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MySQL Basics for Visual Learners
As of today, I’m published! MySQL Basics for Visual Learners goes on sale today at Visibooks.com — and by “on sale” I mean free to individuals, actually on sale to companies or organizations who would like to license it.
Here’s the table of contents:
Getting Started
# Install MySQL on a Linux computer
# Start MySQL
# Create a new database
# Create a table
# Create a record
# Run a queryAdministering Databases
# Restart MySQL
# Back up a database
# Delete a table
# Delete a database
# Restore a databaseWorking with Tables
# Alter tables
# Update records
# Delete recordsRunning Queries
# Sort query results
# Add query criteriaSecuring a Database
# Add a local user
# Add a remote user
# Remove a user
# Restrict a userWeb-enabling Databases
# Perform a query using PERL
# Join two tables using PERL
# Create a CGI script
# Write a query in a CGI script
If you want an electronic copy you can visit the site and download the (5MB) PDF for free. If you think you might actually use it, how about instead of printing it out yourself you just buy a copy from Visibooks for $24.95. Either way, I hope you enjoy.
Thanks go to Jill and my family for giving me the time it took to write it and my brother Joe, among others, for help with proofing it.



The copyright on the book is interesting: Individuals may use Visibooks for free. The books ultimately were funded by a Federal grant which supports these books that are given away — I received money up front for writing it. A kinda neat thing is that the Visibooks Personal Editions are provided for individual use under a Creative Commons License, some rights reserved. This is an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license, or in English, the book: 1) can’t be used without giving me credit as the author, 2) may not be used for commercial purposes, and 3) can not be altered, transformed, or built upon. What it does mean is that individuals may download them for free and share them with others.
The good news is that organizations must pay to use Visibooks. But with the limited scope of this book (MySQL on Linux) I’m not certain how many organizations will be interested. Oh well, I’ve got what I wanted out of this experience — which was the, uh… experience.
UPDATE: I think the publisher no longer allows a free download.
written by Kevin in writing