Creating a Database Form

Getting Started with OpenOffice 4

Chapter 7: Getting Started with Base

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• What is Base?
• Planning a database
• Creating a new database
• Creating database tables
  • Using the wizard to create a table
  • Creating a table by copying an existing table
  • Creating tables in design view
  • Creating auxiliary tables for data entry
• Defining relationships
• Creating a database form
  • Using the wizard to create a simple form
  • Using the wizard to make a form with a subform
  • Laying out a form with multiple controls
  • Creating forms and subforms in design view
• Accessing other data sources
• Using data sources in Apache OpenOffice
• Creating queries
  • Using the wizard to create a query
  • Using the design view to create a query
  • Make a query with a calculated field
  • Query with two related tables
  • Query that summarizes data
  • Query summarizing over a calculated field
• Creating reports
  • Simple static report
  • Grouped dynamic report

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Creating a Database Form

Databases are used to store data. But how is the data put into the database? Forms are used to do this. In the language of databases, a form is a front end for data entry and editing.

A simple form consists of the fields from a table. More complex forms can contain much more, including additional text, graphics, selection boxes, and many other elements. We will make three simple forms to demonstrate the basics of tying form controls to database tables, viewing and entering data, and modifying the function and appearance of form controls. The data tables are so simple that they are not realistic, but they serve the purpose of showing how forms work. The examples do not use all the available types of form controls, but the principles are much the same for all controls.