LibreOffice Base
 | |
 LibreOffice 6.0.6.2 running on Ubuntu 16.04 | |
| Developer(s) | The Document Foundation |
|---|---|
| Stable release | |
| Repository | |
| Operating system | Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows |
| Type | RDBMS |
| License | MPLv2.0 (secondary license GPL, LGPLv3+ or Apache License 2.0)[3] |
| Website | www |
LibreOffice Base is a free and open-source relational database management system that is part of the LibreOffice office suite. LibreOffice Base was built off of a fork of OpenOffice.org and was first released as version 3.4.0.1 on October 4, 2011.[4]
Similarly to the other packages in the LibreOffice suite, Base is supported accross multiple platforms including Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. Base is recognized for it's cross-platform compatibiilty relative to Microsoft Access, which is developed exclusively for Windows.[5]
Features
LibreOffice Base is designed for the creation and management of databases, preparation of forms and reports that provide end users easy access to data.[6][7] Base includes software wizards to assist users with various aspects of the program.[8][9]
Base is able to work with both embedded and external database files. Embedded databases are stored as a single file using C++ based Firebird and Java-based HSQLDB as its storage engine. When connecting to external databases, Base acts as a graphical user interface front-end to facilitate interactions with various database systems, including Microsoft Access databases (JET), ODBC/JDBC data sources, MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL.[7]
Base has been described as an unusual project in the niche of database management system software, which tends toward proprietary software designed for enterprise users.[6] Proprietary database management software costs have been described as a reason for the use of Base in small businesses.[10]
Migration From HSQLDB to Firebird
Work is ongoing to transition the embedded storage engine from HSQLDB to the Firebird SQL back-end. Firebird has been included in LibreOffice as an experimental option since LibreOffice 4.2[11][12].
The Document Foundation has announced that as of LibreOffice version 6.1, if the experimental mode is used, the old HSQLDB engine is depreciated--although still available--and replaced by Firebird as the default option.[13]
References
- ^ Italo Vignoli (30 April 2025). "Announcing LibreOffice 25.2.3". Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ Italo Vignoli (8 May 2025). "[tdf-announce] LibreOffice 24.8.7 is available for download". Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Licenses". The Document Foundation. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Index of /libreoffice/old". The Document Foundation. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Klosowski, Thorin (15 August 2013). "Battle of the Office Suites: Microsoft Office and LibreOffice Compared". LifeHacker. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ a b Gaskin, James. "LibreOffice 5 Review". Laptopmag. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ a b Elena, Opris. "LibreOffice Base Review". Softpedia. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "Microsoft Access alternatives: are there any free applications that achieve the same result?". 1&1. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Wallen, Jack. "Creating Forms for Easy LibreOffice Database Entry on Linux". Linux. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Wallen, Jack (27 January 2012). "DIY: Create easy to use databases with LibreOffice Base". TechRepublic. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "LibreOffice 4.2 released with new SQL preview feature : Firebird SQL backend". Firebird News. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "HSQLDB to be replaced by Firebird". LibreOfficeForum.org. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Document Foundation announces LibreOffice 6.1, a major release which shows the power of a large and diverse community of contributors". The Document Foundation. LibreOffice. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.