Whether you are an experienced web programmer or a complete novice attempting to provide data interactivity with your web site, MyQSL is an easy to use and free database solution that can allow you to store and configure data to be displayed on your web site.The best way to create and manage a MySQL database is to download an open source (free) program called PhpMyAdmin. PHPMyAdmin allows you to manage all aspects of both your database structure and data from one easy to use interface. This tool is intended to handle
administration of MySQL over Web.
This tool provides an interface that allows you to create and drop databases, create, drop, or alter tables, delete, edit, or add fields, execute any SQL statement, manage keys on fields, manage privileges, and import and export data into various formats. That sounds like a complicated set of activities, but easy to use graphical tools make things quite simple and easy to understand. If you make a mistake, software even provides instructions on where you made your error.
For a complete demo see: http://www.phpmyadmin.net/phpMyAdmin/ For documentation visit: http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/docs.php
Most Linux based web hosting companies provide PhpMyAdmin as a standard feature with their packages. It is also available in a “Windows” IIS version. If your hosting provider does not already have this product installed they will often install it for you, or even allow you to install it yourself. Setup is quick and easy if you follow step-by-step installation documentation.
Step One: Creating your new database
When you log in to your PhpMyAdmin welcome page, first step is to enter a name for your new database in a text box provided. You can name your database anything that you wish, however if you are creating database to use with a script or software package that you purchased somewhere, script provider will often suggest a “preferred” database name. You should always create your database using following format:
username_ databasename Example: myusername_mydatabase Your complete database name should always begin with your username followed by an underscore, then followed by database name. This allows server to know which user is in control of new database, and it will also provide permission to access database to only specific users. This also allows different users on same server to use same name for their own database, as you did, without interfering with your data – that is helpful if more than one user on your server bought similar software for their own site. They can then also use software providers “preferred” database name.
Step Two: Creating a table for your new database
After you have created a database, next step is to create a table, or even multiple tables, for you to store data. A table is part of your new database that actually stores data.
You create a table by selecting database that you created from drop box list of databases. Once a database is selected a new form appears and asks for you to create a new table.
You must decide what you want to name your table and enter that name into name box. Try to choose a name that reflects type of data that will be stored in table, such as orders, users, or inventory.
You then must decide how many “fields” or columns of data that you want to store for each record. If you need for table to store five (5) different items, such as username, users email address, users telephone number, users account number, and users age, than you would need five (5) fields. Simply enter number 5 in appropriate box. Once you hit create, system will create a table and will add those fields into table for you. Don’t worry about number of fields you might need right now, as you can always add or delete fields later.
