[plug] MySQL and SQL queries

[J Michael Gilks]

> Also the only user that can access the MySQL database is root. i.e. the
> program trying to access the database (MySQL navigator, tora...) has to be
> running as root.
Ouch. You may also find that root has no password. A worrying default in the 
install. Check out the documentation at
http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/Security.html
Also for user accounts see
http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/User_Account_Management.html
The documentation is very good.

> As I am steering away from GUIs  i would like to know how to access the
> database and issue queries ... using a command line program (Direct server
> term?)
Once you log on to mysql you can use that command line, however don't discount 
the GUI model out of hand.
I have found MySQLCC to be very handy.
The SQL editor allows you to write SQL queries, display the results and then 
adjust the query until you get it right.
Also GUI builders, like that included in OpenOffice.org can give you an idea 
of what the query might look like in general terms. OpenOffice.org also has a 
good SQL editor, but the ODBC driver has a few quirks.
MySQLCC is available from
http://www.mysql.com/products/mysqlcc/index.html

Good luck, you have made an informed choice.

Love
Mike.