Creating a Table by Copying an Existing Table

Getting Started with OpenOffice 4

Chapter 7: Getting Started with Base

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• What is Base?
• Planning a database
• Creating a new database
• Creating database tables
  • Using the wizard to create a table
  • Creating a table by copying an existing table
  • Creating tables in design view
  • Creating auxiliary tables for data entry
• Defining relationships
• Creating a database form
  • Using the wizard to create a simple form
  • Using the wizard to make a form with a subform
  • Laying out a form with multiple controls
  • Creating forms and subforms in design view
• Accessing other data sources
• Using data sources in Apache OpenOffice
• Creating queries
  • Using the wizard to create a query
  • Using the design view to create a query
  • Make a query with a calculated field
  • Query with two related tables
  • Query that summarizes data
  • Query summarizing over a calculated field
• Creating reports
  • Simple static report
  • Grouped dynamic report

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Creating a Table by Copying an Existing Table

A situation may arise where you want to have two or more tables with the same structure but different data. Rather than creating each table from the wizard, you can make copies of the original table, naming each differently.

1. Click on the Tables icon in the Database pane to see the existing tables.
2. Right-click on the icon of the table you want to copy. Choose Copy from the pop-up menu.
3. Move the mouse pointer below this table, right-click, and select Paste. The Copy table dialog opens.
4. Change the table name and click  Next .
5. Click the  >>  button to move all the fields from the left box to the right box and click  Next .
6. Since all the fields already have the proper Field type, no changes should be needed. However, this is the time and place to make any changes if they are needed. (See Caution below for the reason.) Click  Create . The new table is created.

Once tables have been created using the wizard and data has been entered, editing them should be very limited. Fields can be added or deleted, but adding a field requires taking the time to enter the data for that one field for every record having an entry for that field. Deleting a field deletes all the data once contained in that field. Changing the field type of field can lead to data being lost, either partially or completely, if the two data types are not compatible. When creating a new table, it pays to create the fields with the correct names, length, and format before you add any data. Deleting a table removes all the data contained in every field of the table. Unless you are sure, do not delete a table.