MySQL Cookbook [Paperback]

Paul DuBois (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2007 | Series: Cookbook

Along with MySQL's popularity has come a flood of questions about solving specific problems, and that's where this Cookbook is essential. Designed as a handy resource when you need quick solutions or techniques, the book offers dozens of short, focused pieces of code and hundreds of worked-out examples for programmers of all levels who don't have the time (or expertise) to solve MySQL problems from scratch.

The new edition covers MySQL 5.0 and its powerful new features, as well as the older but still widespread MySQL 4.1. One major emphasis of this book is how to use SQL to formulate queries for particular kinds of questions, using the mysql client program included in MySQL distributions. The other major emphasis is how to write programs that interact with the MySQL server through an API. You'll find plenty of examples using several language APIs in multiple scenarios and situations, including the use of Ruby to retrieve and format data. There are also many new examples for using Perl, PHP, Python, and Java as well.

Other recipes in the book teach you to:

• Access data from multiple tables at the same time
• Use SQL to select, sort, and summarize rows
• Find matches or mismatches between rows in two tables
• Determine intervals between dates or times, including age calculations
• Store images into MySQL and retrieve them for display in web pages
• Get LOAD DATA to read your data files properly or find which values in the file are invalid
• Use strict mode to prevent entry of bad data into your database
• Copy a table or a database to another server
• Generate sequence numbers to use as unique row identifiers
• Create database events that execute according to a schedule
• And a lot more

MySQL Cookbook doesn't attempt to develop full-fledged, complex applications. Instead, it's intended to assist you in developing applications yourself by helping you get past problems that have you stumped.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Good programming--which is to say, programming that yields both efficient code and a profitable life for the programmer--depends on not reinventing the wheel. If someone else has solved the problem you're facing (and someone almost always has), you'd be foolish to waste your energy figuring out your own solution. MySQL Cookbook presents solutions to scores of problems related to the MySQL database server. Readers stand a good chance of finding a ready-made solution to problems such as querying databases, validating and formatting data, importing and exporting values, and using advanced features like session tracking and transactions. Paul DuBois has done a great job assembling efficient solutions to common database programming problems, and teaches his readers a lot about MySQL and its attendant APIs in the process.

DuBois organizes his cookbook's recipes into sections on the problem, the solution stated simply, and the solution implemented in code and discussed. The implementation and discussion sections are the most valuable, as they contain the command sequences, code listings, and design explanations that can be transferred to outside projects. The main gripe readers will have about MySQL Cookbook is that the author, in his effort to cover the range of MySQL-friendly programming languages, uses different languages in his solutions to various problems. You'll see a Perl solution to one programming challenge (Perl, in fact, is the most frequently used language, followed by PHP), a Python fix for the next, and a Java sample after that. Readers have to hope that they find a solution in the language they're working with, or that they're able to transliterate the one DuBois has provided. It's usually not a big problem. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to make MySQL databases do your bidding--in terms of queries, table manipulation, data formatting, transactions, and Web interfaces--through the database server's command line interfaces and (more importantly) through the MySQL APIs of Perl, PHP, Java, and Python. Particularly excellent coverage deals with formatting dates and times, management of null values, string manipulation, and import/export techniques. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...MySQL Cookbook tells you exactly how to solve literally hundreds of problems that you are likely to encounter in getting a MySQL database solution up and running." - Computer Trade Shopper, November 2003 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 978 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second edition (January 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059652708X
• ISBN-13: 978-0596527082
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Data Warehousing
  • #63 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > SQL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only MySQL book needed for programming my web sites, December 9, 2004

By 

David L. Hickman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MySQL Cookbook (Paperback)

I built several web sites using PHP/MySQL and the only two books I use day-to-day are "MySQL Cookbook" and "PHP Cookbook".

If you're already somewhat familiar with MySQL, this book is a great reference for the SQL and database manipulation you already know how to do. In addition, the examples push the envelope of what is possible with MySQL making it a good learning tool for becoming truly expert.

Some of the information in the book I found useful includes:

- simplifying complex SQL using temporary tables.

- using FULLTEXT searches (similar to pattern matching but more efficient and easier to code when you're looking for the same text in several columns at the same time).

- effective use of LEFT JOIN's for finding rows in one table that don't have a match in another table.

- effective use of LAST_INSERT_ID( fieldName + 1 ) for transactionally updating a numeric field without using transactions and without locking a table.

- numbering output rows using SQL variables (select @rownum := @rownum + 1; (see chapter 13.9))

I really can't say enough good things about this book. It's comprehensive, easy to read and just plain awesome.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Hand-on guide to MySQL, May 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: MySQL Cookbook (Paperback)

There are many databases out there. MySQL is one of the better ones. It's a free (for personal use) database system which can be easily integrated into a web application on virtually any system. It has supports most of the standard feature found in most database system and has quiet a few features unique to MySQL. This particular book is a good reference for the experienced user as well as for new comers and as an added bonus even covers MySQL 4.0.

This is book was my first introduction to O'Reilly's cookbook series. It provides solutions to some of the most common challenged faced by the particular subject being covered (in this case MySQL). I thoroughly enjoyed it and was quiet impressed with it. Too many technical books simply introduce the concept without relating it to real world applications.

This particular book introduces all of the most basic concepts of database manipulation (table creation, data insertion, data deletion, data update). As well as writing simple and advanced SQL statements to retrieve data. It approaches database design using 4 of the most popular languages (Perl, PHP, Python and Java). These are only a few of the many possible languages which can be used to manipulate a MySQL database.

MySQL cookbook touches on a variety of different topics which I don't have the space or time to cover in detail, but here is a list of them:

* Handeling duplicates
* MySQL on the Web
* Processing Web input with MySQL
* Using MySQL-based Web Session Management

One of my favorite topics covered in the book is the idea of storing binary data such as images within a database. Although not ideal for most cases (unless you need fast access to a vast array of images), just the idea of it has a certain kewlness effect.

Well, overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars. It needs to touch slightly more on the basic concepts of databases, and it can become the only book you'll ever need for MySQL.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a nice addition to O'Reilly's Cookbook series, April 13, 2003

By 

"dsimpson1" (Fremont, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MySQL Cookbook (Paperback)

As an experienced Oracle DBA I had a need to learn about MySQL for the development of the FmPro Migrator utility to migrate FileMaker databases to MySQL. This book enabled me to quickly learn how to perform tasks in MySQL which are equivalent to what I would perform with Oracle. Congratulations to O'Reilly and Paul DuBois for continuing the fine tradition of Cookbook series books.