MySQL query browser export database

Last month we looked at MySQL Administrator, this month I try out another of the MySQL tools: MySQL Query Browser. One nice thing about writing a regular monthly column (or a book!) is that it is an incentive to try out new tools I may not use in the work environment. I can avoid nappy-changing duties at home by saying I am working hard to earn enough for those same nappies, rather than just trying out the tool for the fun of it! Finding new topics can be taxing, (please feel free to add requests to the forum). It's not every month I realize I've missed an obvious topic like MySQL Backups. However, I was pleasantly surprised upon realizing that I hadn't yet tried out MySQL Query Browser.

The 'gamma' version of MySQL Query Browser was released in November, although beta versions were available long before that. MySQL Query Browser (I will start calling it MyQB from now) is a tool that allows you to execute queries and develop SQL scripts. That does not sound too exciting, which is probably why I took so long to try it, but it has some handy features that may come in useful.

Features

Upon opening the application, MyQB will ask for connection details (default schema is the default database you would like to connect to. Once you are in, (connection details will be saved for next time), experienced MySQL users will feel comforted by the command-line-like sparseness of the interface (see screenshot). Here the test database has a number of tables already, listed in the window on the right of the screen (called the Object Browser). Other areas to note include the space around the white area waiting for your input, called the Query Toolbar, the large blank grey area (called the Result Area, soon to be filled with the results of your queries), the area in the bottom right called the Information Browser, and the area just below the Query Toolbar, called the Advanced Toolbar. Perhaps not the best choice of names, but they are all relatively easy to understand as you will soon see.

Executing queries

The easiest way to enter a query is simply to type it in. For example, enter the following SQL in the text area of the Query Browser, and press Execute:
CREATE TABLE myqb_data (id INT, f1 VARCHAR(10), PRIMARY KEY (id)). Unfortunately, the Object Browser does not update itself automatically, and I had to right-click on the database name and then choose Refresh Schema. Execute a few INSERT statements. You will see that the Go Back and Go Next buttons are now clickable (see screenshot - MyQB models itself on the browser interface), allowing you to easily access all previous queries (don't worry; they aren't executed until you actually press Execute. The MySQL documentation claims that only valid queries are stored, but my version seemed to store valid and invalid queries, which in my opinion is an improvement, as I am often annoyed by the lack of this feature in phpMyAdmin, which I use daily.

Another way of entering queries is with the Advanced Toolbar. This can be simpler. As an example, suppose you want to SELECT all the id's from the myqb_data table. You can click on the arrow next to the myqb_data table in the Object Browser, which will display all fields in the table. Then click the SELECT button from the Advanced Toolbar. Hovering over the button tells you that clicking on a column name in the schema browser (another term for the Object Browser) will add it as a SELECT column. Try this now by clicking the id field. The whole query is built in just one click, as SELECT m.id FROM test.myqb_data m (see the screenshot). The other buttons work in a similar way, contextually adding the field you click on depending on what button you have previously selected. You can also BEGIN, COMMIT and ROLLBACK transactions

Of course, no browser-like interface can be complete without the wonders of tabs. You can create new Result Area tabs with Ctrl-T, or choosing New Tab and Execute from the options next to the Execute button. You can also split a tab with the Split Tab and Execute option. If a result set is too large, F12 will maximize the display area.

You can also edit tables by right-clicking on a table listed in the Object Browser, and using the MySQL Table Editor (a feature of both MySQL Query Browser and MySQL Administrator).

Some more features: Comparing, Explaining and Creating Views

If you have two result sets in two tabs, you can use the Compare button to highlight the differences between them. For some reason though, this only works if the two tabs are split vertically, not horizontally. Next to the compare button is the Explain button, which explains the current query (used for query optimizing - see the article Optimizing MySQL Queries and Indexes for more details if you are not sure.)

I tested MyQB with MySQL 4.1, but if you are using MySQL 5.0, you can also use it to create views. How? As simple as entering and executing the query that defines the view, and then pressing the Create View button.

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