Re: Using MySQL as the backend

Thank you, Gareth. I knew that I was dealing with a whole new beast that I
am not familiar with at all. I've been given the task to learn MySQL and
have our existing databases converted to that format. I need to learn MySQL,
do the conversion, and have it tested by the end of this year. I bought a
book and it's like reading a foreign language! If you have a suggested site
that provides a tutorial on MySQL, I'd greatly appreciate knowing it.
Otherwise, I'll continue to do my research on tutorials and such.

Based on your explanation, it sounds like I need to install MySQL on a
server to make this work. Also, do you know if I have to work directly using
the command line or is there a GUI interface that I can use to simplify the
process of building a whole new backend database?

Thanks,
Nyla

"Gareth" wrote:

> I'm not an expert (or anywhere close) but, from reading your post I get
> the impression you're not familiar with the concept of a server DB. I
> think some background might help you - forgive me if you already know
> all this.
>
> Access (and indeed its OpenOffice equivalent BASE) are filebased
> databases (although BASE is capable of other things besides). The user
> doesn't need to have Access installed to access the database, rather
> they just need to have the MS Jet engine (which comes with MS Office
> 2000 and greater) installed.
>
> It's this engine that does all the work. And because it's filebased -
> rather than server based - all the work is done on the user's machine.
> Therefore if you're connecting over a WAN to the DB file there's a fair
> amount of traffic between the file and the user's machine while the Jet
> engine runs the query.
>
> A server based database on the other hand (e.g. mySQL, MS SQL Server,
> Oracle) does all the work on the server. The user's machine will pass a
> query to the server, which will do the grunt work locally and then pass
> the query results back to the machine. There's far less traffic - just a
> bit of authentication, handshaking, passing the query and getting the
> recordset back. Hence, you're right, over a WAN this will be far, far
> quicker than Access (or any filebased database).
>
> But... this is a whole new world. You need to have a server. You need to
> be able to back up your server -- it's no longer a simple file (or few
> files). You need to know that your server is spec'd sufficiently to
> handle the workload. You need to make sure your SQL is syntactically
> correct for MySQL. Most of Access SQL will be but you will likely find
> differences with JOINS, Dates or maybe concatenating strings - I haven't
> used mySQL much.
>
> The two files you have downloaded will help you set up a mySQL database
> but it's nowhere near as simple as setting up an Access database. I
> suggest you get your hands on a book or study an online tutorial (there
> are plenty) in order to get to grips with it.
>
> HTH,
> Gareth
>
>
>
> Nyla K wrote:
> > I'm not sure where to go to pose this question, but I hope that someone can
> > point me in the right direction. (I've e-mailed the support group at MySQL,
> > but I haven't received a response.)
> >
> > I read that using MySQL as the backend will greatly improve the speed in a
> > WAN environment. I've downloaded the MySQL Server 4.1 and I can't seem to
> > install the server or maybe I have it installed but I just don't know how to
> > open the program. The only options I have after the download is MySQL
> > Command Line Client and MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard. What do
> > I do and where do I go from here? This is my first time using MySQL and I'm
> > completely confused.
> >
> > ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Nyla
> >
> >
>
.

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