Finding and Using MySQL & PHPMyAdmin

Understanding MySQL

SQL stands for Structured Query Language, MySQL is "Open Source" so entry level versions are free to use. This is why shared hosting prices are next to zilch these days. This question asking programming language and server is like accessing and storing information and worthless trivia in your brain for display or alteration later.

The MySQL Dolphin Icon will show a web-based interface where you can create a database (some hosting companies only allow one) and add a user to the database. The interface is not so intuitive because it's sort of "out of order" in steps you take to make "create yourself" as a user to access and edit it and then add you, the new user, to the Database.

Once you have all of that absorbed, let's see the Right-Brain how-to:

1. Login to cPanel
2. Click MySQL Databases
   
3. Create MySQL Databases, enter database name. Write down this db name, we will use it on Joomla Installation. REMEMBER: your db name will be: cPanelUsername_dbName. THEY WILL ADD A PREFIX SOMETIMES - COPY IT!
   
4. Create database user, enter username and password. Write down username and password, we will use them on Joomla Installation. REMEMBER: your db username will be: cPanelUsername_dbUsername.
    
5. THEY WILL ADD A PREFIX TO YOUR USERNAME SOMETIMES - COPY IT TOO!
6. DON'T MAKE THE USERNAME AND PASSWORD THE SAME AS YOUR FTP.. VERY BAD!
   
7. Add user to database, select user and database.
   
8. Manage user privileges, select all privileges.
   
9. Done! Just REMEMBER your db name will be: cPanelUsername_dbName and your db username will be cPanelUsername_dbUsername.

Now you have a database that is named and ready to have tables in it and hold data (information- sheesh)

What the heck is "PHPMyAdmin?"

- That's a great question. Here's why: THE NAME, it says nothing about DataBase Administration or MySQL. This is the usual experience when you have a programmer names a really cool application and hopes it never gets marketed - they hate marketing. That's OK, we Marketers don't get MUD's :-) 

You see, these people are "Left-Brainers" and thinking of a name for something that is already intutive for them is not relevent. I thought it was a program that let you create WYSIWYG PHP pages - I should be so lucky. But Dreamweaver does to an extent and we need this thing.

So, here's what it is: It's an interface for administering databases and their tables made in PHP. SeewhatImean?

You can find PHPMyAdmin on CPANEL when you click the MySQL Dolphin logo. Then you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom to see an inconspicuous link that says PHPMyAdmin.

Some control panels have started to provide separate links to this nifty interface. Once you find it open another browser window and go here: http://www.micfo.com/flash/php.htm and you'll find a flash tutorial on how to use it.

PHPMyAdmin will give you access to your database where you can create Tables, Records and Rows for storing information from you webpage so that PHP can display it on "Dynamic" pages.

You are now ready to start the Dreamweaver tutorials and connect the software to your DataBase - Click Here