Installation of LO Base

English
#1

Good Day all,

I would like to set up a database on my windows PC (Windows 10 Home, 64 bit) and the software requires me to install Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to enable the database to function. When I search online for information on JRE there’s a lot of negative commentary around the security risks related to JRE - typically:
https://www.webtitan.com/blog/security-risk-from-java-runtime-environment/#:~:text=The%20security%20risk%20from%20Java%20Runtime%20Environment%20is%20considerable.,is%20likely%20to%20cause%20problems.

I’m reluctant to install this software given the warnings - is there any way to resolve this and have a functional database please?
Thanks,

#2

Sure. But there us a price to pay. Some convenient stuff may be missing.
.
Main reason, why java is needed by Base is the default database shipped with LibreOffice: HSQLDB is written in Java itself, so will not work without JRE. But they also include Firebird, wich doesn’t need Java. I also use MariaDB as a Server-Database and Sqlite via ODBC-driver. “Base” is only the connector to different databases.
.
The mentioned price comes, when you need reports, as the default engine is coded in Java, as well as some assistants. As one can drag tables to Calc and use Mail-Merge with Writer it is possible to work around Java.
.
IMHO the risk of using java is exaggerated and anybody using Windows has much to do on hardening his/her OS, before thinking of Java.
The same principles wich are possible to harden a system (not executing arbitrary files, reduced rights for standard work etc.) will also protect Java, but this choice is yours. Only your “there’s a lot of negative commentary around the security risks” should be extended on using Windows. I can understand concerns on a hardened Linux/Unix with small set of software to open another vector after already avoiding the mass of Malware dedicated to Windows and MS-OFFICE, but on Windows this doesn’t make sense for me…

2 Likes
#4

Without a single byte of Java you can

  • connect a Base document to some non-Java database you already created with other tools.
  • create queries in SQL, in design view but not with the query wizard.
  • create forms in in design view but not with the forms wizard.
  • use Calc as alternative report engine by means of linked import ranges and pivot tables.
1 Like
#5

Thanks Wanderer - food for thought there

#6

Thanks Villeroy,
hadn’t realised I could open/use the file created without first installing JRE - when the message came up I thought it was “Game Over” - OK if you hadn’t already realised I’m not particularly ‘tecchy’ when it comes to computers / software.

#3

Wanderer is totally right - but if you still have worries on Windows (and face it, who wouldn’t :slight_smile: ), and you have capable hardware, then try using a Virtual Machine and run a simple Linux distribution (with Java and LO) there …

But as said, don’t fret about Java security in this context anyway :slight_smile:

1 Like
#7

Thanks GNK, I’d have to “phone a friend” to get that working - but its an option.

Impressum (Legal Info) | Datenschutzerklärung (Privacy Policy)   Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license.