January 2004 Technical Tip – Getting Started with MySQL

January 2004 Technical Tip – Getting Started with MySQL

MySQL is a popular DBMS, particularly for data driven web sites using PHP (PHP stands for hypertext preprocessor and is used for server-side scripting.) This month I will show you how to set up and use MySQL. (Note: I am using Microsoft XP Home edition.)

Getting MySQL

Although available as a single package, MySQL is often found bundled with Apache webserver and PHP: I downloaded the trio as minixampp-win32-1.2.zip from http://www.apachefriends.org/wampp-en.html and unzipped minixampp-win32-1.2.zip into c:\minixampp
Open a command prompt window by choosing Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
Go to the unzipped folder by typing cd\minixampp
Configure the trio by executing the batch file setup_xampp.bat

Starting the MySQL server

Still within the command prompt window, and still within the unzipped folder, execute the batch file mysql_start.bat
Do not close the window while the MySQL server is running (you can minimize it, but do not close it.)

Executing MySQL

Open another command prompt window.
Type cd\minixampp\mysql\bin and press Enter.
Type mysql and press Enter.

Note the MySQL prompt is mysql>
MySQL commands can be entered over multiple lines. All commands must end with a semicolon.

Some MySQL commands

The following should be self-explanatory if you know SQL. If you don't know SQL, then give us a call (a shameless plug!)

show databases;
create database mydatabase;
use mydatabase;
create table mytable (name char(10), age int(2), gender char(1));
insert into mytable values ('William', 21, 'M');
insert into mytable values ('Cora', 19, 'F');
insert into mytable values ('Hannah', 15, 'F');
insert into mytable values ('Emma', 13, 'F');
update mytable set age = age + 1 where name = 'Emma';
select * from mytable;

+---------+------+--------+
| name    | age  | gender |
+---------+------+--------+
| William |   21 | M      |
| Cora    |   19 | F      |
| Hannah  |   15 | F      |
| Emma    |   14 | F      |
+---------+------+--------+

quit;

Stopping the MySQL server

Open another command prompt window.
Type cd\minixampp and press Enter.
Type mysql_stop.bat and press Enter.
You can now close all open Command Prompt windows.

Learning more

A fine MySQL tutorial is available at http://www.analysisandsolutions.com/code/mybasic.htm
There's plenty of other information available at http://www.mysql.com

Looking ahead

Be sure to check back next month when I will show you how to access MySQL databases from Java!