Connecting to MySQL or ODBC driver with OOo ------------------------------------------- This is a bit longer document which deals with all the steps to start using MySQL server. The document is long because of the cumbersome procedure to see the database :( 1. Install MySQL. Get the sources/binaries from http://dev.mysql.com/. 1.1 Start MySql server By default most of the operation system does not start this service. #/etc/init.d/mysql start it will ask you to create a login and password. #/usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root -h 'your.machine.host.name' password '****' 1.2 Test the server #mysql #mysql> show databases; #mysql> use test; //test is the default database that comes with mysql #mysql> show tables; //Will be empty b'se by default there is no tables. 1.3 Create table and insert values #mysql> create table abc (Name varchar(20), age varchar(4)); #mysql> insert into abc values ('kid1','5'); Now repeat the steps in 1.2 will show the data. 1.4 Test the table Use step 1.3 to create more entries #mysql> select * from abc; //This will show all the entries :) These steps are more than sufficient to know that you have a table up and running. 2. Installing mysql-ODBC connector Chances of this package present in your OS will be less so follow the steps. 2.1 Installing Get the binaries/sources from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/odbc/3.51.html For me the binaries worked :) Assuming that binary file is download. #rpm -i --nosignature MyODBC-3.51.11-2.i586.rpm Do not ask me why there is a "nosignature" it was cribbing for me :( This will create 2 files: a> /etc/unixODBC/odbcinst.ini [MySQL ] DRIVER = /usr/lib/libmyodbc3.so SETUP = /usr/lib/libmyodbc3S.so UsageCount = 1 This is an autogenerated file so DO NOT modify. b> /etc/unixODBC/odbc.ini This will be a blank file. Put the following lines into this file!! [MySQL-test] Description = abc Driver = MySQL Server = localhost Database = test Port = 3306 2.2 Testing the Connector # isql MySQL-test test A successful will show the following on the screen +---------------------------------------+ | Connected! | | | | sql-statement | | help [tablename] | | quit | | | +---------------------------------------+ SQL> 3. Use OOo to connect to MySql Server 3.1 Steps - Open OOo - File->new->database - Select connect to exsisting database. Select MySql. Next - Select connect using ODBC. Next - Name of the Database sourse click on the Browse button will show "MySql-test".Next - UserName : root. Choose Password required. Next //UserName and Password depends on the way you have configured MySql :) - Finish. - A popup dialog comes up give proper name ex: MySql-ODBC-data 3.2 View the table -Open OOo writer - F4 will show "MySql-ODBC-data". 4. Use OOo to connect to ODBC This is similar to the MySql Connection In the previous 3.1 Select connect to exsisting database. Select ODBC. Next rest is same :) 5. Connect to remote MySQL server Read "data-from-remote-mysql-server.txt" :)