Coimbra databases can be delivered in different ways, one of these being a "pointer" (called "database profile") to a Web database. In order to access a new Web database you have to attach this database to the Coimbra system before using the very first time.

Attaching a database is a simple process: click the attach button () in the open dialog and select the database profile delivered to you. Thereafter the selected profile is adjusted and copied to the Coimbra home directory. In addition, you have to specify an empty directory where the database will be installed. The attached database can then be opened in the usual way.

The screen shot below shows the database open dialog; note that there are two equivalent levels, one being an alphabetical list of all available databases, and the other being a hierarchical tree of databases which can be configured by the user. You may use either of these tab sheets for opening a particular database by double-clicking on it.