mySql tutorial hell- can anyone help?

[mitya]

Hi all

I've spent the night trying to do beginners' mySql tutorials, but they all seem, er, rubbish. Why? Because they all assume you're working from your own server and have access to the bin, dump etc (whatever they are) and can modify files and all sorts of things. I haven't found one which takes the standpoint of someone working on a web server.

Though competent in PHP/AS etc, I'm totally new to mySql and web databasing in general. Can anyone recommend any decent tuturials which don't require you to have your own server? You'd be doing me a massive favour.

Thanks in advance.

[PunkSktBrdr01]

What do you mean by "have your own server"? If you don't have MySQL running, how could you try anything?

[mitya]

'Have your own server' as in be running it all on your own machine. Have access to the bin and dump files etc (like I said) and using dos prompts and all this sort of stuff...

I'm using a web host which supports mySqal, so surely all of this is non-applicable. I want to find out how to learn mySql using a host's server rather than my own, as most tutorials cater for.

Regards.

[pecoes]

You should always get your entire application/database working before you upload it to the production-server. Install a testing-server on your own machine and do all the experimenting and developing offline! Especially when you're an absolute beginner and certain to start off with some major ****ups!
I know, installing server software can be a bit daunting when you're new to web development. But believe me, it'll pay off fast.

These German guys offer a simple installer (Window/Linux) for the whole shebang Apache/PHP/Perl/MySQL and lots of goodies:

http://www.apachefriends.org (http://www.apachefriends.org/index-en.html)

[mitya]

Thanks, I'll take a look.

I do have a server environment on my system at the moment, namely PHP Triad. I have Apache and mySql, but there's no help for actually using mySql. Tutorials say things like enabling the dump to be put in the database, and making 'command lines' but that's all jargon to me.

If only stuff came with some simple information.

[pecoes]

What do you want me to do - show you a way how to use MySQL without learning SQL and without learning how to interact with the server from the Command Line? You will have to learn that stuff!

As for tutorials, this one's nice:

http://www.analysisandsolutions.com

Just jump over the sections that tell you how to install MySQL - which you seem to have "done" already.

You should also download MySQL's official documentation. It makes a bad read, but it's handy as a referrence.

And here's a nice book:

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/msql2/

[mitya]

What do you want me to do - show you a way how to use MySQL without learning SQL and without learning how to interact with the server from the Command Line? You will have to learn that stuff!

Not in the slightest, I've taught myself PHP, AS and a load of other stuff so I don't think my learning credentials need questioning. I'm not after freebies, merely direction.

My gripe was only with the fact that the server I have says nothing of how to access mySql. As a beginner, I've just found most 'introductory' tutorials to be anything but.

[PunkSktBrdr01]

Try phpMyAdmin:

http://www.phpmyadmin.net

That'll let you use MySQL without having to do command line stuff. I've never installed MySQL or phpMyAdmin, though...

[mitya]

Yeah I've heard that come up a few times so I think I'll give it a go.

Cheers.