LibreOffice Base Tutorial: Create Your First Customer Database in 10 Minutes

If you are running a small business on spreadsheets, you know the pain. You accidentally delete a cell, you can’t see your client’s history, and scrolling through 500 rows is a nightmare.

You need a database. But Microsoft Access is expensive, and learning SQL sounds terrifying.

Enter LibreOffice Base. It is 100% free, and we are going to build a functional Customer Database with it right now.

Step 0: The “Java” Warning (Read This First!)

Before you open Base, know this: LibreOffice Base requires Java (JRE) to run properly on many systems.

• The Error: If you try to create a table and get an error saying “No Java installation could be found,” don’t panic.
• The Fix: Download the free “OpenJDK” or Oracle Java Runtime Environment. Then go to LibreOffice Tools > Options > Advanced and check the box “Use a Java runtime environment.”

Step 1: Start the Wizard

1. Open LibreOffice and click Base Database.
2. Select “Create a new database”.
3. Crucial Choice: For the “Embedded Database” option, choose Firebird Embedded (the modern standard) or HSQLDB (the older, stable standard). If you are a beginner, stick with the default.
4. Click Next, then Finish.
5. Save your file as MyCustomers.odb.

Step 2: Create Your “Table” (The Filing Cabinet)

We need a place to store data. In database terms, this is a “Table.”

1. In the Dashboard, click Tables (left menu) > Create Table in Design View.
2. You will see a grid. Fill it out like this:

Field Name	Field Type	Description
ID	Integer [INTEGER]	Right-click the row arrow and select “Primary Key”
FirstName	Text [VARCHAR]	Customer’s First Name
LastName	Text [VARCHAR]	Customer’s Last Name
Email	Text [VARCHAR]	Email Address
Phone	Text [VARCHAR]	Always use Text for phones (so leading zeros don’t disappear)
Status	Text [VARCHAR]	Active, Lead, or Archived

3. The Secret Step: Click on your ID row. In the bottom “Field Properties” window, change AutoValue to Yes.
   • Why? This tells Base to automatically number your customers (1, 2, 3…) so you never have to type an ID manually.
4. Click Save (floppy disk icon) and name it “Customers”. Close the window.

Step 3: Create a “Form” (The User Interface)

Entering data into a grid is boring. Let’s make a nice form.

1. In the Dashboard, click Forms (left menu) > Use Wizard to Create Form.
2. Table Selection: Choose “Table: Customers” and click the >> button to move all fields to the right. Click Next.
3. Subform: Skip this (click Next).
4. Arrange Controls: Choose Columnar – Labels Left (this looks the cleanest).
5. Apply Styles: Choose “Ice Blue” or “Flat” to make it look less like Windows 98.
6. Name: Call it “New Customer Entry”. Click Finish.

Step 4: Use Your Database!

A window will pop up that looks like a proper software application.

• Type a name (e.g., “John Doe”) and email.
• Notice the ID field says <AutoField>? Leave it alone; it will fill itself in.
• Press the Next Record arrow (bottom of the screen) to save and start a new entry.

Congratulations! You just built a custom CRM for $0. You can now close this form, open the “Tables” view, and see all your data neatly organized.