Open dbase files in OPen Office

[jfwb]

Welcome beginner. Please answer all of the questions below which may provide information necessary to answer your question.
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Which version of OpenOffice.org are you using?2.3
What Operating System (version) are you using?Windows Xp Pro and Ubuntu Linux Gutsy
What is your question or comment? I am able to open a dbase table working under windows but not under Linux. Is there a reason for this?

[foxcole]

(Please always give the full 3-digit version number that you'll find in Help> About OpenOffice.org.)

Where did you get your version of OOo? If it's the Ubuntu distro, it's known to be buggy and unstable. Try replacing it with the full "official" version from the OpenOffice.org website.

[Hagar Delest]

See here: [Ubuntu] Installing OOo on Debian and Co.

NB: moved the thread to the Base forum.

Thanks to add '[Solved]' in your first post title (edit button) if your issue has been fixed.

[Villeroy]

Well, Hagar moved this to the Base forum. But we do not even know if jfwb did try to import his dBase file into Base which used to work fine with my old Ubuntu version. More likely he opened the file as a spreadsheet.

[Hagar Delest]

You're right, sorry!

jfwb, thanks to precise what application you're using. If Calc, I'll move the thread to the Calc forum.

[jfwb]

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough. I am running open Office 2.3.1 under windows and 2.3.0 under Ubuntu 7.1.
I am trying to open a dBase file with Open Office Base. This works fine under windows going through the New - Database - connect to existing - DBASE route.
Under Ubuntu, I can open a dBASE file using Calc but not using Base. Going through the route described above, the dBASE file names are "greyed" and I am unable to proceed any further.
I suppose it's not very important but I am trying to migrate from windows to Linux and keep hitting snags of this sort.

[DrewJensen]

One thing i've noticed under Ubuntu 7.1 ( actually I use kubuntu but ) is that the file names can not be upper case, actually it is just the .dbf that must not be upper case - a bug I suppose.

Second thing - the 2.3 version that comes with Ubunutu has a few added problems particularly with Base. Here also I am a little different cause I run mostly 64 bit Kubuntu, but do run 32 bit on one machine.

One thing is to switch to the SUN java runtime - this seems to help a good deal. The more radical approach is to dump the Ubuntu version of OpenOffice.org completely and switch to binaries form the OpenOffice.org web site. DEB packages are now available as part of the main distribution files so installing is very easy ( if you want to try this and need some help on the install let me know and I'll put up a quick run through )

Using the standard OpenOffice.org files under Kubuntu I have had no problems working with dBase, 32bit or 64bit. ( save for the upper case name issue of course)

[jfwb]

I have tried to install Sun Java but with no success - I actually have a thread going in the Ubuntu forum on this.
I see that there is now an Open Office version 3.0. Perhaps I should do as you suggest - ditch my current OO and install v 3.0 but will I need to have Sun Java first?

[DrewJensen]

NO - 3.0 is in the first couple of development builds...not even close to being ready for real work...

2.4 on the other hand was released today!

[Villeroy]

Is OOo able to load the dBase table into Calc via File>Open...?

[jfwb]

Is OOo able to load the dBase table into Calc via File>Open...?

I right clicked the dbf file and accepted the option to open with Open Office Base - it then proceeded to open it in Calc! I have since also opened a dBase table in Calc via File > Open so that works too. It just won't do what I want altho it works under windows???