MySQL Manager

Look for online games at the websites. There you will find a large amount of free online games for people to play. Choose a certain theme for your own database, or decide to showcase a large variety of games.

Make a huge list of games, and separate them accordingly into themes. Put the card games together, and put the interactive games like Mario Brothers together.

Choose a free web provider such as the one of the three provided in the Resources section. If you do a blog in WordPress about games and include reviews, you can attract more attention.

Place all of the game links on the blog or page you have built. Include all the titles about each game link. If you know any HTML, you can make the titles go live.

Email your friends about your new page and get the word out. Ask them to pass it on to other gamers and to start playing. This is now an online gaming database for all to use.

Determine the questions the study will answer. These questions could include:

• Which store has the lowest average prices?

• Which store has the largest discounts?

• Which stores have the lowest prices in each product category?

This example will only address the first question.

Determine what information will be needed to answer the question. Draw samples of reports in rough form that provide measures and statistics. In this example, a report that lists the total price per store will determine which has the lowest total price.

Determine the objects and events necessary to create the report. These become the tables in the database.

Stores -- the location where the products are sold,

Products -- Which products will be compared,

Prices -- the price of a particular product at a specific store on a certain day.

Determine the items that describe each object or event. These become the columns.

Stores -- Store identifier (either a number or a short abbreviation) and store name.

Products -- Product identifier (short name), product quantity or size to make sure identical items are compared, and category so we can answer question three later.

Prices -- Store, product, date and price.

Create the physical database. Depending on the database product used, this may involve setting up tables or writing scripts. Below are scripts in T/SQL (Microsoft SQL Server) to create the tables.

Create Table Stores (

StoreID varchar(10) Primary Key,

StoreName varchar(50)

)

Create Table Products(

ProductID varchar(15) Primary Key,

ProductName varchar(50),

Size varchar(50),

Category varchar(15)

)

Create Table Prices (

PriceID int identity Primary Key,

StoreID varchar(1) References Stores,

ProductID varchar(15) References Products,

Price money,

PriceDate datetime

)

Collect the data. Create forms or spreadsheets to enter the data then collect prices from the store's newspaper or mailed advertisements or from the shelves at the stores. Gather a sufficient number of prices from each store to collect a good sample.

Create a report that analyzes the data. Run the report and determine your conclusions.

Download the WAMP or XAMPP package from the web.

Follow the wizard and complete the installation.

Test that the installation is working by opening your browser and typing "Localhost" on the address bar. A message should appear saying "It Works!" Use the documentation that comes with the package in order to configure other optional settings.

Set up a database if required. Click on the PHPAdmin to configure and set up a database for each of your projects.

Locate the C:\Wamp\www or C:\XAMPP\www folder. This is the folder where you will place all your files, which could be HTML, scripts, images, etc., that you want to access via your browser.

Create different folders inside the "www" folder for the different web projects you want to undertake, and in each folder add the files for the project.

Navigate to your project files by opening your browser and on the address bar and typing the line below:

Localhost\

Replace the "" with the real folder name where your projects are saved.

Download and extract XAMPP from Apache Friends. XAMPP is a free software bundle that includes the Apache server, the server-side languages PHP and Perl, and the database management system MySQL.

Open xampp-control.exe from the main XAMPP folder. Go to the Control Panel, and click on "Start" next to "Apache" and "MySQL."

Open a web browser and go to "localhost/xampp". On the toolbar section, select "phpMyAdmin." This is a program that allows users to interact with databases through a visual user interface. It also enables them to write SQL code so they can see the results immediately.

Click on "Privileges" (underneath the "localhost" header), and select the root user. "Root" is phpMyAdmin's default username. Click on "Password," and create one. Ignore any error message. Open the main XAMPP folder, then the "phpMyAdmin" folder. Go to the "config.inc.php" file. Scroll down to find "Password." Enter password. Save the file, then log back into phpMyAdmin. This step is tedious, but without a password for the root user, there will be a massive security hole.

Click on the "Privileges" tab, and select "Add a New User." (Ideally for security and organization, every database created should have a different "user," all of which will be controlled by you.) Add the username, type "localhost" next to "Host," and enter the new password twice. Select the "Create Database With the SameName and Grant All Privileges" button. Skip the "Global Privileges" section, and click on "Go" at the bottom.

Select the newly created database on the left sidebar. The database is currently empty. Click on t the "SQL" tab near the top of the page. A box will come up that will allow you to run SQL queries (any SQL command).

Learn how to write SQL queries using the set of tutorials on W3 Schools, or another programming help website.

Test the new SQL queries and commands by inputting them into the SQL query box in phpMyAdmin. Toggle back and forth between the "Structure" and "SQL" tabs to see the work in action. After creating tables on the database, review them by selecting the "Browse" button to the right of the table names.

Learn the two required SQL statements

SELECT: Displays fields of data in the order written.
For Example, SELECT Field1, Field2, Field3
FROM: References the data source tables that the SELECT statement is choosing from.
For Example, FROM TableA

Enhance query with filtering and ordering.

WHERE: Creates conditions to filter result rows returned from SELECT and FROM statements.
For Example, WHERE Field1 = Some Value or Field
ORDER BY: Sorts the result set of rows by any Fields chosen in the SELECT statement.
For Example, ORDER BY Field2, Field1, Field3

Enhance Query using Aggregation Statements.

GROUP BY: Aggregates (Maximum, Sum, Count) the result set from Section 1.
For Example, GROUP BY Field1
HAVING: Creates the conditions to filter aggregated rows from the GROUP BY statement.
For Example, HAVING SUM(Field3) < 1000

Create hypothetical query using AS statement aliases

SELECT A.Employee as Emp, A.Department as Dept, SUM(A.Sales) as Sales
FROM Salary as A
WHERE A.Department in ('Sales1', 'Sales2') and A.Sales >=10000
GROUP BY A.Department, A.Employee
HAVING SUM(A.Sales) >= 250000
ORDER BY Dept, Emp, Sales

Note: The script above targets sales greater or equal to $10,000 from departments Sales1 and Sales2. It sums and automatically presorts those sales by department and employee, then filters the aggregate rows if greater or equal to $250,000. The fields are resorted, but keep the original column display order.

Purchase some used books that focus on SQL Server 2000. Since SQL Server 2000 is a much older database engine, new books are hard to find. However, used bookstores and libraries have books that cater to older software. Basic SQL syntax has not changed, so you can use some newer SQL Server books for SQL language guidance, but they aren't relevant for 2000 maintenance.

Read through Microsoft's Technet website that focuses on SQL Server 2000 management. This helps you learn Enterprise Manager and how to do basic maintenance such as creating a database and tables, creating users and configuring backups.

Read the SQL Server 2000 frequently asked questions. Microsoft provides a list of FAQs for common occurring issues. This helps when you are learning SQL Server 2000, and you are having issues with the installation or bugs.

Practice programming and maintenance on a live server that has the database engine installed. The "Enterprise Manager" software comes with the SQL Server 2000 engine installation. It is found in the "SQL Server 2000" program group in the Windows "Start" menu. Open it up and practice with the syntax and maintenance procedures found in Microsoft's resources and the books you purchased.

Join in and browse Microsoft's discussion communities. These communities are filled with experts in the field who can help you learn the software and troubleshoot issues common with the SQL Server 2000 engine.

Surf the online mixtape resources to look for songs by Z-Ro.

Type "Z-Ro", "Houston, TX", or "dirty south rap" in the search bar data form. Several results regarding Z-Ro's music and related material will be generated.

Access Z-Ro's Last.fm artist page to locate songs from his online radio stream. When the page loads, click the "Play Z-Ro Radio" button below the profile picture and photo stream in the middle of the page.

Play Z-Ro's songs on his official MySpace artist page. Click the "Play" button on the MySpace music player to play back streaming versions of the songs to find what you're looking for.

Go to the official YouTube website and type "Z-Ro" in the blank search bar. Suggested keyword searches, related to Z-Ro, will appear below the data form as you type. Click "Search" or click one of the suggested keyword searches to look for a specific song by Z-Ro on YouTube.

Search Z-Ro's discography online through a reputable third-party media vendor such as Amazon.com or CDUniverse.com. All of Z-Ro's songs and albums will be displayed, along with the release date and track listing of each album.

Click on each album's thumbnail image link, available on the third-party media vendor site, to view the album track list. A playback icon will be listed to the right of each track listing.

Click the playback icon to play a 30-second snippet of each song. Listen to each song until you find the one you are looking for.

Access MySpace and click the arrow button to the right of the search box.

Choose the "People," "MySpace," "Web," "Music," "Video," "Local" or "Images" option to categorize your search.

Type your search term(s) in the text field and click "Search."

Scroll through the next page to view your results. If you searched "People," use the "Filter Results" box to narrow your inquiry by specifying other data such as gender and ZIP code.

Make a list of who the users or consumers are likely to be. This will influence the presentation, availability and the content nature.

Group or stream the content based either on the type or subject matter of the documents. The grouping should be easily understood by consumers.

Create documents that are short and that address specific issues as opposed to those that address a range of issues. Since consumers want to make quick decisions, the broader the topics are, the harder it gets to make these "quick" decisions.

Select one format for the documents and stick with it for the entire knowledge base. Recommendations include HTML or PDF files.

Give alpha-numeric references to each document title to make it easier to direct consumers to another part of the knowledge base to get more information on a particular topic.

Establish a Quality System. This can be an editor who ensures that all the catalogued documents are accurate, all new documents added are unique and do not address a similar subject matter covered and that consumer feedback is responded to when necessary. The editor should also have a system set up that offers suggestions for other content consumers might like to look at.

Turn your database into an XML file using Stylus Studio. This is an advanced method of conversion that allows you to create a linked map containing elements of the database in your XML file and even perform queries on the information. When finished using the mapping tools, you can format the results in an XML file. You can try the program out for a period before purchasing.

Convert your database file to XML using YeoSoft MDB to XML Converter. This is a standalone utility that allows you to load the database file (it must have an MDB file extension) and then click "Convert" to turn it into XML format. You can change output options, such as borders, background color and font, then preview the finished result. Try out the software using the demo version first to get used to the conversion process.

Use XML converter offered by Rustemsoft to convert your database file into an XML document. You can perform the conversion on many different types of databases including those from Oracle, ODBC, MySQL and Microsoft Office. Navigate XML trees or grids containing references to your data after completing the conversion. You also can perform the conversion from the database application you're using. This paid software is available for free during a short trial period.

Determine the file format of the data to be exported out of MS Access. XML is the most popular and is used by both MS Access and SAP XI/PI.

Write the export program in MS/Access. This is done by opening the table to be exported. Under the tab "Table Tools" navigate to "External Data" and choose the XML file type. A very good source to learn detailed information on MS Access is the Functionx website.

Select a shared file directory which will be used to export the data out of MS Access and can be accessed by the SAP database.

Determine the timing of the MS/Access extract based on how critical the data is for the users and overall organizational needs. This could be daily, weekly or monthly. More critical is how the MS Access data will be submitted -- manually or via an automated schedule.

Write the SAP import program, which supports XML, to retrieve the exported data from the shared directory. This will be accomplished by the internal SAP development group and business users.

The timing for this import must be coordinated with the export of the MS Access data and scheduled in the SAP software accordingly. You may choose to use a third party process scheduling software, which would handle job scheduling of your various software vendors.

Ensure that there are both export and import logs that provide record counts and other valuable data in order to provide integrity of interface results.

Login to an SQL database. Learning SQL is best achieved if you can work directly with a database during the process. SQL queries require extreme attention to detail. While the general strategies can be learned without any interactivity, you will not become fluent in the process unless you can practice on a working database.

Locate a good online tutorial resource from a reputable SQL provider. Three excellent and free tutorials are the official MySQL developer's site, the W3 Schools documentation site, and the "SQL Course" Website. These resources begin with the most basic SQL queries and gradually introduce more advanced methods of manipulating a database. The MySQL site is particularly advanced, as it is the official documentation for the widely-used MySQL platform and covers all aspects of its use. The W3 Schools is an industry-standard Web developers reference site that educates programmers on all Web languages, including SQL. The third-party site SQLCourse focuses on advanced topics and is a good site for getting a fresh perspective on complicated query design.

Program SQL queries on your own database system as you move through the tutorials. For example, if a tutorial covers the basic of selecting data in a database using the "SELECT" statement, create the query yourself. Note that all SQL commands are entered in uppercase letters. Even if the queries seem particularly simple and straightforward, implementing them yourself will solidify the concepts.

Enter your own queries in addition to those covered in the tutorial. Programming is about creativity and it is best to learn the basic concepts using your own parameters, even if they are similar to the ones covered in the tutorial. By performing several queries of your own for each that is listed in a tutorial, you are sure to build a strong foundation in the language.