. For that matter, unless for a quick test or posting to a forum, I stay away from embedded DB’s completely.