Calc: how do I?

users
#1

I have a dBase database with several tables. How do I open this database in Calc so that each table will have its own sheet?

Dan

#2

You can do it piecemeal:
o Open the database.
o Display Tables.
o Select a table.
o Copy.
o Create a spreadsheets with an appropriate number of sheets.
o Paste.
o Repeat for other tables and other sheets.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#3

Hello Dan,

As far as I know, each table needs to be opened separately. That will open
a separate Calc window with a tab for the table that was opened. The tabs
can then be moved into a single spreadsheet by right-click the tab in one
of the spreadsheets and selecting the "Move or Copy Sheet..." option.

Alternately the first dbf can be opened then each additional table can be
opened in a new tab using the menu path Sheet>Insert Sheet from File...
This 2nd option saves the step of grouping the sheets into a single
spreadsheet after opening each file into its own spreadsheet.

I do not know of a way for Calc to open all tables in a database into
individual tabs in a single spreadsheet.

I did use dBASE for many years. My recollection is that a "database" was a
logical construct in dBASE. By default it would include all tables in the
database's directory and tables in other directories could be included by
pointers to their location.

There is no option I can find in Calc to read the database file so it can't
open and read all tables in a database by selecting and opening the
database. Each table must be opened individually.

#4

Hi Dan,

I have a dBase database with several tables. How do I open this database in Calc so that each table will have its own sheet?

Dan
Here something different than simple copy:

1. You make a .odb file for the dBase database and register it. That is in File > New > Database. Make sure, that you have set the correct character set in Edit > Database Properties > Additional Settings.

2. You open the spreadsheet and show "Data Sources". That is menu Edit or Ctrl+Shift+F4. You should now see an area above the sheet, which has on the left side an overview over your database files.

3. Drag a table (or query or view) from there to cell A1 on an empty sheet. That will import the table. That is not a simple import, but the spreadsheet is linked to the database table. It has generated a "data range". Look in menu Data. You will see the import in "Select Range" -and more important- you can use "Refresh Range" to bring changes from the database table to the spreadsheet.
In case the database is not "connected" right-click the database name and choose item "Registered databases" and select it.

And yet another way to copy:
Open the .dbf file in Calc and resave it with a different name.

Kind regards
Regina

#5

Thanks to all three of you for answering my questions. It was a refresher course to say the least.

Dan