MySQL Quick Admin: How To Use
So phpMyAdmin is very popular when it comes to managing your MySQL databases, but let's face it - sometimes it gets confusing, and the look is somewhat plain and boring. As I was surfing the Internet for a different way to manage my databases, I stumbled across MySQL Quick Admin. I tried it out, and it blew me away! It was a quick installation and is very user-friendly! I suggest this to be a perfect choice if you wanted to offer MySQL database management for your hostees. It's very easy-to-use and "quick" just as the name suggests.
Please download the latest version of MySQL Quick Admin [ click here ] In this tutorial, I will explain how to install and use v1.5.5 since that is the current version at the time I am writing this tutorial. If in the future, later versions are released and this tutorial becomes out-dated, I will try and re-write it for newer versions.
Download + Installation
Go to the 'Downloads' page and find the download link. Once it is saved onto your computer, you will be required to extract the files from the .zip file. I use Winzip for this, however on my Windows XP I can right click on the .zip file and select "Extract All…" from the drop down menu.
Once everything is unzipped, open up your FTP client, (or File Manager - however you upload files to your server) and create a new folder in your main site. Name this 'mysql' (you can name it anything, really.) That way, you can access this through http://domain.com/mysql/ You can have separate folders in each hostee's account as well, however all databases can be accessed privately through one installment - 'mysql' folder. Now, the files you extracted from the .zip file should all be copied to this new folder. In v1.5.5 you would upload folders: includes, lang, and themes and files: actions.php, config.php, error.php, index.php, login.php, and main.php (no need to change any permissions/chmod files and folders!)
Can you believe that you're done the installation process? That's it! Just upload all those files to
your server in a separate folder and you're good to go ~_^
Login
The login page is straight forward! Visit http://www.domain.com/mysql (the folder you uploaded the files to) and fill in your information! It's very secured and as long as you assign your hostees a separate username and password, they will only be able to see their own databases!
Managing Databases
Once logged in, all databases located under the account you logged in with will be listed. Select the database you wish to work with. Or you can create a new database easily by typing in your desired name:
Managing Tables & Running Queries
After selecting a database, you will be redirected to a page that displays all your tables in that
database. The side menu also displays a list of your tables for easy access. Choose the table you wish to update. You can also create a new table through the wizard provided below the main Tables page.
Left: View of tables listed on the side menu. Right: Create new table on main Tables
page.
You can also Run a Query if you do not like using the wizard to create your tables. Simply click on the 'Run a Query' Link at the side menu.
Dump your Query into the window provided. You can also Load a query from a file.
Select from menu.
Run your query through window provided.
Upload a file containing your query.
Editing Table Entries
After, you will see your last query in grey text as a reminder. When you're finished, select the table you created (or if you wish to edit an existing one). If you are experienced with phpMyAdmin, it is very similar. You will be directed to a page that displays the 'Structure' of your table as default.
You can edit and return to the 'Structure' page by selecting it on the menu as seen above. On this page, you checkmark whichever row(s) you wish to work with and below the structure table you will see a "With Selected:" option and a dropdown menu of various actions (including, 'Change' which is to edit its structure and 'Drop' which is to delete). Alternatively, you can 'Change' the structure of the whole table in once glance, by selecting 'Change' from the menu up top.
To browse entries in your selected table, you can click on 'Browse' on the menu up top. Here, you can view,
edit
or delete/drop
existing entries.
Indexes manages the indexes of your tables.
To add entries to your tables, simply click on 'Insert' from the menu up top. This will redirect you to page with an entry form, in which all you have to do is fill in the required fields (the structure of
your table). If you include the 'date' variable when you ran your query, or created your tables, MySQL
Quick Admin generates the current date (and time) unlike phpMyAdmin - which you had to select from a calendar or type in the date/time manually. Click the Insert button below and you're done adding a new entry!
If your tables carry many entries, sometimes it's difficult to even "show 100 per page" and find what you are looking for. So, the 'Search' feature comes in handy! Use this to find whatever you are looking for - and it gives you options if you want to find something specific.
Backup Records: Exporting Databases
Moreover, you can export your databases - which comes in handy if you want to switch to another database, if you are moving to a different server or if you want to keep a backup of your databases on your computer. Select "Export Database" on the side menu.
All you have to do is select which tables you wish to export and if you want the information shown in a "textarea" for you to copy & paste into a query window of another database, or save it as a file (which you can run as a query uploaded file - as I mentioned earlier).
Conclusion
There you have it! MySQL Quick Admin, explained in a nutshell - I could be missing a few things, but you can explore on your own. Its very easy to use, and straightforward with its options, questions and links - so hopefully you won't be confused. If you are, you could always check the main site's community forum for answers to bugs or anything like that. So far, I haven't experienced any trouble with it, so feel free to ask me for some help (I can probably answer it, if not, I can always help find an answer for you).