SQL Excel

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The video clip below shows how to add a MYSQL connection in to SQL Excel.  The example connects to a MYSQL Version of the northwind database.  The database is on a remote server. Before watching the video, it is probably a good idea to read the text below as it should help make it easier to see what is happening in the clip.

First thing is that if you want to set up a connection to a MYSQL database from windows - you need to have the MYSQL ODBC drivers.  If you don't have them the easy way to get them is to install the MySQL Connector/ODBC 3.51 (this is the most recent version).  Here is the link for the informational page with the download link - MySQL Connector

The video clips shows two different things:

(1) The first section shows the setting up a user DSN for the connection (this is not specific to SQL Excel and is the generic way to set up a MYSQL DSN).   If you want to use Microsofy Query to connect to a MYSQL database you could do the same thing.  On thing to note is that the steps shows in the video are basically (these are the steps for Windows XP but other windows versions are very similar):

1. click Start and then click Control Panel. 
2. in the newly opened folder click Administrative Tools and then click Data Sources (ODBC).
3. Then Click the Add Button.
4. Then scroll down the list and select the MySql (3.51 or other version) driver and then click Finish.
5. Enter a details for the connection and your database and then hit Test to see if all is ok. Then click OK.

(2) The second half of the video shows the newly created user DSN being added as an available connection to SQL Excel. To add a MYSQL connection in to SQL Excel, you don't need to have a DSN  (so point (1) above is not necessary as such) but it is the easy way to get a connection working.  You could instead set up the connection manually  (typing in or pasting in the connection string) in the form in SQL Excel which is used to add connections.

Also, if you do use the Data Link form, it is a very good idea to use the "Test" button so you know there is no problem with the connection.

The video content below requires a Macromedia Flash Player.  If you don't have one and still wish to see the video, you can download the latest version of the free Flash Player  here.

 If something is not clear with this demo, please let me know. I wil be uploading more videos like this as I can. Thanks, Al