uploading data on local machine to mysql

how to do it?

[HelenDev]

I used to use MS Access to create/update a database and then used an ODBC driver to export it from my PC to the mysql database.

I now want to do something similar but no longer have access to ahem, Access.

What are my options? I have installed openoffice but I can't even seem to find a database utility. I'm probably being a total duffer so perhaps someone can steer me in the right direction!

Cheers,
Helen.

[coopster]

You could use one of the MySQL clients. I'm a command line guy, myself, but there are a couple of decent utilities. dbdesigner is one I have heard spoken of highly.

[HelenDev]

You could use one of the MySQL clients

Could you explain a bit more about this coopster?

I probably should also mention that I don't want to spend any money ;)

Has anyone else managed to use openoffice with MySql? I'm sure it can be done but I'm really struggling. I have now managed to find the database tools so I'm getting somewhere!

[coopster]

Sure, but first off, I might have made an incorrect assumption -- you stated you used to use MS Access for creating/updating databases and tables. Do you currently have a database on your local pc then? You mentioned you were using MySQL so I assumed you were running the MySQL database on your local pc, maybe you aren't...?

If not, you can download and install the MySQL database for FREE and run a copy on your local pc. Then, you can either use MySQL's command line interface or a number of FREE client development tools, including dbdesigner [fabforce.net] or MySQL Control Center [dev.mysql.com]. Now you have effectively replaced your need for a database, and done it quite effectively might I add ;)

[HelenDev]

Thanks for replying, coopster :)

Do you currently have a database on your local pc then?

Not really. I downloaded openoffice in the hope that it had something like access on it, and it does seem to have some database tools, but I am finding them a bit tricky to use.

you can download and install the MySQL database for FREE and run a copy on your local pc

That sounds good :) I have a couple of questions about this though:

Do I need to install a personal web server before I can install mysql or can it run on it's own?

Also, is the interface a bit like Access, or is it like phpmyadmin? The reason I ask this is that phpmyadmin is OK but it's a bit time consuming if I want to enter loads of rows of data. I would like an interface which is more like access in that I can copy and paste loads of cells/rows then update in one go.

Cheers,
Helen.

[coopster]

Do I need to install a personal web server before I can install mysql or can it run on it's own?

No, no http server is necessary (but you may want to look into Apache at some point, too!). MySQL is itself a server (process) that runs on it's own. As a matter of fact, with Windows you can install it as a service so you can stop and start it just like any other Windows service.

As far as interface, I'm not sure what will work for you. As I said before, I'm a CLI (command line interface) user. I often use a spreadsheet to create data or move data around, but I save it as tab-delimited text and then use the command line to load the data into MySQL via a batch file.

mysql -u userid -p databasename < batchfile.txt

[edited by: coopster at 5:06 pm (utc) on July 29, 2004]

[HelenDev]

OK, I've downloaded MySql.

Now, I'm not sure if I have installed it right, I just double clicked the setup.exe icon and now I have a folder at C:\mysql with some files in it. Now, I do realise there is a whole load of documentation about installing it, none of which makes much sense and might take me the rest of my natural life to read, so I didn't. Please don't be mad at me although I probably deserve it ;)

Now, how do I make it work?

I also installed mysql administrator but this is asking me for information about a connection to the mysql server instance, which I don't understand.

Help!

[coopster]

I don't even use that tool. If I remember correctly, by default the Administrator fires up and tries to make things easier. Anybody using it want to advise HelenDev here?

Typically, what I do is locate the

my.ini

file (usually in

C:\Windows

). You only really need a couple of entries in here. If you want, you can comment the rest out by putting a hash mark (#) in front of any line you don't need.

[mysqld] 
basedir=C:/mysql 
# This is a comment 
datadir=C:/mysql/data

Then, I create my own little Windows command prompt window as a shortcut to

c:\mysql\bin

. At the command prompt you can start using the mysql command line commands.

[caspita]

Hi HelenDev,

You can download and use [mysqlfront.de...] for free I think .. I use the 2.5 version and is very good, if you installed mysql with the default settings it should be able to open it rigth away with no issues at all.

I just saw that there is a new 3.1 version which is free for only 30 days .. I'm not sure if they started to charge no for it, but at least for the 2.5 they didn't.

You can see the screenshots in their website.

CS.

[HelenDev]

Thanks for all your help guys :)

I am now working in notepad and it is quick and easy.

I made a sql dump of one of my databases, saw what the file looked like and that it was pretty simple, and I'm now quite happy hand coding it myself, and it's probably just as quick as using any other interface.

[jatar_k]

>> notepad

try textpad or some other higher level text editor that has syntax highlighting and all the other little tools. It will make your life easier and more colourful. ;)