Empirically learning My SQL #1, Saving recrods

Where are you going to end up with this?  Are you going to be using a programming language to access the database?  A big note: MySQL (and MS SQL and most SQLs) are servers that are not intended for desktop use like Access is.  Any desktop app is outside of MySQL.

On the web, the most common admin application is 'phpMyAdmin' which is a PHP app that talks directly to the MySQL server.  If you edit something, you just click 'Go' and it's done.  It's not saved until you 'Apply' it.  If you are on web hosting, you will normally only be allowed access to your own database and tables.  If you are the host or on your own computer, you would often use 'root' for total access.

I only have MySQL Workbench on one computer here and that was to answer a question on EE.  I think the 'localhost' connection is semi-automatic because for an admin app, that is the most common.  You can connect to remote installations if you have permission and it is available thru the firewalls.

Just to refresh my memory, I fired up MySQL Workbench.  It is a lot like SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) for Microsoft SQL Server.  It is very much an admin tool and not the way people use MySQL when they are coding an application.

nemws1,
Thanks for your reply

Workbench's GUI, unfortunately, doesn't read the constraints on the table beforehand.  It just reads in field1, field2, field3, etc.

OK, ..thanks

Now, nothing prevents you from inserting whatever value you want in an auto_increment field.  If th new value is greater than the old index value, the next index value will be your value plus one.

Yes, But I actually could enter text and non-sequential  numbers... Again, I can save  it and reopen it and still see these "invalid" entries...
But to be clear, I did click "apply" and nothing failed, the data was saved when I reopened the file

Now I realize that only after I connect to the "Server" (whether remote or local) can I truly test the column settings

_________________________________________________________________________________________

DaveBaldwin,
Thanks for your reply...

Where are you going to end up with this?

...Yes the goal is to eventually end up developing Apps with PHP,... My goal here was just to get familiar with the Database design aspects of MySQL.
So my feeling was that I could do things locally for now, then move up to a "Server" later.

BTW, I did eventually get the updates to work when I made a connection to the "local server"
I was just confused as to what use the "Inserts" tab was useful for?
...if you can simply type in whatever you wanted...

Here was my "Empirical" thinking:
1. Download and Install MySQL
2. Open Workbench and design a simple table.
3. Open this table and test my column settings.

What I mean here is that you can actually do all three of the above steps, but nothing tells you that in order to really "test" your table, you have to connect to your local server.
Again, what is the purpose of having a "Inserts" tab available, if it is meaningless until you connect to a server.  (why not grey it out until you are connected to a server?)

What I mean is, Workbench will let you install itself locally, then lets you design a table, then it allows you to click an "Inserts" tab and let's you immediately violate all of the column settings you just made...
;-)


Again, thanks for all of your replies, the purpose of this post is to document my journey of learning MySQL
 

Thanks to you both.

;-)

JeffCoachman

If you're going to use PHP, you would be much better off using phpMyAdmin which won't let you do some of those kinda silly things you noted.  It will also generate SQL statements and PHP code that you can actually use.  Web hosting with PHP and MySQL is available for as little as $36 for a year at Godaddy.  For that you get a web host that supports PHP with MySQL supported by phpMyAdmin.  That is what most of us use.  I prefer Linux hosting but I also have Windows hosting from Godaddy that also supports PHP, MySQL, and phpMyAdmin.
http://www.godaddy.com/hosting/web-hosting.aspx?ci=9009

Dave,

Thanks for your comments.
<I think you would be better served by learning MySQL by learning PHP first. >

I tried that, but I am somewhat weak at SQL, and since the DB is the backbone, I would like to focus in on that first.
If I end up with an in-efficient, un-normalized design, the user interface won't matter much...
;-)

But I will look into the tools you mentioned.

Thanks for being patient, informed and understanding.

;-)

JeffCoachman

thanks!

You're welcome and thanks for the points.  I think you'll find PHP/MySQL actually easier in the long run than Access is.  The split is actually more like HTML/CSS for presentation in a page with javascript when you need something active in the client, PHP for program logic and MySQL for the database.  Basic SQL is not that hard.

The one catch is that you have 3 'languages' to use, javascript, PHP, and (My)SQL.  While they are all similar in many ways, the details sometimes make you stop and think, "Which one am I using?".

Thnaks Dave...

To make a long story (kinda) short...
As you know MS Access is having a tough time transitioning to the web.
So either you go the Sharepoint route (if you want to stay with MS and Access), or bump up to .Net/SQL Server.
The Web guy at my company now, uses PHP/MYSQL
...and you can't beat the price..
...So I figure I'd go that route and be consistent

Thanks Again for all your help...
;-)

Jeff

Sounds like a good plan and decision.  And frankly, much easier than .Net/SQL Server.