The option for OpenOffice.org or StarOffice databases is now becoming a reality. The facilities are well in place for OpenOffice to function will much of the capabilities that MS Access offers. Not only as a data store, but also with Forms, Queries and Reporting mechanisms as well.

If you have an existing MS Access database application, we are able to help in a partial or complete conversion from MS Access to an OpenOffice.org database application. This process follows one or more steps along the following guide:

• Extracting the data. OpenOffice.org enables the data to be stored in almost any database that you like without any problems to the final application. This provides great flexibility and allows for a secure data back-end.
• Create Datasources. Once the data is extracted, we create a new datasource with the required back-end product such as MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle etc.
• Forms Created. Once the data is in place, we can construct the forms based around what data the client needs to see in their application and how it is laid out.
• Queries Designed. The Queries enable the client to "group" data based on certain criteria. This enable the client to work with data based on postcode or geographic regions, rather than the whole amount.
• Reports Generated. The reports are generated to allow the client to get feedback on what data is available in the datasource, and how that is changing over time.

Apart from converting existing databases across to OpenOffice.org format, we can also design and develop one completely from scratch. This enables you to have a viable database application that is customised to your business needs.

The new OpenOffice databases are developed using an embedded, but powerful, database system. This enables features that are often seen only in high-end, and high priced, database management systems. As well as offering more features to be utilised, the new format also allows us to move the database application around and share it just like a typical MS Access database.

The option of having any database as a back-end enables us to utilise various different database management systems. These can be used in different situations to suit the needs. eg. Use the builtin for simple customer tracking, but use a more sophisticated system such as PostgreSQL or Firebird to manage your financial applications. This also allows us to hook directly into your legacy systems. If you have an older style system that uses a legacy data format, it is probably that we can hook OpenOffice as a front-end onto that legacy system to allow you to access the data directly and easily.