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Using MySQL as database backend

Helium Music Manager supports three different database backends; Microsoft Access (default), MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server. This section describes how to connect to and use a MySQL database backend.

You can switch to the MySQL database if you have specific needs or wishes to be able to connect and use the database with other systems, or if you already have a MySQL database set up and feel comfortable with using it.

If you are looking for an alternative to the default Microsoft Access database for better performance you should consider using the Microsoft SQL Server alternative. There is a free version called Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition. Click here to read more about switching to a Microsoft SQL Server database.

Prerequisites

1. To use MySQL with Helium Music Manager you have to install MySQL.
   
   Click here to download MySQL for Windows.
2. You will also need to install the MySQL Connector/ODBC to be able to connect to the server from Helium Music Manager. Version 5.1 or higher of the MySQL Connector/ODBC is required.
   
   Click here to download the MySQL Connector/ODBC.

Creating a new Database

From within Helium Music Manager:

1. Open the Database Management dialog by clicking Tools > Library > Management from the main menu.

2. Click on the MySQL Databases tab.

3. Click the New button to open the Create new MySQL database dialog.

4. Enter the server name in the first edit box. For MySQL installed on the same computer as you are running Helium Music Manager you can type localhost and for remote servers you should type the IP or DNS-name for the server.

5. Enter the port number. Default for MySQL is 3306.

6. Type user name and password. Note that you have to connect with a user that has access to create a new database. A default user name called root together with an empty password can be used here.

7. Enter the name of the database you want to create in the second edit box, you can use the refresh button to get a list of databases already created on the server so you don't try to create a database that already exist. Please let Helium Music Manager create your database initially to set everything up.

8. Click the OK button and Helium Music Manager will create and connect to the new database.

Note:

Connecting to a remote server requires that the remote server allows remote connections. This topic does not describe this feature.