Openoffice.org - postgresql setup

By: John McFarlane <john.mcfarlane@rockfloat.com>
Last updated: 11/05/2004 @ 23:22

Abstract:
This document will show step by step how to setup Openoffice.org to be able to import data from postgresql.



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1. Install Openoffice.org 1.1 rc3


user# sudo emerge openoffice
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2. Install Postgresql 7.3.5

To install Postgres on Gentoo, see this howto
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3. Install the Openoffice.org postgresql sdbc driver

Change to the main Openoffice.org install program directory. For me this is: 

user# cd /usr/local/OpenOffice.org1.1.0/program
Now we need to download the driver from openoffice.org. This file is a zip file which needs to be placed in the main OpenOffice1.1/share/uno_packages directory. For me this is: 

root# cd /usr/local/OpenOffice.org1.1.0/share/uno_packages
root# wget http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/postgresql/postgresql-sdbc-0.5.0.zip
You want to leave the zip file alone, as Openoffice.org deal with the extraction and things. Now you need to tell Openoffice.org about the new driver, go to the program directory to do this. For me this is: 

root# cd /usr/local/OpenOffice.org1.1.0/program
root# ./pkgchk --shared
If nothing is posted to the console, then we can assume the installation went well :)
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4. Start up Openoffice.org calc and start importing data

At this point your Openoffice.org rig should be setup and ready. So when you go to:
Menu : Data Sources : New Data Source

you should have "Postgresql" as a valid choice in the drop down menu
The last catch is the "Data source URL" which took me a second to figure out. Mine looks likes this:

sdbc:postgresql:dbname=rockfloat_monkey user=foouser password=foopassword

Enjoy your new setup :)
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Changelog: Date Description
11/05/2004 @ 23:22 Added notes for installation of oo and postgresql; corrected lines missing root#

This document was originally created on 01/05/2004


Conventions and tips for this howto document:
  1. This howto relies on Openoffice.org 1.1 rc3 and Postgresql 7.3.5
  2. This howto was based on OpenOffice.org documentation found here.

Disclaimer:
This page is not endorsed by gentoo.org or any other cool cats. Any information provided in this document is to be used at your own risk.