Getting started with MySQL

[mat106]

Hi.

I'm completely new to MySQL. My host has MySQL installed and i'd like to experiment with using it but don't know how to get started. I know i have to create a table and put some data in it but i don't know how to connect to the server or database (if that's what i have to do?!?)

Where would i go to get started?

[Brandoe85]

Search google for mysql tutorials. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mysql+tutorial&btnG=Google+Search

[mat106]

Yeah i've done that but any tutorial i read seems to assume that i know how to connect to the database which i don't :(. I haven't installed MySQL locally. It's on the hosts server.

[Brandoe85]

You host should provide you with what you need to connect to it. Do they provide you with phpmyadmin or something in that matter that lets you connect? If not, you'll have to contact them and see how you can connect.

[mat106]

Thanks. Will check and see.

[Yaggles]

If your host has CPanel on their server and allows you to access the mysql part, then it should have your database name and database username with a string for connecting to it with PHP and Perl. An example is:
<?
$dbh=mysql_connect ("localhost", "username", "<PASSWORD HERE>") or die ('I cannot connect to the database because: ' . mysql_error());
mysql_select_db ("database");
?>

That is how you do so in PHP.