i am new to mySQL Database

[AndrewB]

hey all how does mySQL work for Databases can any one say about this?

[stymiee]

MySQL works great. It's why so many people use it.

[zephyrireland]

I love MySQL , great database and there are loads of support for it on the web, from scripts, SQL Extracts and DBMS items also.
Best of luck with it !

[jganders]

its magic.

[pagetta]

I am thinking of using mySQL database to create a log-in section of our website where you can access our resources. I have absolutely no experience with databases although i have done a fair bit of php for forms etc. How easy/difficult will it be for me to pick up my SQL? any tips?!

[jganders]

Pagetta,
If you are working for, or own outright, the 3 websites on your tag line then you and/or your associates most likely are already using a database. If so, then the database most likely uses SQL. That'll give you a leg-up learning mySQL. There are tons of websites that use mySQL and the owners dont have to know SQL cuz it's all installed and configured seamlessly as part of an ecommerce or cms package. If you can find a packaged php/mySQL solution that meets your needs then you are in luck. If your data is of a unique nature then you, or someone on your staff, should really take a primer in relational database concepts. Without a good working knowledge of RDB (relational databases), it is easy to get stumped in trying to write SQL to get your data reported the way you want. You may write SQL that you think works but actually delivers erroneous results. You may write inefficient SQL that makes your website very slow. You may write DML (data modification language) SQL to insert, update, or delete data, that ends up corrupting your data. A poorly designed and implemented RDB will hurt rather than help you. I've outsourced some of my work to Elance firms and been disappointed in their SQL knowledge as evidenced in their deliverables. So I now have to write detailed specs for them, including a full set of DDL (data definition language) SQL for any new tables. At any rate, you have to QA all of the work of anyone who is charging you only $10/hr.

[irodgers]

My advice would be that if your site is fairly small just plunge in and don't worry unduly about efficiency problems. You can't go wrong. If you do go wrong you can fix it

But have a go on a smallish site with a small database to begin with.

[pagetta]

jganders thanks for the advice - i look after 2/3 sites in my sig niether currently use mySQL databases but we want to implement a log in on Codestone. Orbis already uses one so the webmaster for that site is able to offer some support with implmenting onto Codestone but I'm hoping that I will be able to get to grips with it asap so i don't commandeer too much of his time.

[wige]

Check out Amazon.com: PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (2nd Edition) (Visual QuickPro Guide): Books: Larry Ullman
When I started doing web design, I didn't know much about MySQL, and nothing about PHP, but this guide helped me with both. It has a lot of examples, including creating a username/password system powered by MySQL, and even covers some of the security issues involved.

Not a plug, just a resource that worked for me. I have seen a lot of tutorials, but none that were as good a reference as the book.

[jganders]

Maybe you dont need a database solution if all you want is to open up certain htdoc directories to customers or approved users. Put all the resource files on which you want to control access into a directory named 'resources' for instance. You can put html and php files in here as well. Then protect the directory with Basic or Digest authentication. Apache explanation is here: Authentication, Authorization, and Access Control.
When someone tries to browse to a file in 'resources' they get the little popup widow requiring userid/pswd. People would have to email you a request to get access or you could just map your customer file to .htaccess using their name as userid and invoice# as the password.