When I try to create a new database, Base (version 4.4.4, et al) gives me this error message: "LibreOffice requires a Java runtime environment (JRE) to perform this task. The selected JRE is defective. Please select another version or install a new JRE and select it under Tools - Options - LibreOffice - Advanced." On investigation, I discovered that LO is incompatible with 64-bit JRE. After I install 32-bit JRE 8.0.510, everything works.

There are several things wrong with this: First, unless 64-bit JRE really is defective, the message is misleading and should be reworded to something like "LO requires 32-bit JRE. Please install and select it." But that scenario should never arise. Instead, the LO installer should recognize that 32-bit JRE is absent and tell the user to download it first. Please bear in mind that many, perhaps most, users of office productivity software don't know that they need to look for a Java product name that contains "X86" or a filename with "i586", neither of which strings contains the number 32. Also, keep in mind that if both 32- and 64-bit JRE are installed, they both have the same name in the selection box in the Advanced Options menu, and the user has to figure it out by noticing that the correct one is in a Windows directory with "X86" in its name. Unless our goal is to provide full employment for tech support persons, we should not be requiring that level of competence.

The ideal solution, it seems to me, would be for LO to function with 64-bit JRE, perhaps by having separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions. I assume that must be really difficult, or it would have already been done.