How Do I Get Started with Kexi?

Updated

Kexi is a free, open-source visual database application from the KDE community, distributed through the Kexi project site (kexi-project.org). To get started, install Kexi for your platform, launch it, and create or open a database project — then add a table, enter data, and build a form or query on top of it. This guide covers the practical first steps; the exact menu labels may vary slightly by version and platform, so treat the steps as a workflow rather than a script.

Before You Begin

Kexi is aimed at people who want a desktop database tool without writing SQL for every task, but who still want relational features (tables, queries, forms, reports). A few things to settle first:

  • Platform: Kexi runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS. Installation method differs per platform (package manager, installer, or build from source).
  • Database backend: You can start with a file-based project for local work, or connect to a database server if you already run one. For a first project, a local file is the simplest choice.
  • What you want to build: A contact list, a small inventory, or a simple catalog are all reasonable first projects. Deciding this before you start makes the table design obvious.

Step 1: Install Kexi

  1. Go to the Kexi project website and find the download or installation section for your operating system.
  2. Follow the instructions for your platform. On Linux, Kexi is typically available through your distribution's package manager; on Windows and macOS, use the installer or package the site points you to.
  3. Launch Kexi after installation to confirm it opens.

Expected result: The Kexi start screen appears, offering to create a new project or open an existing one.

Common snag: If Kexi won't launch or reports missing components, the issue is usually an incomplete install or a missing database driver. Check the project's installation notes for your platform.

Step 2: Create or Open a Project

When Kexi starts, you choose between creating a new project and opening an existing one.

  • New project: Pick a project type (for example, a blank database) and a storage option. Give the file a name and a location you can find again.
  • Open existing: Browse to a Kexi project file or connect to a database server, depending on how the project was stored.

Expected result: The main Kexi window opens with a project navigator listing the object types you can create — typically tables, queries, forms, and reports.

Step 3: Create Your First Table

Tables hold your data, so this is the foundation.

  1. In the project navigator, choose to create a new table.
  2. Switch to design view and add fields. For each field, set a name and a data type (text, integer, date, and so on).
  3. Mark one field as the primary key so each row is uniquely identifiable.
  4. Save the table and give it a meaningful name.

Expected result: The table appears in the project navigator and can be opened in data view.

Common snag: Choosing the wrong data type early causes friction later (for example, storing dates as plain text). If you're unsure, use text for free-form entries and proper numeric or date types for anything you'll sort or calculate.

Step 4: Enter and View Data

  1. Open the table in data view.
  2. Type records directly into the rows.
  3. Save your changes.

Expected result: Your rows persist in the project and reappear when you reopen the table.

Step 5: Build a Query, Form, or Report

Once data exists, Kexi's other objects become useful:

Object What it's for When to reach for it
Query Selecting and filtering rows You need a subset of data or a calculated result
Form Entering and viewing data through a designed layout You want a friendlier interface than a raw table
Report Formatted output for printing or sharing You need a presentable summary of your data

Start with a query if you just want to filter; add a form when data entry becomes repetitive; add a report when you need output.

When You Get Stuck

The Kexi project site is the primary reference for installation notes, feature descriptions, and documentation links. Community channels associated with the KDE project are the usual place to ask questions when documentation doesn't cover your case. Before asking, note your Kexi version, operating system, and the exact step where things went wrong — that context usually shortens the path to an answer.

A Reasonable First Session

If you only have half an hour, do this: install Kexi, create a blank project, build one table with three or four fields and a primary key, enter five rows, then save and reopen the project to confirm everything persisted. That loop exercises the core workflow and surfaces most setup problems before you invest in a real database.