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Beginning SQL

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B<br />

Setting Up and Using the<br />

Five Database Systems<br />

This appendix covers how to install the five database systems supported by this book. It also covers<br />

enough detail on using each database system to enable you to create the example database<br />

used throughout the book. This appendix also shows you how each database system allows you to<br />

enter and run <strong>SQL</strong> queries. With the knowledge gained here, you’ll be in a position to create the<br />

example database and try out all of the <strong>SQL</strong> examples in the book. The coverage of each database<br />

system is quite brief, and although it is sufficient for this book, each of the database systems comes<br />

with help files and tutorials that help you learn more.<br />

Installing and Using My<strong>SQL</strong> Version 4.1<br />

The first thing you need to do is download the My<strong>SQL</strong> database installation files from<br />

www.mysql.com. The direct link is http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/4.1.html.<br />

At the time of writing, version 4.1 is the latest version for new developments. You often find beta<br />

versions of the My<strong>SQL</strong> software, but these are not 100 percent stable, and so they carry risks. The<br />

front-end interface for My<strong>SQL</strong> is fairly limited, but there are a number of add-on consoles you can<br />

install that make administering My<strong>SQL</strong> and writing queries much easier. In addition to the<br />

My<strong>SQL</strong> binaries, there are helpful tools such as My<strong>SQL</strong> Administration console and the My<strong>SQL</strong><br />

Query Browser, all of which can be downloaded from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/.<br />

Also available is My<strong>SQL</strong> Control Center. This tool is slightly older and no longer in development,<br />

but at the time of writing, it was more reliable than My<strong>SQL</strong> Query Browser. In addition, My<strong>SQL</strong><br />

Control Center allows more than one query to be executed simultaneously. However, Query<br />

Browser gives more details when there are errors in your <strong>SQL</strong>, and as it’s developed, Query<br />

Browser is likely to get more and more reliable. In fact, there’s no harm in installing both if you<br />

wish, though this book uses My<strong>SQL</strong> Query Browser.<br />

Begin by installing My<strong>SQL</strong> database, which is based on the Windows version and shows the<br />

Windows screenshots. Most of what’s said here also applies to other operating systems.<br />

Having downloaded the install files, click Start ➪ Run and browse to the My<strong>SQL</strong> database install file.

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