The database file is compressed and needs to be unzipped into a temporary directory. Do this and then run the setup.exe file. This should install mysql in the directory C:\mysql.When the installation is complete, you may get rid of the temporary directory and the zipped file.
Using Windows Explorer, find the directory c:\mysql\bin. Double-click the file winmysqladmin.exe. The first time you run this executable you will be prompted for a username and password. Enter something appropriate. You must start this file in order to connect to the MySQL server. Create a shortcut to it in the Start Menu and then you won’t have to think about it again.
For convenience sake, you should add the directory c:\mysql\bin to your path. This will allow you to issue the command mysql from any directory without having to type in the full path. This is done by adding the line PATH=%PATH%;C:\mysql\bin to your autoexec.bat file. Under Windows NT and 2000 you may also set an environment variable by right clicking the My Computer icon on the desktop and then choosing Properties. Under the Advanced tab there is an Environment Variables Option. You’ll be able to figure it out from there. Regardless of how you set the PATH variable, reboot your machine and test that your path has been changed by opening a DOS window and typing mysql.
The cursor should change to mysql>. Now type show databases; Don’t forget the semi-colon. A window very similar to the following should appear:
You have successfully installed and connected to MySQL. To end your session type quit and press the enter key.
At this point anyone with access to your computer can open and change any database. If security is an issue please follow the documentation provided by MySQL. Securing your databases will not be dealt with here. In fact, it is assumed throughout this document that no user name or password is required to connect to MySQL.
Preparing to Install the Graphical Interface
The following two files are required:
MySQLGraphic1.2.5.jar and mysql-connector-java-3.0.8-stable-bin.jar
Acquiring these files will be dealt with in a moment. Right now, since both of these files are Java archive files and require Java in order to run, let’s download Java. Throughout, Java is variously referred to as the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Instructions for installing the current version follow.
Downloading and Installing the JRE
To run these archive files you should have the latest version (1.4) of Java on your computer. If you already have this version of Java installed on your system you may skip this step.
Download the Java Runtime Environment from the URL http://java.sun.com. Click the Standard edition link on this page. This will take you to http://java.sun.com/j2se/. On this page click the Java VM link on the left. Follow the instructions and Java should be installed fairly quickly as it is not a large file. At the date of writing this should install Java in the directory, C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.0\. Confirm that this directory has been created and then we’ll move on to installing the driver.
Downloading and Installing the Driver
The driver, MySQL Connector/J, is available from the MySQL site. Go to the URL http://www.mysql.com/products/connector-j/index.html and click on the link for downloading version 3.0. Find the link below and download.
Extract the downloaded file to a temporary directory and within this temporary directory open the folder, mysql-connector-java-3.0.8-stable. The folks at MySQL have kindly provided you with the source code for this driver but when you are starting out this can be rather confusing. The only file you really need is mysql-connector-java-3.0.8-stable-bin.jar within the current folder.
What you now must do is put this file, mysql-connector-java-3.0.8-stable-bin.jar, in the ext directory of the lib directory below the active Java runtime directory. That’s a bit of a mouthful but if you’ve just installed the Java Virtual Machine as described above it will be:
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.0\lib\ext
Move the driver to this location.
