Hello all.

I am currently trying to reskill in GIS. I've used it before but only in a peripheral way, now I am looking into making it into a career (starting at the bottom, if I can find it!).

One of the things I should really understand better is databases. My old firm used a SQL type database to store/access? all GIS data, and I gather that MySQL is pretty standard, so it seems like an idea to learn a bit about this.

So, can anyone point me in the direction of a good beginners guide to databases/SQL please? There is so much info out there on the web it is a bit intimidating, and most of it is obviously aimed at people way more knowledgable than me. I really know nothing about databases at all, except that they are to do with storing data.


NB I don't need/want to understand the things inside out, just to have a basic working knowledge of what they are, how they basically work etc. Maybe I could create a MySQL db of my own, for my music collection for example, this would probably be enough.

Cheers

spoov

This was written as an excellent tutorial for php/MySQL and the MySQL part of this tutorial will give you a good idea... it did for me.

http://sipb-iap.scripts.mit.edu/2009/cccphp/CCCPHP.pdf

Thanks for that, helped a little. I could do with a book though really I think, something to work through so I could create my own db's.

A lot of MqSQL stuff seems to be linked to serving websites and PHP, but I have no interest in websites. There is a 'PHP/MySQL for Dummies' book but I avoided that as I don't want to get too diverted by web stuff or learning programming languages (i'm still struggling with beginner's bash!).

Is OpenOffice.org Base a good place to start?

cheers

Is there anything wrong with using the official source for such information ?

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/tutorial.html

I don't know, is there? Is this your recommendation having read my posts, or just a smart arse answer?

If you want someone to do it for you, go away.
If you are prepared to read the official documentation, and test things in order to learn, then read the link I kindly gave you.

All you've done is complain that nothing is quite what you want.

Wow, what a strange person. You must be having a really bad day.


Just for the record, I think if you read my posts again you will see that I asked for advice on a good/suitable beginner's guide. That means advice from someone who knows what they are talking about; who is well placed to point out a good starting book. The official MySQL guide might be completely unsuitable for my purposes for all I know, thats why I asked for advice.

Puppymagic suggested something useful, so I read it, thanked him/her, and continued the thread. I certainly did not complain. Your post however was nothing but a smart arse 'do a google search' type answer.

People like you are a curse to forums such as this, trawling threads looking for an opportunity to take out your frustration on normal people trying to learn something. If you are unable or unwilling to help then just move on, leave it to someone who can help.

I don't see why the web focus of much mysql documentation is such a big deal for you. Mysql is a relational database that uses the Structured Query Language.

What mysql is used for is rather irrelevant since it is used for those things for which a database is appropriate.

In one of your posts you commented that you have only a hazy knowledge of what a database is, so I suggest you stop focusing on A database, and start focusing on databases. When you understand what a database is, then how to use it will become a lot more obvious.

Look up "relational databases" and go from there.

Right thanks. I'll leave this thread alone now as I seem to be drawing tetchy answers for some reason. Is MySQL an off-limit topic or something? Cos of the Oracle buy out maybe??

Thanks for the help anyways; i'll have a look on Amazon for a book on relational databases, maybe give OOo Base a go, that has a pretty basic level looking user guide.

cheers

spoov

It's a lot easier to understand a specific database (such as MySQL, Postgres ...) if you understand databases in general first -- and your knowledge will more easily translate from one to another, which may be required for GIS; I doubt that MySQL is the most common GIS database (it might be). From your OP, you are looking for orientation, more than specific knowledge so general information about databases is more relevant than practical HOWTOs on any one database.

For introductory, high-level information on databases Wikipedia would be a good starting point. Sometimes their articles have links to further reading although they tend to be more academic than introductory.

These links could be useful:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_system
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_management_system
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_model
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database