Documentation/HowTo/Base/Connect to SQLite
Connect Base to Sqlite
SQLite is a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, SQL database engine contained in a single file. It is arguably the most widely used database engine used today, and Base can connect to SQLite using ODBC.
External databases must be prepared before the Database Wizard can access them.
Preparing for the database wizard requires:
- A SQLite database
- Installed ODBC driver
- Configure database ODBC connection
SQLite database
Base can only connect to existing external databases. A sample SQLite database can be downloaded and extracted from: https://www.sqlitetutorial.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/chinook.zip. A SQLite database can be tested at https://inloop.github.io/sqlite-viewer/.
A new SQLite database can be created:
- Try the simple way, just create an empty file with the database name, for example, in a shell for Windows type
nul > test.db
or linux> test.db
- The proper way is install SQLite3 from https://sqlite.org/download.html and run
SQLite3 test.db ".databases"
Install ODBC driver
Install ODBC driver from http://ch-werner.de/sqliteodbc/ (not for macOS)
For example in Windows, install http://ch-werner.de/sqliteodbc/sqliteodbc_w64.exe
If you’re using 32 bit software on Win64 you should install the Win32 driver, too.
Configure database ODBC connection
Follow the instructions for your operating system. For example, in Windows:
- Run (Windows key + R)
C:\Program Files\LibreOffice\program\odbcconfig.exe
to open the ODBC Data Source Administrator - On the User DSN tab click the Add button to add a User Data Source Name
- Select the SQLite3 ODBC Driver (if it's not displayed it needs to be installed) and click the Finish button
- When the SQLite ODBC DSN Configuration window opens enter the Data Source Name: libretest-SQLite, Browse to the database test.db, and click the OK button. The ODBC DNS can be reconfigured later if required.
Database Wizard
Start Base and it will run through the Database Wizard:
- Select database - Connect to an existing database: ODBC
- Set up ODBC connection - Browse and Choose a data source eg chinook
- Set up user authentication - Set up the user authentication if any and Test connection
- Save and proceed to create database - Name Base database