Where to write SQL code?

[metalator]

Hi, I'm an extreme newbie to mySQL, i read a bunch of tutorials, but i don't get in what file or where you write the mySQL code???

Do i have to create a a new page file and where do i store it?

[Merve]

You write it in the PHP code! Just execute a query using the mysql_query() function. You put your query inbetween the brackets, or you can create a $query that has the query in it. You don't have to create a separate file, besides the actual db.

[metalator]

... uhuh.. excellent.
so can someone hel me out with the following:
I need to create a database (using these fields)
(Using membership form for bands to sign up)

• Band ID <-- sohould be a unique number generated
• Band Name <-- member input
• Location
  • Country: Canada and USA <-- member to select from drop down
  • Region: Province and State <-- member to select from drop down
  • City: <-- member to select from drop down
• Email <-- member input that could send and auto message like "thank you for signing up a rep will contact you soon"
• website <-- member input
• type of music <-- member to select from drop down

Contact info: all member input
- Band member1
Band member1 phone #
Band member1 email #

• Band member2
  Band member2 phone #
  Band member2 email #

• Band member3
  Band member3 phone #
  Band member3 email #

• Band member4
  Band member4 phone #
  Band member4 email #

here are the questions about this:
1. How should I design the database using all these fields
2. I want to use drop down option, is there a premade set with all provinces, states and cities?
3. How can i create an option that the band selects number of bands members and it will allow to enter that amount of contact info? Ex. if selects 3 member, only 3 member contact info boxes should come up.
4. is there a template available to handle this kind of membership?

and finally, I wanna be able to look at the database from a secure admin section and to be able to email all members

Please advise and help me out here?

[dcooper]

ah your doing things the long way round mate, you are correct you can write all the sql instuctions into one file then execute that file to create the database and tables however the way i do it and im sure 90% of other do it is to create it in phpmyadmin

did you get that installed?

if you did its real easy enter the dbname in the text box click create then create the tables you need check it out

[metalator]

Thats exactly what I'm gonna do.

There ar so many php, apache and mySQL installation kits, and i tried several of them... i always find a some kind of problem with each of them.

Usually, when i chnage the passrowd for root, then i have no way of gettgn back in? is there a trick to this?

Can someone recommend something that will get php, apache and especially mySQL running instantly?