Need help with mySQL...

likeglue

Ok, I downloaded the latest version of mySQL (4.0.24), and installed it. Now what? How do I connect to it to create a database? And how does this all come together with php? Also, I heard it's a good idea to get a GUI when dealing with mySQL because the regular monitor interface is extremely hard to use. Is this correct? If so, can someone recommend one? What is phpMyAdmin?

This shiz is confusing the heck out of me...

ShawnK

Before phpMyAdmin came out pretty much the only way to do tasks was to login to the mysql server and run commands from the shell or to create a php page for every creation you need.

phpMyAdmin[http://www.phpmyadmin.net/] is a GUI(graphical user interface) that makes tasks like creating databases, tables, and other tasks. I recommend it because it is fairly easy to install and is very powerfull. It also is open-source like php and mysql.

Drakla

MySQL Control Centre is also a great help - it's available from MySQL itself.

likeglue

How do I open the mySQL monitor? I downloaded mySQL alright, and also phpMyAdmin, now how do I open either to start talking to mySQL to create the databases?

Your help is GREATLY appreciated! Rock on...

bradgrafelman

PhpMyAdmin comes with Documentation to get you started (Documentation.html). Read that and it will tell you what you need to know to set up PhpMyAdmin.

Once you install it and begin creating your databases/tables, you will need some code to connect to your MySQL databse from PHP scripts. Read up on [man]MySQL[/man] in the PHP.net manual.

You sound like you're JUST getting started with all of this. Two good pieces of advice: don't take on too much too quickly, PHP and MySQL don't just come overnight; don't take on too much too quickly and expect people to spoon-feed you answers, as this doesn't help you learn NEARLY as much as starting simple and working your way up by yourself or with minimal help.

likeglue

Yeah I know, I am trying to learn too much too fast. Unfortunately, my employers are expecting me to pick up on this as quickly as possible. We recently had our php guy skip town on us, and so it was only me and the other graphic designer left, so I was nominated to learn php since I was the only one in the place with even any Access experience! My problem is I can't even seem to get up and running. I checked out the documentation for phpMyAdmin and it says I have to change the host, password, etc. in the config file, and that I should refer to mySQL for that, which I can't seem to find the info! The book I have is vague and no help. Seems I have Apache working because I can write some simple php in a text editor and preview it in a browser with "localhost", now if I could just get PHP and mySQL all up and running and talking to each other I'd be in business, but it's driving me crazy!

This is nuts. I'm used to downloading a program, clicking on the icon and the interface opens up, ready to use (Macs make life easy, that's why I like them). Now with mySQL, phpMyAdmin and php, there's all this runaround and coding and configuring just to get them working! Is there a clear, concise, step by step instruction guide for all of this out there somewhere?

Jeeeesh. That felt good. Got the ranting out of my system.

thorpe

if you just want to get up and running so you can start learning (not to run as a production server), you might be best off to download and install an all in one package.

i have used xampp when i first got started. it sets up apache,php,mysql,phpmyadmin and a bunch of other cool stuff.

dont forget to uninstall whatever you have first.

likeglue

Holy crap, that sounds like my dream come true! A couple of questions. Should I uninstall Apache since it already ships with Mac OSX and is built in to the operating system? Also, I can easily take out the phpMyAdmin stuff, since it downloaded to my desktop, but mySQL and PHP got downloaded to an unspecified place on my Macintosh hardrive, and quite honestly I don't know exactly where it put everything. I don't want to go around deleting anything with php or mySQL because I might delete something important. Any clue?

Also, what exactly is meant by "not to be used in a production environment"?

Sounds good, thanks for the tip...

thorpe

i know nothing of macs. but i would uninstall everything. especially apache. you dont want too web servers trying to share the same port.

surely there is some uninstall app? do macs use rpm packages?

as for the 'production server' comment. i would not suggest using one of these pre-made packages as a webserver that is to be available to the www. there good for quickly getting a learning environmet going, but once you are more comfortable, you can get a much better setup if you compile the required software yourself.