OpenOffice.org (OOo) is able to read and write from a wide variety of databases, as long as they support one of the standard interface specifications such as ODBC or JDBC. Fortunately, Microsoft Access (MS-Access) supports ODBC. This HOW-TO takes you step by step through the process of linking OOo to MS-Access using ODBC.

The process has three simple steps:
1. Create an ODBC Data Source for each database you want to use (you only need to do this once per database)
2. Create an ODBC Data Source within OpenOffice.org for each database (you only need to do this once)
3. Enjoy using your MS-Access databases in OOo!

Creating an ODBC Data Source for the MS-Access database
Within MS-Windows, choose Start -> Settings -> Control Panel and double-click the ODBC Data Sources icon..

Download pdf HOW-TO use Microsoft Access databases from within OpenOffice.org 1.1