KEXI Features

See also: About KEXI

Table of Contents      Availability      Features      Supported Database Engines      Data/Project Migration Tools      Scripting and Macros      Used Technologies      Extensions      Discontinued Features      Further Reading

Availability

• Linux
• Solaris
• FreeBSD
• Mac OS X (using Homebrew) (in development)
• MS Windows (in development)

http://www.calligra.org/get-calligra

Features

• Full visual designers for tables, queries and forms. Queries can be also designed in dedicated SQL view.
• Running queries, support for parametrized queries.
• Data entry and sorting.
• Support for "Object" data allowing to store images of many types.
• Designing and displaying relational data using combo boxes (lookup columns).
• Advanced CSV data import and export from files. Copying to clipboard and pasting from clipboard is also available, thus the data can be easily transferred to applications like spreadsheets or word processors.
• User Mode, allowing to switch off all commands related to editing project's design (since 1.1.2)
• "Find" window for searching thought table and form's contents with rich set of options (since 1.1.3)

Supported Database Engines

• SQLite - file based (version 3.2 or newer) - the default built-in database format allowing to store all the data and design in a single file that can be easily e-mailed or published in the Internet; requires no maintenance and installation.
• MySQL servers.
• PostgreSQL servers.

Data/Project Migration Tools

• MySQL, PostgreSQL migration assistant allowing to reuse existing databases.
• Microsoft Access migration assistant for database tables, being a unique solution.
• An assistant allowing to export KEXI file-based database to a MySQL or PostgreSQL server.

Used Technologies

• KEXI uses the KDE and KOffice features for better user's experience. You can run it on most other destops (e.g. GNOME or XFCE) as well - KEXI will just use KDE's facilities in the background.
• While the application is available on many operating systems, it does not contain Java or .NET code (only C++) and it is optimized for speed and ease of use.

Extensions

• APIs for developing custom widgets, data providers and data importing/exporting. C++ language can be used as well as Python and Ruby scripting.

Experimental and Discontinued Features

• SQLite 2.8 - the default built-in database format, in KEXI 2.x only SQLite 3.x is supported
• Simple printounts for table and query data with robust print preview (was available in 1.x, then replaced by the Report Designer).
• Scripting using Python and Ruby is available (experimental).
• Handling Microsoft SQL Server/Sybase and Oracle databases (was available in 1.x, then distabled since 2.x).
• Support for simple database templates (was available in 1.x since 1.1.3)

Further Reading

• Screenshots: here and here
• Comparisons to other database applications