Warren: Yes and no. You can use Access as a "front end" to MySQL, including creating forms and queries. If you want relational integrity you'll need to handle that directly in MySQL (with "raw" SQL) or with a dedicated MySQL designer tool (there are several available, both freeware and commercial - google will find them for you or check the archives). Access can only manage relationships in actual Access databases.
I'm not familiar with Open Office, but based on things I've read on the list (again, search the archives) I think you can do at least some of what you want with it. It's important to understand that working with MySQL and Access is *not* like working with Access alone. It's much more like working with Access and MS-SQL Server without .ADP files. You'll use either linked tables (low effort, low performance) or pass-through queries (more effort, better performance). Someday soon (hopefully ;-) you'll be able to use stored procedures. Hope this helps, John Hopkins Hopkins IT -----Original Message----- From: Warren Stanley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 4:48 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: confused newbie -- Open Office 1.1 as front end Hi guys n gals OK MySQL is nice and robust, i'm stiil new to it and have an "M$ Access" mentality when it come to buiding and working with DBs. Can i build an "example_client" table and an "example_appointment" table in MySQL and then use M$ Access(odbc) or "data sources" in Open Office to create the relationships and forms and things to make the DBs usable to the average person? I haven't found a straight answer yet or even a a clear cut guide. All advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED(including what i can't do with this method)!! Thanks folks >>--------------------------------------------------------------- Warren Stanley Information Technology Support Officer Bidgerdii Community Health Rockhampton Q 4700 ---------------------------------------------------------------<< -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]