I am running Fedora Core 5 on my machine, the mySQL daemon is running active, however, either through documentation or my own meddling, I cannot figure out how to connect to this database through either OpenOffice or various Java IDE's. If someone has a reference link for this or just some tips. Please let me know. I'm also somewhat new to the world of Linux usage, so the more detailed description, the better.

Here are a few details on my system:
OS: Fedora Core 5
Ram: 256MB
CPU: Intel Celeron D 1.3GHz
40GB HDD

^ Yes, I know its weak, but I teach computer repair (A+ Certification) for a non-IT company, and there apparently is no money for upgrades.

Man, me too, be interested in what you learn, if anything. OO "used to" have a wizard, with which I could open and massage around my MySQL datavase, find the tables, use them for mail merge, on and on. However, lately, all that has gone away from the releases. I MISS it!

I don't personally know how to use OO for connecting to mysql but i know some other useful apps. Firstly, you should be able to log in your mysql server via the konsole by typing mysql (works first time only, you should give a root password). When you have given the root password you will be able to access the mysql database only via a certain user name and password. For java i would suggest that you download the mysql-connector, the one that i use is "mysql-connector-java-3.1.11" you will get that from sun java's official web page(Sorry i no longer have the exact link to it) or you can get it on the MySQL-AB site itself.

Then for a graphical MySQL browser i would suggest SQuirreL SQL Client which is written in java(name is squirrel-sql-2.2final-install.jar) install by using the following command in konsole: "java -jar squirrel-sql-2.2final-install.jar"

You will see an icon for the app on you desktop. Launch it by double clicking it. You will see from the list of connectors the mysql connector, if not then you will have to add it manually by selecting Drivers -> new Driver and add the classpath in extra classpath. note that you should also know the connection string for the driver

in Class Name put : com.mysql.jdbc.Driver

give a name to the new driver and in the example url field put the connection string, e.g jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/

click ok.


Then create a new alias;
Give a name, select a driver, correct the connection string(if necessary) and enter a user name and password. Click ok.
Then all you have to do is to use the alias to connect and you will see all the database in you mysql server.

Well, I've made some progress here. Be SURE you HAVE oobase. Actually, I didn't. Start oobase, and there are some pretty easy to understand selections. I have tried a lot of that, connecting to existing databases is straightforward. By default, he already "knows about" your Evo contacts data, and will make that available. After you have made connections to these MySQL databases and tables, voila! just hit the F4 in oowriter, and there they are, just as we are accustomed to. He saves all this in .odb files and in my case, they go in ~/Documents. Good luck!
Ray

Another Voila! It's simple to connect to my spreadsheets, (critical for me) and once connection is set up, an F4 opens them at the top, ready to reference, or paste into the document in oowriter. As an extra added attraction, in earlier OO's I was never able to get forms designer to do much, or report generator, etc., however all that works great now.