It is sometimes daunting for a beginner to configure and use the MySQL database engine. A good GUI can help no end. My favourite Windows-based GUI is called DBManager, and is available from www.dbtools.com.br.

This tutorial assumes you have read and followed my two earlier tutorials, on installing Apache and PHP, and on installing MySQL.

Using DBManager to Configure MySQL

Downloading DBManager

After finding the www.dbtools.com.br site, and selecting either Portuguese or English, you need to find the Download link. There is only a free version available at the moment, so follow that link. You will be asked for a few bits of personal information, before you get to the download page.

Installing DBManager

Just locate where you downloaded the file and double-click. It installs quickly.

Just note that the database server must be installed before DBManager. It should also be noted that DBManager will control PostgreSQL as well as MySQL databases.

Creating a Server Connection

Launch DBManager. Click on the Server Manager button.

This opens the Server Manager panel. Click on the New Server button on this panel.

We are now going to make a temporary root connection. The Server type should be MySQL. The Server Name can be whatever you want. The Hostname is the name or IP address of the computer on which the server is hosted. For development purposes, it is easiest to use "localhost". Note that you can make any number of Server Connections, so you could use a remote IP address to administer a server from your ISP, without messing around with phpmyadmin. The username will be root, and the password is left blank for the moment. For remote connections, you would use the username and password given. Also for remote connections, you would often have to specify the particular database being used, whereas for our development server, we leave this blank.

You can now save the connection, and test it. The test button has a lightning strike on it. You may get a box asking for a password. Since we have not yet set a password, just click OK. You should get a message telling you that you have successfully connected. If not, you will need to check back through all your settings. If you have been successful, you can close the Server Manager.

In the server control window, double-click on the new connection you have made. You will be asked for a password. Again, click OK without entering a password. your connection will now show a green mark, indicating it is connected.

In the workspace tree, right-click over Users and select User/Group Manager. We are going to make a general all purpose user, with full rights, but with a password. Fill in a suitable username and password. The hostname will be localhost. Database is left at *, to use all databases. Tick every box. Click create.

Right-click over your connection, and select disconnect. You can now open the Server Manager again. create a second Server Connection, using the new username and password. Test it, and try connecting to it through the workspace. You should now delete the first Server Connection you made, but not the user. You can, if you wish, create a password for the root user. This is strongly to be recommended, particularly if you setting up a deployment server, rather than just one for development.

You could set up other users, if you wish, that have only limited permission. For instance, you could set up a user that only has permission to one database.

I will now give the briefest of hints on how to make databases and tables, though you will find the program easy to use as you get used to it.

Creating Databases

With Databases selected in the workspace, click on the Create Database button.

Creating Tables

With Tables selected in the appropriate database, click on the Table Editor button.

Reloading a dump

If you have a dump file, created by another MySQL admin program, or perhaps downloaded as a text file, we can reload this. Make sure the file extension is changed from .txt to .sql.

Click on Tools > Reload a dump

Navigate to your dump file, and click open. All the SQL commands in the file will be executed.

If I ever get time, I will produce a larger tutorial on the use of DBManager, but for now, this should be enough to get you working easily with MySQL databases. You should now get a good book on using Dreamweaver MX with PHP, and I recommend "Dreamweaver MX: PHP Web Development" by Downes-Powell, Green and Mairlot, published by Glasshaus. Or just follow some of the premium content tutorials on the subject, but using DBManager to create the databases and tables.

Paul Taylor