In OpenOffice.org Base it is not clear if an existing "database" is a local one
or a link to an external one. It is also not clear when a "database" is on
read-only mode (usually links) or read/write. 

Suggestions:
1. When "connecting" to an existing database , when "saving", the message should
clear say "saving the link", in order to stress that the data stays on the
original source
2. In the Main "Table" view there should be a clear icon for read/only ou
read/write, and another clear indication of whether the table is a link or a
local database. it could an arrow, which is a usual way of make that distinction
if file managers