Connector OpenOffice
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org is a MySQL driver for OpenOffice.org. It can be used to connect from OpenOffice.org 3.1 to a MySQL server 5.1 or newer.
Before MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org became available you'd have to use MySQL Connector/J (JDBC) or MySQL Connector/ODBC to connect to a MySQL server.
Therefore the driver is also referred to as a native driver in the context of OpenOffice.org. The term native driver clashes with the MySQL definition of a native driver. MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org does not implement the MySQL Client Server protocol. Technically speaking the MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org is implemented as a proxy on top of the MySQL Connector/C++.
The driver is delivered as an OpenOffice.org extension.
[edit] Advantages
Using MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org has the following advantages:
- Easy installation through the OpenOffice.org Extension Manager.
- Seamless integration into OpenOffice.org.
- You can work on multiple MySQL schemata (databases) simultaneously
- No need to go through an additional Connector installation routine (ODBC/JDBC)
- No need to configure or register an additional Connector (ODBC)
- No need to install or configure a driver manager (ODBC)
- No need for a Java Runtime Environment (JDBC)
[edit] Status
Please note, the MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org is released as a beta version. We do not recommend using the driver in production environments or systems with critical data. Please note, official support is not available
[edit] Installation
Please see the OpenOffice.org wiki for an installation guide
[edit] Getting Started: Connecting to MySQL
MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org allows you to access the MySQL Server and its schemata from the OpenOffice.org suite.
The following example demonstrates the creation of a new OpenOffice.org Base database which uses a local MySQL Server for storage and the new connector for connecting.
[edit] Select the database
Create a new database (File, New, Database). This starts a wizard that allows you to create a new, open an existing, or connect to existing database. Select the latter option.
From the drop-down list, select MySQL. Click Next >>.
[edit] Select the type of the driver
You can use three different MySQL drivers for connecting to MySQL from OpenOffice.org. You can choose a generic ODBC or JDBC connection method or the native driver. Select Connect native. Click Next >>.
[edit] Setting up the database connection
Set up the database connection. Put the schema (database) you want to connect to into Name of the database. Enter the URL (host name), Port and Socket of your MySQL Server. Click Next >>.
[edit] Fill in user credentials
Provide the user credentials for connecting to your MySQL Server. Click Next >>.
[edit] Save and proceed
Finish the wizard. All defaults are a safe choice. Click Finish >>.
[edit] Getting Started: Usage Examples
[edit] Listing Tables
In the Database area of the Base main window, select Tables. If this is the first time you're accessing the database you'll be prompted for your credentials (username and password); you can store these settings for your current Base session.
Depending on your connection settings you will now see all databases with all their tables, or just the database you've specified in the connection settings.
[edit] References
See the OpenOffice.org website for documentation of the office suite and its Extension Manager.
[edit] Known Bugs
Please check the Known Bugs section on the corresponding OpenOffice.org wiki page.
[edit] Contact
To discuss the new MySQL Connector/OpenOffice.org, please subscribe to the mailing list users@dba.openoffice.org. It is a low-volume list with less than 10 mails per day.
[edit] Who's who?
- Frank Schönheit (Builds)
- Ulf Wendel (QA)
- Mark Matthews (Code review)
- Andrey Hristov, Georg Richter (Coding)
- Stefan Hinz (Documentation)