ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) provides a way for client programs to access a wide range of databases or data sources. ODBC is a standardized API that allows connections to SQL database servers. It was developed according to the specifications of the SQL Access Group and defines a set of function calls, error codes, and data types that can be used to develop database-independent applications. ODBC usually is used when database independence or simultaneous access to different data sources is required.

For more information about ODBC, refer to http://www.microsoft.com/data/.

Connector/ODBC is the term designating the MySQL AB product family of MySQL ODBC drivers. These are known as the MyODBC drivers.

MyODBC 2.50 is a 32-bit ODBC driver from MySQL AB that is based on ODBC 2.50 specification level 0 (with level 1 and 2 features). This is one of the most popular ODBC drivers in the Open Source market, used by many users to access the MySQL functionality.

MyODBC 3.51 is a 32-bit ODBC driver, also known as the MySQL ODBC 3.51 driver. This version is enhanced compared to the existing MyODBC 2.50 driver. It has support for ODBC 3.5x specification level 1 (complete core API + level 2 features) in order to continue to provide all functionality of ODBC for accessing MySQL.

MySQL AB distributes all its products under the General Public License (GPL). You can get a copy of the latest version of MyODBC binaries and sources from the MySQL AB Web site http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/.

For more information about MyODBC, visit http://www.mysql.com/products/myodbc/.

For more information about licensing, visit http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/.

MyODBC can be used on all major platforms supported by MySQL, such as:

If a binary distribution is not available for downloading for a particular platform, you can build the driver yourself by downloading the driver sources. You can contribute the binaries to MySQL by sending a mail message to <myodbc@lists.mysql.com>, so that it becomes available for other users.

MySQL AB provides assistance to the user community by means of its mailing lists. For MyODBC-related issues, you can get help from experienced users by using the <myodbc@lists.mysql.com> mailing list.

For information about subscribing to MySQL mailing lists or to browse list archives, visit http://lists.mysql.com/.

Of particular interest is the ODBC forum in the MySQL Connectors section of the forums.

Community support from experienced users is available through the MySQL Forums, located at http://forums.mysql.com.

If you encounter difficulties or problems with MyODBC, you should start by making a log file from the ODBC Manager (the log you get when requesting logs from ODBC ADMIN) and MyODBC. The procedure for doing this is described in Section 19.1.9.7, “Getting an ODBC Trace File”.

Check the MyODBC trace file to find out what could be wrong. You should be able to determine what statements were issued by searching for the string >mysql_real_query in the myodbc.log file.

You should also try issuing the statements from the mysql client program or from admndemo. This helps you determine whether the error is in MyODBC or MySQL.

If you find out something is wrong, please only send the relevant rows (maximum 40 rows) to the myodbc mailing list. See Section 1.7.1.1, “The MySQL Mailing Lists”. Please never send the whole MyODBC or ODBC log file!

If you are unable to find out what's wrong, the last option is to create an archive in tar or Zip format that contains a MyODBC trace file, the ODBC log file, and a README file that explains the problem. You can send this to ftp://ftp.mysql.com/pub/mysql/upload/. Only we at MySQL AB has access to the files you upload, and we are very discreet with the data.

If you can create a program that also demonstrates the problem, please include it in the archive as well.

If the program works with some other SQL server, you should include an ODBC log file where you do exactly the same thing in the other SQL server.

Remember that the more information you can supply to us, the more likely it is that we can fix the problem.

You can send a patch or suggest a better solution for any existing code or problems by sending a mail message to <myodbc@lists.mysql.com>.

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is a widely accepted application-programming interface (API) for database access. It is based on the Call-Level Interface (CLI) specifications from X/Open and ISO/IEC for database APIs and uses Structured Query Language (SQL) as its database access language.

A survey of ODBC functions supported by MyODBC is given at Section 19.1.16, “MyODBC API Reference”. For general information about ODBC, see http://www.microsoft.com/data/.

The MyODBC architecture is based on five components, as shown in the following diagram:

An ODBC Driver Manager is a library that manages communication between the ODBC aware application and driver(s). Its main functionality includes:

The following driver managers are commonly used:

MyODBC 3.51 also is shipped with UnixODBC beginning with version 2.1.2.

MySQL AB supports two Open Source ODBC drivers for accessing MySQL functionality through the ODBC API: MyODBC (MyODBC 2.50) and MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver (MyODBC 3.51).

Note: From this section onward, we refer both the drivers generically as MyODBC. Whenever there is a difference, we use the original names.

To install or upgrade MyODBC from an RPM distribution on Linux, simply download the RPM distribution of the latest version of MyODBC and follow the instructions below. Use su root to become root, then install the RPM file.

If you are installing for the first time:

shell> su root
shell> rpm -ivh MyODBC-3.51.01.i386-1.rpm

If the driver exists, upgrade it like this:

shell> su root
shell> rpm -Uvh MyODBC-3.51.01.i386-1.rpm

If there is any dependency error for MySQL client library, libmysqlclient, simply ignore it by supplying the --nodeps option, and then make sure the MySQL client shared library is in the path or set through LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

This installs the driver libraries and related documents to /usr/local/lib and /usr/share/doc/MyODBC respectively. Proceed onto Section 19.1.9.3, “Configuring a MyODBC DSN on Unix”.

To uninstall the driver, become root and execute an rpm command:

shell> su root
shell> rpm -e MyODBC

To install the driver from a tarball distribution (.tar.gz file), download the latest version of the driver for your operating system and follow these steps:

shell> su root
shell> gunzip MyODBC-3.51.01-i686-pc-linux.tar.gz
shell> tar xvf MyODBC-3.51.01-i686-pc-linux.tar
shell> cd MyODBC-3.51.01-i686-pc-linux

Read the installation instructions in the INSTALL-BINARY file and execute these commands.

shell> cp libmyodbc* /usr/local/lib
shell> cp odbc.ini /usr/local/etc
shell> export ODBCINI=/usr/local/etc/odbc.ini

Then proceed on to Section 19.1.9.3, “Configuring a MyODBC DSN on Unix” to configure the DSN for MyODBC. For more information, refer to the INSTALL-BINARY file that comes with your distribution.

MyODBC 3.51 source distributions include Makefiles that uses nmake. In the distribution, you can find Makefile for building the release version and Makefile_debug for building debugging versions of the driver libraries and DLLs.

To build the driver, use this procedure:

Note:

After the driver libraries are copied/installed to the system directory, you can test whether the libraries are properly built by using the samples provided in the samples subdirectory:

C:\> cd samples
C:\> nmake -f Makefile all

The MyODBC 2.50 source distribution includes VC workspace files. You can build the driver using these files (.dsp and .dsw) directly by loading them from Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 or higher.

Once you have all the required files, unpack the source files to a separate directory and follow the instructions as given below:

The configure script gives you a great deal of control over how you configure your MyODBC build. Typically you do this using options on the configure command line. You can also affect configure using certain environment variables. For a list of options and environment variables supported by configure, run this command:

shell> ./configure --help

Some of the more commonly used configure options are described here:

The final configuration command looks something like this:

shell> ./configure --prefix=/usr/local \
         --with-iodbc=/usr/local \
         --with-mysql-path=/usr/local/mysql

In order to link the driver with MySQL thread safe client libraries libmysqlclient_r.so or libmysqlclient_r.a, you must specify the following configure option:

--enable-thread-safe

and can be disabled(default) using

--disable-thread-safe

This option enables the building of driver thread-safe library libmyodbc3_r.so from by linking with mysql thread-safe client library libmysqlclient_r.so (The extensions are OS dependent).

In case while configuring with thread-safe option, and gotten into a configure error; then look at the config.log and see if it is due to the lack of thread-libraries in the system; and supply one with LIBS options i.e.

LIBS="-lpthread" ./configure ..

You can enable or disable the shared and static versions using these options:

--enable-shared[=yes/no]
--disable-shared
--enable-static[=yes/no]
--disable-static

By default, all the binary distributions are built as non-debugging versions (configured with --without-debug).

To enable debugging information, build the driver from source distribution and use the --with-debug) when you run configure.

This option is available only for BK clone trees; not for normal source distributions.

By default, the driver is built with (--without-docs); And in case if you want the documentation to be taken care in the normal build, then configure with:

--with-docs

To build the driver libraries, you have to just execute make, which takes care of everything.

shell> make

If any errors occur, correct them and continue the build process. If you aren't able to build, then send a detailed email to <myodbc@lists.mysql.com> for further assistance.

On most platforms, MySQL doesn't build or support .so (shared) client libraries by default, because building with shared libraries has caused us problems in the past.

In cases like this, you have to download the MySQL distribution and configure it with these options:

--without-server --enable-shared

To build shared driver libraries, you must specify the --enable-shared option for configure. By default, configure does not enable this option.

If you have configured with the --disable-shared option, you can build the .so file from the static libraries using the following commands:

shell> cd MyODBC-3.51.01
shell> make
shell> cd driver
shell> CC=/usr/bin/gcc \
     $CC -bundle -flat_namespace -undefined error \
         -o .libs/libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so \
         catalog.o connect.o cursor.o dll.o error.o execute.o \
         handle.o info.o misc.o myodbc3.o options.o prepare.o \
         results.o transact.o utility.o \
         -L/usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql/ \
         -L/usr/local/iodbc/lib/ \
         -lz -lc -lmysqlclient -liodbcinst

Make sure to change -liodbcinst to -lodbcinst if you are using unixODBC instead of iODBC, and configure the library paths accordingly.

This builds and places the libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so file in the .libs directory. Copy this file to MyODBC library directory (/usr/local/lib (or the lib directory under the installation directory that you supplied with the --prefix).

shell> cd .libs
shell> cp libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so /usr/local/lib
shell> cd /usr/local/lib
shell> ln -s libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so libmyodbc3.so

To build the thread-safe driver library:

shell> CC=/usr/bin/gcc \
     $CC -bundle -flat_namespace -undefined error
      -o .libs/libmyodbc3_r-3.51.01.so
      catalog.o connect.o cursor.o dll.o error.o execute.o
      handle.o info.o misc.o myodbc3.o options.o prepare.o
      results.o transact.o utility.o
      -L/usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql/
      -L/usr/local/iodbc/lib/
      -lz -lc -lmysqlclient_r -liodbcinst

To install the driver libraries, execute the following command:

shell> make install

That command installs one of the following sets of libraries:

For MyODBC 3.51:

For thread-safe MyODBC 3.51:

For MyODBC 2.5.0:

For more information on build process, refer to the INSTALL file that comes with the source distribution. Note that if you are trying to use the make from Sun, you may end up with errors. On the other hand, GNU gmake should work fine on all platforms.

To run the basic samples provided in the distribution with the libraries that you built, just execute:

shell> make test

Make sure the DSN 'myodbc3' is configured first in odbc.ini and environment variable ODBCINI is pointing to the right odbc.ini file; and MySQL server is running. You can find a sample odbc.ini with the driver distribution.

You can even modify the samples/run-samples script to pass the desired DSN, UID, and PASSWORD values as the command line arguments to each sample.

To build the driver on Mac OS X (Darwin), make use of the following configure example:

shell> ./configure --prefix=/usr/local
           --with-unixODBC=/usr/local
           --with-mysql-path=/usr/local/mysql
           --disable-shared
           --enable-gui=no
           --host=powerpc-apple

The command assumes that the unixODBC and MySQL are installed in the default locations. If not, configure accordingly.

On Mac OS X, --enable-shared builds .dylib files by default. You can build .so files like this:

shell> make
shell> cd driver
shell> CC=/usr/bin/gcc \
     $CC -bundle -flat_namespace -undefined error
         -o .libs/libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so *.o
         -L/usr/local/mysql/lib/
         -L/usr/local/iodbc/lib
         -liodbcinst -lmysqlclient -lz -lc

To build the thread-safe driver library:

shell> CC=/usr/bin/gcc \
     $CC -bundle -flat_namespace -undefined error
     -o .libs/libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so *.o
     -L/usr/local/mysql/lib/
     -L/usr/local/iodbc/lib
     -liodbcinst -lmysqlclienti_r -lz -lc -lpthread

Make sure to change the -liodbcinst to -lodbcinst in case of using unixODBC instead of iODBC and configure the libraries path accordingly.

In Apple's version of GCC, both cc and gcc are actually symbolic links to gcc3.

Copy this library to the $prefix/lib directory and symlink to libmyodbc3.so.

You can cross-check the output shared-library properties using this command:

shell> otool -LD .libs/libmyodbc3-3.51.01.so

To build the driver on HP-UX 10.x or 11.x, make use of the following configure example:

If using cc:

shell> CC="cc" \
     CFLAGS="+z" \
     LDFLAGS="-Wl,+b:-Wl,+s" \
     ./configure --prefix=/usr/local
           --with-unixodbc=/usr/local
           --with-mysql-path=/usr/local/mysql/lib/mysql
           --enable-shared
           --enable-thread-safe

If using gcc:

shell> CC="gcc" \
     LDFLAGS="-Wl,+b:-Wl,+s" \
     ./configure --prefix=/usr/local
           --with-unixodbc=/usr/local
           --with-mysql-path=/usr/local/mysql
           --enable-shared
           --enable-thread-safe

Once the driver is built, cross-check its attributes using chatr .libs/libmyodbc3.sl to see whether or not you need to have the MySQL client libraries path using the SHLIB_PATH environment variable. For static versions, ignore all shared-library options and run configure with the --disable-shared option.

To build the driver on AIX, make use of the following configure example:

shell> ./configure --prefix=/usr/local
           --with-unixodbc=/usr/local
           --with-mysql-path=/usr/local/mysql
           --disable-shared
           --enable-thread-safe

NOTE: For more information about how to build and set up the static and shared libraries across the different platforms refer to ' Using static and shared libraries across platforms'.

A "data source" is a place where data comes from. The data source must have a persistent identifier, the Data Source Name. Using the Data Source Name, MySQL can access initialization information. With the initialization information, MySQL knows where to access the database and what settings to use when the access starts.

In effect, the data source is the path to the data. In different contexts this might mean different things, but typically it identifies a running MySQL server (for example via a network address or service name), plus the default database for that server at connection time, plus necessary connection information such as the port. The MySQL drivers (and, on Windows systems, the ODBC Driver Manager) use the data source for connecting. An administrative utility called the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator may be useful for this purpose.

There are two places where the initialization information might be: in the Windows registry (on a Windows system), or in a DSN file (on any system).

If the information is in the Windows registry, it is called a "Machine data source". It might be a "User data source", in which case only one user can see it. Or it might be a "System data source" in which case it is accessible to all users on the computer, or indeed to all users connected to the computer, if the users are connected by Microsoft Windows NT services. When you run the ODBC Data Administration program, you have a choice whether to use "User" or "System" -- there are separate tabs.

If the information is in a DSN file, it is called a "File data source". This is a text file. Its advantages are: (a) it is an option for any kind of computer, not just a computer with a Windows operating system; (b) its contents can be transmitted or copied relatively easily.

To add and configure a new MyODBC data source on Windows, use the ODBC Data Source Administrator. The ODBC Administrator updates your data source connection information. As you add data sources, the ODBC Administrator updates the registry information for you.

To open the ODBC Administrator from the Control Panel:

To add a data source on Windows:

Note: Upon clicking OK, the Data Sources dialog box appears, and the ODBC Administrator updates the registry information. The username and connect string that you entered become the default connection values for this data source when you connect to it.

You can also test whether your settings are suitable for connecting to the server using the button Test Data Source. This feature is available only for the MyODBC 3.51 driver. A successful test results in the following window:

A failed test results in an error:

The DSN configuration dialog also has an Options button. If you select it, the following options dialog appears displaying that control driver behavior. Refer to Section 19.1.9.4, “Connection Parameters” for information about the meaning of these options.

Note: The options listed under Driver Trace Options are disabled (grayed out) unless you are using the debugging version of the driver DLL.

To modify a data source on Windows:

When you have finished modifying the information in this dialog box, the ODBC Administrator updates the registry information.

On Unix, you configure DSN entries directly in the odbc.ini file. Here is a typical odbc.ini file that configures myodbc and myodbc3 as the DSN names for MyODBC 2.50 and MyODBC 3.51, respectively:

;
;  odbc.ini configuration for MyODBC and MyODBC 3.51 drivers
;

[ODBC Data Sources]
myodbc      = MyODBC 2.50 Driver DSN
myodbc3     = MyODBC 3.51 Driver DSN

[myodbc]
Driver       = /usr/local/lib/libmyodbc.so
Description  = MyODBC 2.50 Driver DSN
SERVER       = localhost
PORT         =
USER         = root
Password     =
Database     = test
OPTION       = 3
SOCKET       =

[myodbc3]
Driver       = /usr/local/lib/libmyodbc3.so
Description  = MyODBC 3.51 Driver DSN
SERVER       = localhost
PORT         =
USER         = root
Password     =
Database     = test
OPTION       = 3
SOCKET       =

[Default]
Driver       = /usr/local/lib/libmyodbc3.so
Description  = MyODBC 3.51 Driver DSN
SERVER       = localhost
PORT         =
USER         = root
Password     =
Database     = test
OPTION       = 3
SOCKET       =

Refer to the Section 19.1.9.4, “Connection Parameters”, for the list of connection parameters that can be supplied.

Note: If you are using unixODBC, you can use the following tools in order to set up the DSN:

In some cases when using unixODBC, you might get this error:

Data source name not found and no default driver specified

If this happens, make sure the ODBCINI and ODBCSYSINI environment variables are pointing to the right odbc.ini file. For example, if your odbc.ini file is located in /usr/local/etc, set the environment variables like this:

export ODBCINI=/usr/local/etc/odbc.ini
export ODBCSYSINI=/usr/local/etc

You can specify the following parameters for MyODBC in the [Data Source Name] section of an ODBC.INI file or through the InConnectionString argument in the SQLDriverConnect() call.

The option argument is used to tell MyODBC that the client isn't 100% ODBC compliant. On Windows, you normally select options by toggling the checkboxes in the connection screen, but you can also select them in the option argument. The following options are listed in the order in which they appear in the MyODBC connect screen:

To select multiple options, add together their values. For example, setting option to 12 (4+8) gives you debugging without packet limits.

The default myodbc3.dll is compiled for optimal performance. If you want to debug MyODBC 3.51 (for example, to enable tracing), you should instead use myodbc3d.dll. To install this file, copy myodbc3d.dll over the installed myodbc3.dll file. Make sure to revert back to the release version of the driver DLL once you are done with the debugging because the debug version may cause performance issues. Note that the myodbc3d.dll isn't included in MyODBC 3.51.07 through 3.51.11. If you are using one of these versions, you should copy that DLL from a previous version (for example, 3.51.06).

For MyODBC 2.50, myodbc.dll and myodbcd.dll are used instead.

The following table shows some recommended option values for various configurations:

Yes. You can connect to the MySQL server using SQLDriverConnect, by specifying the DRIVER name field. Here are the connection strings for MyODBC using DSN-Less connection:

For MyODBC 2.50:

ConnectionString = "DRIVER={MySQL};\
                  SERVER=localhost;\
                  DATABASE=test;\
                  USER=venu;\
                  PASSWORD=venu;\
                  OPTION=3;"

For MyODBC 3.51:

ConnectionString = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};\
                  SERVER=localhost;\
                  DATABASE=test;\
                  USER=venu;\
                  PASSWORD=venu;\
                  OPTION=3;"

If your programming language converts backslash followed by whitespace to a space, it is preferable to specify the connection string as a single long string, or to use a concatenation of multiple strings that does not add spaces in between. For example:

ConnectionString = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};"
                  "SERVER=localhost;"
                  "DATABASE=test;"
                  "USER=venu;"
                  "PASSWORD=venu;"
                  "OPTION=3;"

Refer to the Section 19.1.9.4, “Connection Parameters”, for the list of connection parameters that can be supplied.

If you want to connect to system A from system B with a username and password of myuser and mypassword, here is a simple procedure.

On system A, follow these steps:

On system B, follow these steps:

You can also find a simple HOWTO at http://www.phphelp.com/tutorial/using-myodbc-to-connect-to-a-remote-database.html.

If you encounter difficulties or problems with MyODBC, you should start by making a log file from the ODBC Manager (the log you get when requesting logs from ODBC ADMIN) and MyODBC.

To get an ODBC trace through Driver Manager, do the following:

MyODBC has been tested with the following applications:

If you know of any other applications that work with MyODBC, please send mail to <myodbc@lists.mysql.com> about them.

Most programs should work with MyODBC, but for each of those listed here, we have tested it ourselves or received confirmation from some user that it works. Many of the descriptions provide workarounds for problems that you might encounter.

For more information, refer to MS KnowledgeBase Article(Q260558). Also, make sure you have the latest valid ctl3d32.dll in your system directory.

Refer to Section 5.6.8, “Causes of Access denied Errors”.

Refer to this document about connection pooling: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q169470.

The following must be done on your client PC in order to make Microsoft Access work with MyODBC.

You cannot export a table or query to MySQL unless you have installed MyODBC.

To export a table from Access to MySQL, follow these instructions:

Microsoft Access connects to the MySQL Server through this data source and exports new tables and or data.

You cannot export a table or query to MySQL database unless you have installed the MyODBC.

To import or link a table(s) from MySQL to Access, follow the instructions:

Yes. Use the following procedure to view or to refresh links when the structure or location of a linked table has changed. The Linked Table Manager lists the paths to all currently linked tables.

To view or refresh links:

Microsoft Access confirms a successful refresh or, if the table wasn't found, displays the Select New Location of <table name> dialog box in which you can specify its the table's new location.If several selected tables have moved to the new location that you specify, the Linked Table Manager searches that location for all selected tables, and updates all links in one step.

To change the path for a set of linked tables:

If the inserted or updated records are shown as #DELETED# in the access, then:

If you see the following errors, select the Return Matching Rows option in the DSN configuration dialog, or specify OPTION=2, as the connection parameter:

Write Conflict. Another user has changed your data.

Row cannot be located for updating. Some values may have been changed
since it was last read.

This is a strange issue from Access 97, and doesn't appear with Access 2000 or 2002. You can overcome this by upgrading the MyODBC driver to at least MyODBC 3.51.02.

With some programs, this error may occur: Another user has modified the record that you have modified. In most cases, this can be solved by doing one of the following things:

If these strategies don't help, you should start by making a log file from the ODBC manager (the log you get when requesting logs from ODBCADMIN) and a MyODBC log to help you figure out why things go wrong. For instructions, see Section 19.1.9.7, “Getting an ODBC Trace File”.

Read “How to Trap ODBC Login Error Messages in Access” at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q124/9/01.asp?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0%3CP%3E.

If you have very large (long) tables in Access, it might take a very long time to open them. Or you might run low on virtual memory and eventually get an ODBC Query Failed error and the table cannot open. To deal with this, select the following options:

These add up to a value of 10 (OPTION=10).

Read “Set the QueryTimeout Value for ODBC Connections” at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B153756.

Refer to converters section for list of available tools.

It's because the COUNT(*) expression is returning a BIGINT, and ADO can't make sense of a number this big. Select the Change BIGINT columns to INT option (option value 16384).

The GetChunk() and AppendChunk() methods from ADO doesn't work as expected when the cursor location is specified as adUseServer. On the other hand, you can overcome this error by using adUseClient.

A simple example can be found from, http://www.dwam.net/iishelp/ado/docs/adomth02_4.htm

You can make use of RecordsAffected property in the ADO execute method. For more information on the usage of execute method, refer to http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/ado270/htm/mdmthcnnexecute.asp.

Here is an excellent article from Mike Hillyer (<m.hillyer@telusplanet.net>); explaining how to insert and/or fetch data from blob columns through MyODBC from ADO: MySQL BLOB columns and Visual Basic 6.

Here is yet another good article from Mike Hillyer (<m.hillyer@telusplanet.net>): How to map Visual basic data type to MySQL types.

A simple examples for the usage of ADO, DAO and RDO with VB can be found her:

If you find any other good example or HOW-TO on ADO/DAO/RDO, then please send the details to <myodbc@lists.mysql.com>

For more information about how to access MySQL via ASP using MyODBC, refer to the following articles:

A Frequently Asked Questions list for ASP can be found at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/Support/ActiveServer/faq/data/adofaq.asp.

For information, see ActiveX Data Objects(ADO) Frequently Asked Questions.

To retrieve data from MySQL to Word/Excel documents, you need to use the MyODBC driver and the Add-in Microsoft Query help.

For example, create a database with a table containing two columns of text:

This is an issue similar to that of Access 97 when your table consists of TEXT or VARCHAR data types. You can fix this error by upgrading your MyODBC driver to version 3.51.02 or higher.

Refer to MySQL ColdFusion unixODBC MyODBC and Solaris - how to succeed

A common problem is how to get the value of an automatically generated ID from an INSERT statement. With ODBC, you can do something like this (assuming that auto is an AUTO_INCREMENT field):

INSERT INTO tbl (auto,text) VALUES(NULL,'text');
SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID();

Or, if you are just going to insert the ID into another table, you can do this:

INSERT INTO tbl (auto,text) VALUES(NULL,'text');
INSERT INTO tbl2 (id,text) VALUES(LAST_INSERT_ID(),'text');

See Section 18.2.13.3, “How to Get the Unique ID for the Last Inserted Row”.

For the benefit of some ODBC applications (at least Delphi and Access), the following query can be used to find a newly inserted row:

SELECT * FROM tbl WHERE auto IS NULL;

Yes. MyODBC 3.51 supports Dynamic cursor type along with Forward-only and static.

Due to the performance issues, the driver does not support this feature by default. You can enable this by specifying the connection option flag as OPTION=32 or by checking the Enable Dynamic Cursor option from the DSN configuration.

The driver returns this error when an application issues any transactional call but the underlying MySQL server either does not support transactions or they are not enabled.

To avoid this problem, you must use a server that has either or both of the InnoDB or BDB storage engines enabled, and use tables of those types. MySQL servers from version 4.0 and up support InnoDB by default. MySQL-Max servers also support BDB on platforms where BDB is available.

Also, if your server supports transactional table types (InnoDB and BDB) make sure the disable transactions option is not set from the DSN configuration.

This is because the application is using old MyODBC 2.50 version, and it did not set the cursor name explicitly through SQLSetCursorName. The fix is to upgrade to MyODBC 3.51 version.

Yes. If you find something is not working with MyODBC 3.51 that works with MyODBC 2.50, then send a mail message to <myodbc@lists.mysql.com>

Yes. You can make use of odbc.net to connect to MySQL through MyODBC. Here are the few basic samples to connect to MySQL from VC.NET and VB.NET.

Here is yet another excellent article "Exploring MySQL on .NET environment" by Venu (MyODBC developer) that covers about all MySQL .NET interfaces along with some useful examples.

Caution: Using ODBC.NET with MyODBC, while fetching empty string (0 length), it starts giving the SQL_NO_DATA exception. You can get the patch for this from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q319243.

MyODBC is a lot faster than any other ODBC driver. Slowness might be due to not using the following options.

The following ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) example creates a table my_ado and demonstrates the use of rs.addNew, rs.delete, and rs.update.

Private Sub myodbc_ado_Click()

Dim conn As ADODB.Connection
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Dim fld As ADODB.Field
Dim sql As String

'connect to MySQL server using MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver
Set conn = New ADODB.Connection
conn.ConnectionString = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};"_
                      & "SERVER=localhost;"_
                      & " DATABASE=test;"_
                      & "UID=venu;PWD=venu; OPTION=3"

conn.Open

'create table
conn.Execute "DROP TABLE IF EXISTS my_ado"
conn.Execute "CREATE TABLE my_ado(id int not null primary key, name varchar(20)," _
                               & "txt text, dt date, tm time, ts timestamp)"

'direct insert
conn.Execute "INSERT INTO my_ado(id,name,txt) values(1,100,'venu')"
conn.Execute "INSERT INTO my_ado(id,name,txt) values(2,200,'MySQL')"
conn.Execute "INSERT INTO my_ado(id,name,txt) values(3,300,'Delete')"

Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.CursorLocation = adUseServer

'fetch the initial table ..
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM my_ado", conn
  Debug.Print rs.RecordCount
  rs.MoveFirst
  Debug.Print String(50, "-") & "Initial my_ado Result Set " & String(50, "-")
  For Each fld In rs.Fields
    Debug.Print fld.Name,
    Next
    Debug.Print

    Do Until rs.EOF
    For Each fld In rs.Fields
    Debug.Print fld.Value,
    Next
    rs.MoveNext
    Debug.Print
  Loop
rs.Close

'rs insert
rs.Open "select * from my_ado", conn, adOpenDynamic, adLockOptimistic
rs.AddNew
rs!Name = "Monty"
rs!txt = "Insert row"
rs.Update
rs.Close

'rs update
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM my_ado"
rs!Name = "update"
rs!txt = "updated-row"
rs.Update
rs.Close

'rs update second time..
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM my_ado"
rs!Name = "update"
rs!txt = "updated-second-time"
rs.Update
rs.Close

'rs delete
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM my_ado"
rs.MoveNext
rs.MoveNext
rs.Delete
rs.Close

'fetch the updated table ..
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM my_ado", conn
  Debug.Print rs.RecordCount
  rs.MoveFirst
  Debug.Print String(50, "-") & "Updated my_ado Result Set " & String(50, "-")
  For Each fld In rs.Fields
    Debug.Print fld.Name,
    Next
    Debug.Print

    Do Until rs.EOF
    For Each fld In rs.Fields
    Debug.Print fld.Value,
    Next
    rs.MoveNext
    Debug.Print
  Loop
rs.Close
conn.Close
End Sub

The following DAO (Data Access Objects) example creates a table my_dao and demonstrates the use of rs.addNew, rs.update, and result set scrolling.

Private Sub myodbc_dao_Click()

Dim ws As Workspace
Dim conn As Connection
Dim queryDef As queryDef
Dim str As String

'connect to MySQL using MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver
Set ws = DBEngine.CreateWorkspace("", "venu", "venu", dbUseODBC)
str = "odbc;DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};"_
                      & "SERVER=localhost;"_
                      & " DATABASE=test;"_
                      & "UID=venu;PWD=venu; OPTION=3"
Set conn = ws.OpenConnection("test", dbDriverNoPrompt, False, str)

'Create table my_dao
Set queryDef = conn.CreateQueryDef("", "drop table if exists my_dao")
queryDef.Execute

Set queryDef = conn.CreateQueryDef("", "create table my_dao(Id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, " _
                                                         & "Ts TIMESTAMP(14) NOT NULL, Name varchar(20), Id2 INT)")
queryDef.Execute

'Insert new records using rs.addNew
Set rs = conn.OpenRecordset("my_dao")
Dim i As Integer

  For i = 10 To 15
  rs.AddNew
  rs!Name = "insert record" & i
  rs!Id2 = i
  rs.Update
  Next i
           rs.Close

'rs update..
Set rs = conn.OpenRecordset("my_dao")
rs.Edit
rs!Name = "updated-string"
rs.Update
rs.Close

'fetch the table back...
Set rs = conn.OpenRecordset("my_dao", dbOpenDynamic)
str = "Results:"
rs.MoveFirst
While Not rs.EOF
str = " " & rs!Id & " , " & rs!Name & ", " & rs!Ts & ", " & rs!Id2
Debug.Print "DATA:" & str
rs.MoveNext
Wend

'rs Scrolling
rs.MoveFirst
str = " FIRST ROW: " & rs!Id & " , " & rs!Name & ", " & rs!Ts & ", " & rs!Id2
Debug.Print str

rs.MoveLast
str = " LAST ROW: " & rs!Id & " , " & rs!Name & ", " & rs!Ts & ", " & rs!Id2
Debug.Print str

rs.MovePrevious
str = " LAST-1 ROW: " & rs!Id & " , " & rs!Name & ", " & rs!Ts & ", " & rs!Id2
Debug.Print str

'free all resources
rs.Close
queryDef.Close
conn.Close
ws.Close

End Sub

The following RDO (Remote Data Objects) example creates a table my_rdo and demonstrates the use of rs.addNew and rs.update.

Dim rs As rdoResultset
  Dim cn As New rdoConnection
  Dim cl As rdoColumn
  Dim SQL As String

  'cn.Connect = "DSN=test;"
  cn.Connect = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};"_
                      & "SERVER=localhost;"_
                      & " DATABASE=test;"_
                      & "UID=venu;PWD=venu; OPTION=3"

  cn.CursorDriver = rdUseOdbc
  cn.EstablishConnection rdDriverPrompt


  'drop table my_rdo
  SQL = "drop table if exists my_rdo"
  cn.Execute SQL, rdExecDirect

  'create table my_rdo
  SQL = "create table my_rdo(id int, name varchar(20))"
  cn.Execute SQL, rdExecDirect

  'insert - direct
  SQL = "insert into my_rdo values (100,'venu')"
  cn.Execute SQL, rdExecDirect

  SQL = "insert into my_rdo values (200,'MySQL')"
  cn.Execute SQL, rdExecDirect

  'rs insert
  SQL = "select * from my_rdo"
  Set rs = cn.OpenResultset(SQL, rdOpenStatic, rdConcurRowVer, rdExecDirect)
  rs.AddNew
  rs!id = 300
  rs!Name = "Insert1"
  rs.Update
  rs.Close

  'rs insert
  SQL = "select * from my_rdo"
  Set rs = cn.OpenResultset(SQL, rdOpenStatic, rdConcurRowVer, rdExecDirect)
  rs.AddNew
  rs!id = 400
  rs!Name = "Insert 2"
  rs.Update
  rs.Close

  'rs update
  SQL = "select * from my_rdo"
  Set rs = cn.OpenResultset(SQL, rdOpenStatic, rdConcurRowVer, rdExecDirect)
  rs.Edit
  rs!id = 999
  rs!Name = "updated"
  rs.Update
  rs.Close

  'fetch back...
  SQL = "select * from my_rdo"
  Set rs = cn.OpenResultset(SQL, rdOpenStatic, rdConcurRowVer, rdExecDirect)
  Do Until rs.EOF
  For Each cl In rs.rdoColumns
              Debug.Print cl.Value,
    Next
    rs.MoveNext
    Debug.Print
             Loop
  Debug.Print "Row count="; rs.RowCount

  'close
  rs.Close
  cn.Close

End Sub

The following sample creates a table my_odbc_net and demonstrates the use in C#.

/**
* @sample    : mycon.cs
* @purpose   : Demo sample for ODBC.NET using MyODBC
* @author    : Venu, <venu@mysql.com>
*
* (C) Copyright MySQL AB, 1995-2004
*
**/

/* build command
*
*  csc /t:exe
*      /out:mycon.exe mycon.cs
*      /r:Microsoft.Data.Odbc.dll
*/

using Console = System.Console;
using Microsoft.Data.Odbc;

namespace myodbc3
{
class mycon
{
  static void Main(string[] args)
  {
    try
    {
      //Connection string for MyODBC 2.50
      /*string MyConString = "DRIVER={MySQL};" +
                           "SERVER=localhost;" +
                           "DATABASE=test;" +
                           "UID=venu;" +
                           "PASSWORD=venu;" +
                           "OPTION=3";
      */
      //Connection string for MyODBC 3.51
      string MyConString = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};" +
                           "SERVER=localhost;" +
                           "DATABASE=test;" +
                           "UID=venu;" +
                           "PASSWORD=venu;" +
                           "OPTION=3";

      //Connect to MySQL using MyODBC
      OdbcConnection MyConnection = new OdbcConnection(MyConString);
      MyConnection.Open();

      Console.WriteLine("\n !!! success, connected successfully !!!\n");

      //Display connection information
      Console.WriteLine("Connection Information:");
      Console.WriteLine("\tConnection String:" + MyConnection.ConnectionString);
      Console.WriteLine("\tConnection Timeout:" + MyConnection.ConnectionTimeout);
      Console.WriteLine("\tDatabase:" + MyConnection.Database);
      Console.WriteLine("\tDataSource:" + MyConnection.DataSource);
      Console.WriteLine("\tDriver:" + MyConnection.Driver);
      Console.WriteLine("\tServerVersion:" + MyConnection.ServerVersion);

      //Create a sample table
      OdbcCommand MyCommand = new OdbcCommand("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS my_odbc_net",MyConnection);
      MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
      MyCommand.CommandText = "CREATE TABLE my_odbc_net(id int, name varchar(20), idb bigint)";
      MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();

      //Insert
      MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_odbc_net VALUES(10,'venu', 300)";
      Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" + MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery());;

      //Insert
      MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_odbc_net VALUES(20,'mysql',400)";
      Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" + MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery());

      //Insert
      MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_odbc_net VALUES(20,'mysql',500)";
      Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" + MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery());

      //Update
      MyCommand.CommandText = "UPDATE my_odbc_net SET id=999 WHERE id=20";
      Console.WriteLine("Update, Total rows affected:" + MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery());

      //COUNT(*)
      MyCommand.CommandText = "SELECT COUNT(*) as TRows FROM my_odbc_net";
      Console.WriteLine("Total Rows:" + MyCommand.ExecuteScalar());

      //Fetch
      MyCommand.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM my_odbc_net";
      OdbcDataReader MyDataReader;
      MyDataReader =  MyCommand.ExecuteReader();
      while (MyDataReader.Read())
      {
       if(string.Compare(MyConnection.Driver,"myodbc3.dll") == 0) {
         Console.WriteLine("Data:" + MyDataReader.GetInt32(0) + " " +
                                     MyDataReader.GetString(1) + " " +
                                     MyDataReader.GetInt64(2)); //Supported only by MyODBC 3.51
       }
       else {
         Console.WriteLine("Data:" + MyDataReader.GetInt32(0) + " " +
                                     MyDataReader.GetString(1) + " " +
                                     MyDataReader.GetInt32(2)); //BIGINTs not supported by MyODBC
       }
      }

      //Close all resources
      MyDataReader.Close();
      MyConnection.Close();
    }
    catch (OdbcException MyOdbcException)//Catch any ODBC exception ..
    {
      for (int i=0; i < MyOdbcException.Errors.Count; i++)
      {
        Console.Write("ERROR #" + i + "\n" +
          "Message: " + MyOdbcException.Errors[i].Message + "\n" +
          "Native: " + MyOdbcException.Errors[i].NativeError.ToString() + "\n" +
          "Source: " + MyOdbcException.Errors[i].Source + "\n" +
          "SQL: " + MyOdbcException.Errors[i].SQLState + "\n");
      }
    }
  }
}
}

The following sample creates a table my_vb_net and demonstrates the use in VB.

' @sample    : myvb.vb
' @purpose   : Demo sample for ODBC.NET using MyODBC
' @author    : Venu, <venu@mysql.com>
'
' (C) Copyright MySQL AB, 1995-2004
'
'

'
' build command
'
' vbc /target:exe
'     /out:myvb.exe
'     /r:Microsoft.Data.Odbc.dll
'     /r:System.dll
'     /r:System.Data.dll
'

Imports Microsoft.Data.Odbc
Imports System

Module myvb
  Sub Main()
      Try

          'MyODBC 3.51 connection string
          Dim MyConString As String = "DRIVER={MySQL ODBC 3.51 Driver};" & _
                         "SERVER=localhost;" & _
                         "DATABASE=test;" & _
                         "UID=venu;" & _
                         "PASSWORD=venu;" & _
                         "OPTION=3;"

          'Connection
          Dim MyConnection As New OdbcConnection(MyConString)
          MyConnection.Open()

          Console.WriteLine ("Connection State::" & MyConnection.State.ToString)

          'Drop
          Console.WriteLine ("Dropping table")
          Dim MyCommand As New OdbcCommand()
          MyCommand.Connection = MyConnection
          MyCommand.CommandText = "DROP TABLE IF EXISTS my_vb_net"
          MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()

          'Create
          Console.WriteLine ("Creating....")
          MyCommand.CommandText = "CREATE TABLE my_vb_net(id int, name varchar(30))"
          MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()

          'Insert
          MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_vb_net VALUES(10,'venu')"
          Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" & MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery())

          'Insert
          MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_vb_net VALUES(20,'mysql')"
          Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" & MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery())

          'Insert
          MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_vb_net VALUES(20,'mysql')"
          Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" & MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery())

          'Insert
          MyCommand.CommandText = "INSERT INTO my_vb_net(id) VALUES(30)"
          Console.WriteLine("INSERT, Total rows affected:" & MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery())

          'Update
          MyCommand.CommandText = "UPDATE my_vb_net SET id=999 WHERE id=20"
          Console.WriteLine("Update, Total rows affected:" & MyCommand.ExecuteNonQuery())

          'COUNT(*)
          MyCommand.CommandText = "SELECT COUNT(*) as TRows FROM my_vb_net"
          Console.WriteLine("Total Rows:" & MyCommand.ExecuteScalar())

          'Select
          Console.WriteLine ("Select * FROM my_vb_net")
          MyCommand.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM my_vb_net"
          Dim MyDataReader As OdbcDataReader
          MyDataReader = MyCommand.ExecuteReader
          While MyDataReader.Read
              If MyDataReader("name") Is DBNull.Value Then
                  Console.WriteLine ("id = " & CStr(MyDataReader("id")) & "  name = " & _
                    "NULL")
              Else
                  Console.WriteLine ("id = " & CStr(MyDataReader("id")) & "  name = " & _
                                        CStr(MyDataReader("name")))
              End If
          End While

      'Catch ODBC Exception
      Catch MyOdbcException As OdbcException
          Dim i As Integer
          Console.WriteLine (MyOdbcException.ToString)

      'Catch program exception
      Catch MyException As Exception
          Console.WriteLine (MyException.ToString)
  End Try
  End Sub
End Module

The MySqlCommand class represents a SQL statement to execute against a MySQL database.

Note: Prior versions of the provider used the '@' symbol to mark parameters in SQL. This is incompatible with MySQL user variables, so the provider now uses the '?' symbol to locate parameters in SQL. To support older code, you can set 'old syntax=yes' in your connection string. If you do this, please be aware that an exception will not be thrown if you fail to define a parameter that you intended to use in your SQL.

Public Sub InsertRow(myConnectionString As String)
    ' If the connection string is null, use a default.
    If myConnectionString = "" Then
        myConnectionString = "Database=Test;Data Source=localhost;User Id=username;Password=pass"
    End If
    Dim myConnection As New MySqlConnection(myConnectionString)
    Dim myInsertQuery As String = "INSERT INTO Orders (id, customerId, amount) Values(1001, 23, 30.66)"
    Dim myCommand As New MySqlCommand(myInsertQuery)
    myCommand.Connection = myConnection
    myConnection.Open()
    myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
    myCommand.Connection.Close()
End Sub

public void InsertRow(string myConnectionString) 
{
    // If the connection string is null, use a default.
    if(myConnectionString == "") 
    {
        myConnectionString = "Database=Test;Data Source=localhost;User Id=username;Password=pass";
    }
    MySqlConnection myConnection = new MySqlConnection(myConnectionString);
    string myInsertQuery = "INSERT INTO Orders (id, customerId, amount) Values(1001, 23, 30.66)";
    MySqlCommand myCommand = new MySqlCommand(myInsertQuery);
    myCommand.Connection = myConnection;
    myConnection.Open();
    myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
    myCommand.Connection.Close();
}

The MySqlDataAdapter does not automatically generate the SQL statements required to reconcile changes made to a DataSet with the associated instance of MySQL. However, you can create a MySqlCommandBuilder object to automatically generate SQL statements for single-table updates if you set the SelectCommand property of the MySqlDataAdapter. Then, any additional SQL statements that you do not set are generated by the MySqlCommandBuilder.

The MySqlCommandBuilder registers itself as a listener for OnRowUpdating events whenever you set the DataAdapter property. You can only associate one MySqlDataAdapter or MySqlCommandBuilder object with each other at one time.

To generate INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements, the MySqlCommandBuilder uses the SelectCommand property to retrieve a required set of metadata automatically. If you change the SelectCommand after the metadata has is retrieved (for example, after the first update), you should call the RefreshSchema method to update the metadata.

The SelectCommand must also return at least one primary key or unique column. If none are present, an InvalidOperation exception is generated, and the commands are not generated.

The MySqlCommandBuilder also uses the Connection, CommandTimeout, and Transaction properties referenced by the SelectCommand. The user should call RefreshSchema if any of these properties are modified, or if the SelectCommand itself is replaced. Otherwise the InsertCommand, UpdateCommand, and DeleteCommand properties retain their previous values.

If you call Dispose, the MySqlCommandBuilder is disassociated from the MySqlDataAdapter, and the generated commands are no longer used.

  Public Shared Function SelectRows(myConnection As String, mySelectQuery As String, myTableName As String) As DataSet
        Dim myConn As New MySqlConnection(myConnection)
        Dim myDataAdapter As New MySqlDataAdapter()
        myDataAdapter.SelectCommand = New MySqlCommand(mySelectQuery, myConn)
        Dim cb As SqlCommandBuilder = New MySqlCommandBuilder(myDataAdapter)

        myConn.Open()

        Dim ds As DataSet = New DataSet
        myDataAdapter.Fill(ds, myTableName)

        ' Code to modify data in DataSet here 

        ' Without the MySqlCommandBuilder this line would fail.
        myDataAdapter.Update(ds, myTableName)

        myConn.Close()
    End Function 'SelectRows
    

    public static DataSet SelectRows(string myConnection, string mySelectQuery, string myTableName)
    {
      MySqlConnection myConn = new MySqlConnection(myConnection);
      MySqlDataAdapter myDataAdapter = new MySqlDataAdapter();
      myDataAdapter.SelectCommand = new MySqlCommand(mySelectQuery, myConn);
      MySqlCommandBuilder cb = new MySqlCommandBuilder(myDataAdapter);

      myConn.Open();

      DataSet ds = new DataSet();
      myDataAdapter.Fill(ds, myTableName);

      //code to modify data in DataSet here

      //Without the MySqlCommandBuilder this line would fail
      myDataAdapter.Update(ds, myTableName);

      myConn.Close();

      return ds;
    }  
    

A MySqlConnection object represents a session to a MySQL Server data source. When you create an instance of MySqlConnection, all properties are set to their initial values. For a list of these values, see the MySqlConnection constructor.

If the MySqlConnection goes out of scope, it is not closed. Therefore, you must explicitly close the connection by calling Close or Dispose.

Public Sub InsertRow(myConnectionString As String)
    ' If the connection string is null, use a default.
    If myConnectionString = "" Then
        myConnectionString = "Database=Test;Data Source=localhost;User Id=username;Password=pass"
    End If
    Dim myConnection As New MySqlConnection(myConnectionString)
    Dim myInsertQuery As String = "INSERT INTO Orders (id, customerId, amount) Values(1001, 23, 30.66)"
    Dim myCommand As New MySqlCommand(myInsertQuery)
    myCommand.Connection = myConnection
    myConnection.Open()
    myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
    myCommand.Connection.Close()
End Sub
      

public void InsertRow(string myConnectionString) 
{
    // If the connection string is null, use a default.
    if(myConnectionString == "") 
    {
        myConnectionString = "Database=Test;Data Source=localhost;User Id=username;Password=pass";
    }
    MySqlConnection myConnection = new MySqlConnection(myConnectionString);
    string myInsertQuery = "INSERT INTO Orders (id, customerId, amount) Values(1001, 23, 30.66)";
    MySqlCommand myCommand = new MySqlCommand(myInsertQuery);
    myCommand.Connection = myConnection;
    myConnection.Open();
    myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
    myCommand.Connection.Close();
}

      

The MySQLDataAdapter serves as a bridge between a DataSet and MySQL for retrieving and saving data. The MySQLDataAdapter provides this bridge by mapping Fill, which changes the data in the DataSet to match the data in the data source, and Update, which changes the data in the data source to match the data in the DataSet, using the appropriate SQL statements against the data source.

When the MySQLDataAdapter fills a DataSet, it will create the necessary tables and columns for the returned data if they do not already exist. However, primary key information will not be included in the implicitly created schema unless the MissingSchemaAction property is set to AddWithKey. You may also have the MySQLDataAdapter create the schema of the DataSet, including primary key information, before filling it with data using FillSchema.

MySQLDataAdapter is used in conjunction with MySqlConnection and MySqlCommand to increase performance when connecting to a MySQL database.

The MySQLDataAdapter also includes the SelectCommand, InsertCommand, DeleteCommand, UpdateCommand, and TableMappings properties to facilitate the loading and updating of data.

Public Function SelectRows(dataSet As DataSet, connection As String, query As String) As DataSet
    Dim conn As New MySqlConnection(connection)
    Dim adapter As New MySqlDataAdapter()
    adapter.SelectCommand = new MySqlCommand(query, conn)
    adapter.Fill(dataset)
    Return dataset
End Function 

public DataSet SelectRows(DataSet dataset,string connection,string query) 
{
    MySqlConnection conn = new MySqlConnection(connection);
    MySqlDataAdapter adapter = new MySqlDataAdapter();
    adapter.SelectCommand = new MySqlCommand(query, conn);
    adapter.Fill(dataset);
    return dataset;
}   
  

The MySqlDataReader class provides a means of reading a forward-only stream of rows from a MySQL database.

To create a MySQLDataReader, you must call the ExecuteReader method of the MySqlCommand object, rather than directly using a constructor.

While the MySqlDataReader is in use, the associated MySqlConnection is busy serving the MySqlDataReader, and no other operations can be performed on the MySqlConnection other than closing it. This is the case until the Close method of the MySqlDataReader is called.

IsClosed and RecordsAffected are the only properties that you can call after the MySqlDataReader is closed. Though the RecordsAffected property may be accessed at any time while the MySqlDataReader exists, always call Close before returning the value of RecordsAffected to ensure an accurate return value.

For optimal performance, MySqlDataReader avoids creating unnecessary objects or making unnecessary copies of data. As a result, multiple calls to methods such as GetValue return a reference to the same object. Use caution if you are modifying the underlying value of the objects returned by methods such as GetValue.

Public Sub ReadMyData(myConnString As String)
    Dim mySelectQuery As String = "SELECT OrderID, CustomerID FROM Orders"
    Dim myConnection As New MySqlConnection(myConnString)
    Dim myCommand As New MySqlCommand(mySelectQuery, myConnection)
    myConnection.Open()
    Dim myReader As MySqlDataReader
    myReader = myCommand.ExecuteReader()
    ' Always call Read before accessing data.
    While myReader.Read()
        Console.WriteLine((myReader.GetInt32(0) & ", " & myReader.GetString(1)))
    End While
    ' always call Close when done reading.
    myReader.Close()
    ' Close the connection when done with it.
    myConnection.Close()
End Sub 'ReadMyData       
      

public void ReadMyData(string myConnString) {
    string mySelectQuery = "SELECT OrderID, CustomerID FROM Orders";
    MySqlConnection myConnection = new MySqlConnection(myConnString);
    MySqlCommand myCommand = new MySqlCommand(mySelectQuery,myConnection);
    myConnection.Open();
    MySqlDataReader myReader;
    myReader = myCommand.ExecuteReader();
    // Always call Read before accessing data.
    while (myReader.Read()) {
       Console.WriteLine(myReader.GetInt32(0) + ", " + myReader.GetString(1));
    }
    // always call Close when done reading.
    myReader.Close();
    // Close the connection when done with it.
    myConnection.Close();
 }     
      

This class is created whenever the MySql Data Provider encounters an error generated from the server.

Any open connections are not automatically closed when an exception is thrown. If the client application determines that the exception is fatal, it should close any open MySqlDataReader objects or MySqlConnection objects.

Public Sub ShowException()
     Dim mySelectQuery As String = "SELECT column1 FROM table1"
     Dim myConnection As New MySqlConnection ("Data Source=localhost;Database=Sample;")
     Dim myCommand As New MySqlCommand(mySelectQuery, myConnection)

     Try
         myCommand.Connection.Open()
     Catch e As MySqlException
        MessageBox.Show( e.Message )
     End Try
 End Sub       
      

public void ShowException() 
{
   string mySelectQuery = "SELECT column1 FROM table1";
   MySqlConnection myConnection =
      new MySqlConnection("Data Source=localhost;Database=Sample;");
   MySqlCommand myCommand = new MySqlCommand(mySelectQuery,myConnection);

   try 
   {
      myCommand.Connection.Open();
   }
   catch (MySqlException e) 
   {
        MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
   }
}
    

Helper class that makes it easier to work with the provider. Developers can use the methods of this class to automatically perform common tasks.

Represents a SQL transaction to be made in a MySQL database.

Public Sub RunTransaction(myConnString As String)
    Dim myConnection As New MySqlConnection(myConnString)
    myConnection.Open()
    
    Dim myCommand As MySqlCommand = myConnection.CreateCommand()
    Dim myTrans As MySqlTransaction
    
    ' Start a local transaction
    myTrans = myConnection.BeginTransaction()
    ' Must assign both transaction object and connection
    ' to Command object for a pending local transaction
    myCommand.Connection = myConnection
    myCommand.Transaction = myTrans
    
    Try
      myCommand.CommandText = "Insert into Region (RegionID, RegionDescription) VALUES (100, 'Description')"
      myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
      myCommand.CommandText = "Insert into Region (RegionID, RegionDescription) VALUES (101, 'Description')"
      myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
      myTrans.Commit()
      Console.WriteLine("Both records are written to database.")
    Catch e As Exception
      Try
        myTrans.Rollback()
      Catch ex As MySqlException
        If Not myTrans.Connection Is Nothing Then
          Console.WriteLine("An exception of type " & ex.GetType().ToString() & _
                            " was encountered while attempting to roll back the transaction.")
        End If
      End Try
    
      Console.WriteLine("An exception of type " & e.GetType().ToString() & _
                      "was encountered while inserting the data.")
      Console.WriteLine("Neither record was written to database.")
    Finally
      myConnection.Close()
    End Try
End Sub 'RunTransaction       
      

public void RunTransaction(string myConnString) 
 {
    MySqlConnection myConnection = new MySqlConnection(myConnString);
    myConnection.Open();

    MySqlCommand myCommand = myConnection.CreateCommand();
    MySqlTransaction myTrans;

    // Start a local transaction
    myTrans = myConnection.BeginTransaction();
    // Must assign both transaction object and connection
    // to Command object for a pending local transaction
    myCommand.Connection = myConnection;
    myCommand.Transaction = myTrans;

    try
    {
      myCommand.CommandText = "Insert into Region (RegionID, RegionDescription) VALUES (100, 'Description')";
      myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
      myCommand.CommandText = "Insert into Region (RegionID, RegionDescription) VALUES (101, 'Description')";
      myCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
      myTrans.Commit();
      Console.WriteLine("Both records are written to database.");
    }
    catch(Exception e)
    {
      try
      {
        myTrans.Rollback();
      }
      catch (MySqlException ex)
      {
        if (myTrans.Connection != null)
        {
          Console.WriteLine("An exception of type " + ex.GetType() +
                            " was encountered while attempting to roll back the transaction.");
        }
      }
    
      Console.WriteLine("An exception of type " + e.GetType() +
                        " was encountered while inserting the data.");
      Console.WriteLine("Neither record was written to database.");
    }
    finally 
    {
      myConnection.Close();
    }
}       
      

In this section we will cover some of the more common use cases for Connector/NET, including BLOB handling, date handling, and using Connector/NET with common tools such as Crystal Reports.

When you are using JDBC outside of an application server, the DriverManager class manages the establishment of Connections.

The DriverManager needs to be told which JDBC drivers it should try to make Connections with. The easiest way to do this is to use Class.forName() on the class that implements the java.sql.Driver interface. With MySQL Connector/J, the name of this class is com.mysql.jdbc.Driver. With this method, you could use an external configuration file to supply the driver class name and driver parameters to use when connecting to a database.

The following section of Java code shows how you might register MySQL Connector/J from the main() method of your application:

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.SQLException;

// Notice, do not import com.mysql.jdbc.*
// or you will have problems!

public class LoadDriver {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            // The newInstance() call is a work around for some
            // broken Java implementations

            Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver").newInstance();
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            // handle the error
        }
}

After the driver has been registered with the DriverManager, you can obtain a Connection instance that is connected to a particular database by calling DriverManager.getConnection():

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.SQLException;

    ... try {
            Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost/test?user=monty&password=greatsqldb");

            // Do something with the Connection

           ....
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // handle any errors
            System.out.println("SQLException: " + ex.getMessage());
            System.out.println("SQLState: " + ex.getSQLState());
            System.out.println("VendorError: " + ex.getErrorCode());
        }

Statements allow you to execute basic SQL queries and retrieve the results through the ResultSet class which is described later.

To create a Statement instance, you call the createStatement() method on the Connection object you have retrieved via one of the DriverManager.getConnection() or DataSource.getConnection() methods described earlier.

Once you have a Statement instance, you can execute a SELECT query by calling the executeQuery(String) method with the SQL you want to use.

To update data in the database use the executeUpdate(String SQL) method. This method returns the number of rows affected by the update statement.

If you don't know ahead of time whether the SQL statement will be a SELECT or an UPDATE/INSERT, then you can use the execute(String SQL) method. This method will return true if the SQL query was a SELECT, or false if an UPDATE/INSERT/DELETE query. If the query was a SELECT query, you can retrieve the results by calling the getResultSet() method. If the query was an UPDATE/INSERT/DELETE query, you can retrieve the affected rows count by calling getUpdateCount() on the Statement instance.

// assume conn is an already created JDBC connection
Statement stmt = null;
ResultSet rs = null;

try {
    stmt = conn.createStatement();
    rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT foo FROM bar");

    // or alternatively, if you don't know ahead of time that
    // the query will be a SELECT...

    if (stmt.execute("SELECT foo FROM bar")) {
        rs = stmt.getResultSet();
    }

    // Now do something with the ResultSet ....
} finally {
    // it is a good idea to release
    // resources in a finally{} block
    // in reverse-order of their creation
    // if they are no-longer needed

    if (rs != null) {
        try {
            rs.close();
        } catch (SQLException sqlEx) { // ignore }

        rs = null;
    }

    if (stmt != null) {
        try {
            stmt.close();
        } catch (SQLException sqlEx) { // ignore }

        stmt = null;
    }
}

Starting with MySQL server version 5.0 when used with Connector/J 3.1.1 or newer, the java.sql.CallableStatement interface is fully implemented with the exception of the getParameterMetaData() method.

MySQL's stored procedure syntax is documented in the "Stored Procedures and Functions" section of the MySQL Reference Manual.

Connector/J exposes stored procedure functionality through JDBC's CallableStatement interface.

The following example shows a stored procedure that returns the value of inOutParam incremented by 1, and the string passed in via inputParam as a ResultSet :

CREATE PROCEDURE demoSp(IN inputParam VARCHAR(255), INOUT inOutParam INT)
BEGIN
    DECLARE z INT;
    SET z = inOutParam + 1;
    SET inOutParam = z;

    SELECT inputParam;

    SELECT CONCAT('zyxw', inputParam);
END

To use the demoSp procedure with Connector/J, follow these steps:

Before version 3.0 of the JDBC API, there was no standard way of retrieving key values from databases that supported 'auto increment' or identity columns. With older JDBC drivers for MySQL, you could always use a MySQL- specific method on the Statement interface, or issue the query 'SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID()' after issuing an 'INSERT' to a table that had an AUTO_INCREMENT key. Using the MySQL-specific method call isn't portable, and issuing a 'SELECT' to get the AUTO_INCREMENT key's value requires another round- trip to the database, which isn't as efficient as possible. The following code snippets demonstrate the three different ways to retrieve AUTO_INCREMENT values. First, we demonstrate the use of the new JDBC-3.0 method 'getGeneratedKeys()' which is now the preferred method to use if you need to retrieve AUTO_INCREMENT keys and have access to JDBC-3.0. The second example shows how you can retrieve the same value using a standard 'SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID()' query. The final example shows how updatable result sets can retrieve the AUTO_INCREMENT value when using the method 'insertRow()'.

   Statement stmt = null;
   ResultSet rs = null;

   try {

    //
    // Create a Statement instance that we can use for
    // 'normal' result sets assuming you have a
    // Connection 'conn' to a MySQL database already
    // available

    stmt = conn.createStatement(java.sql.ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
                                java.sql.ResultSet.CONCUR_UPDATABLE);

    //
    // Issue the DDL queries for the table for this example
    //

    stmt.executeUpdate("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS autoIncTutorial");
    stmt.executeUpdate(
            "CREATE TABLE autoIncTutorial ("
            + "priKey INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, "
            + "dataField VARCHAR(64), PRIMARY KEY (priKey))");

    //
    // Insert one row that will generate an AUTO INCREMENT
    // key in the 'priKey' field
    //

    stmt.executeUpdate(
            "INSERT INTO autoIncTutorial (dataField) "
            + "values ('Can I Get the Auto Increment Field?')",
            Statement.RETURN_GENERATED_KEYS);

    //
    // Example of using Statement.getGeneratedKeys()
    // to retrieve the value of an auto-increment
    // value
    //

    int autoIncKeyFromApi = -1;

    rs = stmt.getGeneratedKeys();

    if (rs.next()) {
        autoIncKeyFromApi = rs.getInt(1);
    } else {

        // throw an exception from here
    }

    rs.close();

    rs = null;

    System.out.println("Key returned from getGeneratedKeys():"
        + autoIncKeyFromApi);
} finally {

    if (rs != null) {
        try {
            rs.close();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // ignore
        }
    }

    if (stmt != null) {
        try {
            stmt.close();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // ignore
        }
    }
}

   Statement stmt = null;
   ResultSet rs = null;

   try {

    //
    // Create a Statement instance that we can use for
    // 'normal' result sets.

    stmt = conn.createStatement();

    //
    // Issue the DDL queries for the table for this example
    //

    stmt.executeUpdate("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS autoIncTutorial");
    stmt.executeUpdate(
            "CREATE TABLE autoIncTutorial ("
            + "priKey INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, "
            + "dataField VARCHAR(64), PRIMARY KEY (priKey))");

    //
    // Insert one row that will generate an AUTO INCREMENT
    // key in the 'priKey' field
    //

    stmt.executeUpdate(
            "INSERT INTO autoIncTutorial (dataField) "
            + "values ('Can I Get the Auto Increment Field?')");

    //
    // Use the MySQL LAST_INSERT_ID()
    // function to do the same thing as getGeneratedKeys()
    //

    int autoIncKeyFromFunc = -1;
    rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID()");

    if (rs.next()) {
        autoIncKeyFromFunc = rs.getInt(1);
    } else {
        // throw an exception from here
    }

    rs.close();

    System.out.println("Key returned from " + "'SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID()': "
        + autoIncKeyFromFunc);

} finally {

    if (rs != null) {
        try {
            rs.close();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // ignore
        }
    }

    if (stmt != null) {
        try {
            stmt.close();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // ignore
        }
    }
}
   

   Statement stmt = null;
   ResultSet rs = null;

   try {

    //
    // Create a Statement instance that we can use for
    // 'normal' result sets as well as an 'updatable'
    // one, assuming you have a Connection 'conn' to
    // a MySQL database already available
    //

    stmt = conn.createStatement(java.sql.ResultSet.TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY,
                                java.sql.ResultSet.CONCUR_UPDATABLE);

    //
    // Issue the DDL queries for the table for this example
    //

    stmt.executeUpdate("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS autoIncTutorial");
    stmt.executeUpdate(
            "CREATE TABLE autoIncTutorial ("
            + "priKey INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, "
            + "dataField VARCHAR(64), PRIMARY KEY (priKey))");

    //
    // Example of retrieving an AUTO INCREMENT key
    // from an updatable result set
    //

    rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT priKey, dataField "
       + "FROM autoIncTutorial");

    rs.moveToInsertRow();

    rs.updateString("dataField", "AUTO INCREMENT here?");
    rs.insertRow();

    //
    // the driver adds rows at the end
    //

    rs.last();

    //
    // We should now be on the row we just inserted
    //

    int autoIncKeyFromRS = rs.getInt("priKey");

    rs.close();

    rs = null;

    System.out.println("Key returned for inserted row: "
        + autoIncKeyFromRS);

} finally {

    if (rs != null) {
        try {
            rs.close();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // ignore
        }
    }

    if (stmt != null) {
        try {
            stmt.close();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            // ignore
        }
    }
}


   

When you run the example code above, you should get the following output: Key returned from getGeneratedKeys(): 1 Key returned from 'SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID()': 1 Key returned for inserted row: 2 You should be aware, that at times, it can be tricky to use the 'SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID()' query, as that function's value is scoped to a connection. So, if some other query happens on the same connection, the value will be overwritten. On the other hand, the 'getGeneratedKeys()' method is scoped by the Statement instance, so it can be used even if other queries happen on the same connection, but not on the same Statement instance.

MySQL AB tries to keep the upgrade process as easy as possible, however as is the case with any software, sometimes changes need to be made in new versions to support new features, improve existing functionality, or comply with new standards.

This section has information about what users who are upgrading from one version of Connector/J to another (or to a new version of the MySQL server, with respect to JDBC functionality) should be aware of.

The name of the class that implements java.sql.Driver in MySQL Connector/J is 'com.mysql.jdbc.Driver'. The 'org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver' class name is also usable to remain backwards-compatible with MM.MySQL. You should use this class name when registering the driver, or when otherwise configuring software to use MySQL Connector/J.

The JDBC URL format for MySQL Connector/J is as follows, with items in square brackets ([, ]) being optional:

jdbc:mysql://[host][,failoverhost...][:port]/[database][?propertyName1][=propertyValue1][&propertyName2][=propertyValue2]...

If the hostname is not specified, it defaults to '127.0.0.1'. If the port is not specified, it defaults to '3306', the default port number for MySQL servers.

jdbc:mysql://[host:port],[host:port].../[database][?propertyName1][=propertyValue1][&propertyName2][=propertyValue2]...

If the database is not specified, the connection will be made with no 'current' database. In this case, you will need to either call the 'setCatalog()' method on the Connection instance or fully-specify table names using the database name (i.e. 'SELECT dbname.tablename.colname FROM dbname.tablename...') in your SQL. Not specifying the database to use upon connection is generally only useful when building tools that work with multiple databases, such as GUI database managers.

MySQL Connector/J has fail-over support. This allows the driver to fail-over to any number of "slave" hosts and still perform read-only queries. Fail-over only happens when the connection is in an autoCommit(true) state, because fail-over can not happen reliably when a transaction is in progress. Most application servers and connection pools set autoCommit to 'true' at the end of every transaction/connection use.

The fail-over functionality has the following behavior:

If the URL property "autoReconnect" is false: Failover only happens at connection initialization, and failback occurs when the driver determines that the first host has become available again.

If the URL property "autoReconnect" is true: Failover happens when the driver determines that the connection has failed (before every query), and falls back to the first host when it determines that the host has become available again (after queriesBeforeRetryMaster queries have been issued).

In either case, whenever you are connected to a "failed-over" server, the connection will be set to read-only state, so queries that would modify data will have exceptions thrown (the query will never be processed by the MySQL server).

Configuration properties define how Connector/J will make a connection to a MySQL server. Unless otherwise noted, properties can be set for a DataSource object or for a Connection object.

Configuration Properties can be set in one of the following ways:

The properties are listed in the following table: