Ok - its always good to start from something isn't it.
Dan's current draft for "What is Base".
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Base uses the HSQLdb database engine to create and later update ODF 1.2
database frontend documents. One of these documents can contain the
complete database in which it is known as an embedded database. Other
frontend documents contain all the information needed by HSQLdb to
access a data source. These data sources can include a variety of file
types.
The Base application is used to work with ODF 1.2 Database Frontend
Documents. Base is not just a databse engine as is MySQL, PostgreSQL,
and Oracle 11g for example. Base includes additional functionality
allowing the user to create full data driven applications,
*
Defining the table structures used.
*
Building the UI with query definitions and forms.
*
Data browsing and filtering for ad-hoc analysis/editing functions.
HSQLdb is written in Java. For the beginner, it is best to install JRE
(Java Runtime Environment) to avoid possible problems and frustrations.
For those who understand what JDBC, ODBC, and SDBC drivers are, JRE is
only required when creating an embedded database or using the JDBC
driver to access an external database. (This is a database which is not
embedded.)
If you know what a flat database is, you can access this type of file
without needing. These databases can include email client address books
(Outlook, Thunderbird, and LADP for example).
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So - start from scratch or just make changes, either way.
Drew
