Re: [libreoffice-users] Connection to SQL database

Thanks, Jay, that is VERY helpful and clarifies a lot.  I wondered if I 
needed the server setup but lots of things I read yesterday suggested I 
did need that.  I do understand that things like Base and Access are 
just GUIs, but I guess I really just don't understand what a database is 
and, in particular, what SQL is.  I know there needs to be raw data and 
a file/table structure and I assume a way to interact with it, but I'm 
still missing a lot.

Is there a basic online reference to help me understand what a SQL 
database is and what MySQL and the rest are relative to that?

Thx,
Carl


On 1/15/14 12:11 PM, Jay Lozier wrote:
> Carl
>
> Backend is a database term that refers to the database itself such as 
> MySQL, JET (MS Access), SQL Server, etc. Most non DBA's refer to the 
> GUI tools (BASE, Access) as the database when in fact they are used to 
> connect various backends. Base and Access both can connect to the 
> variety of backends not just the default they are shipped with.
>
> I do not think you need XAMP just the database connector and database. 
> XAMP refers to X = OS, A = Apache server, M = MySQL, and P = 
> Perl/Python/PHP. It is normally used by developers and the reason for 
> the Apache server is to provide test for web connectivity. PHP is a 
> very common server scripting language used by many websites. For 
> Windows is sometimes called WAMP, Mac - MAMP, and Linux - LAMP.
>
> I use MySQL for database development and do not use LAMP (Linux user) 
> at all because I only need the database.
>
> Jay
>
> On 01/15/2014 11:55 AM, Carl Paulsen wrote:
> > OK, thanks everyone.  My system:
> > Mac:  OS 10.6.8 and LO 4.0.4.2 (I was thinking of upgrading to LO 4.1.4)
> > PC:  Win7 and OOo 3.2 (I could install any version of LO on the PC)
> >
> >
> > I'm pretty far over my head here based on how little I understand of 
> > the replies, but I'm sure I can do it if I persist.  Here's what I 
> > think I'm hearing so far:
> >
> > 1. Lots of talk about the "backend."  I thought the file I had was 
> > the data itself which I'd hoped I could somehow directly access, but 
> > even if it were the data, it sounds like at best I'd have to serve 
> > that file/data using MySQL or something like that and a server like 
> > XAMP, then connect via Base.  Right?  In which case I might be able 
> > to extract the data directly from the server?
> >
> > 2.  Ryan may be right, I think what I have is a so-called backup from 
> > a commercial fundraising database used by a non-profit I'm working 
> > with.  Perhaps it's just scripts that connect to a hosted database?  
> > How do I "execute" my .sql file on a MySQL server (which I've set up 
> > on my Win7 machine)?  I am assuming I can get XAMP to serve up MySQL 
> > on the Win7 machine...  Ryan, can I contact you off-list if I figure 
> > out how to set up the MySQL server?
> >
> > 3.  I assume I'll need a password/login credentials, but can get them 
> > if I need them.  I'm sure the data is in schema of some sort.
> >
> > 4.  Thanks for the reference Fernand.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Carl

--

Carl Paulsen

Dover, NH 03820


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