Chapter 2. Creating and Populating a Database
This chapter will provide you with the information you need to create your first database and to create the tables and associated data used for the examples in this book. You will also learn about various data types and see how to create tables using them. Because the examples in this book are executed against a MySQL database, this chapter is somewhat skewed toward MySQL’s features and syntax, but most concepts are applicable to any server.
Creating a MySQL Database
If you already have a MySQL database server available for your use, you can start with item number 8 in the instructions below. Keep in mind, however, that this book assumes that you are using MySQL Version 4.1.11 or later, so you may want to consider upgrading your server or installing another server if you are using an earlier release.
The following instructions will show you the minimum steps required to install a MySQL server on a Windows computer, create a database, and load the sample data for this book:
Download the MySQL Database Server (Version 4.1.7 or later) from http://dev.mysql.com. Unless you are planning to use the server for more than just a training tool, you should download the Essentials Package, which includes only the commonly used tools, instead of the Complete Package.
Launch the installation by double-clicking on the downloaded file.
Install the server using the “typical install.” The installation should be quick and painless, but feel free to consult the ...
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