An Easy Way to Develop in MySQL

Toad is a tool for developers and DBAs who use MySQL database. This Open

Source tool from Quest Software is a utility tool for database developers

providing them with productivity features and functionalities for rapidly

creating and executing queries, automating database object management,

generating reports, developing SQL code and administering the server. The tool

provides all these features to developers through an intuitive GUI to MySQL and

hence limiting the use of console for development.

Installation and configuration



Toad for MySQL can be downloaded from the site or from this month's DVD. It

requires Microsoft.NET Framework installed as a pre-requisite, otherwise while

installing the setup it prompts for that to be installed. Toad can be installed

on the client machines as well as on the server. Once installed, a configuration

wizard appears, with which the look of interface can be set as a tabbed or an

MDI window, grid style, DB browser style, internal or external help window, etc.

Using Connection Manager we can connect to the MySQL database. As long as the

MySQL instance is configured properly and users have their permissions,

connecting to database is easy. Toad provides several productivity features for

almost every database function. We created a simple database to explore all

features of Toad.

DB browsing and editing



Toad's Database Browser lets you view, create, modify, and manage database

objects. From the Database tab of the browser we can create, alter and drop

databases. Creating a database and then its tables is just a walk through. While

creating tables is just a form-based process through which we can add columns,

constraints and also view the tables' SQL script code. Through this Database

Browser window other database objects like views, procedures, functions,

triggers, users, etc can also be viewed, created, modified and managed. To

create views or procedures use the SQL Editor window. This editor allows

creating, executing, modifying and saving queries, viewing and editing data, and

processing DDL commands from an easy-to-use interface. The auto-completion of

SQL statements and highlighting of syntaxes makes it convenient and faster to

develop SQL queries, triggers and procedures. In the Editor window, the output

for a statement gets displayed in a multi-tabbed Script Results window, with one

grid per SELECT statement. Also while in editor window if you are not able to

locate the cursor, just press the Escape key, a beacon will highlight the

cursor.

SQL Modeler



This is another productive feature of Toad for MySQL. This modeler can be

used to quickly create the framework of an SQL query using a graphical

interface. Using it, you can select tables and views, join or select columns,

and add conditions to the statement. You can also execute and send the statement

to the Editor, save the model to a file, and print the model.

Reporting tools



MySQL users would be familiar with the Export ResultSet option whereby one

could generate HTML or Excel format based reports of a table or a query result.

Similarly, Toad provides with a feature with which reports can be designed and

generated for any schema, table or a query result. Schema Report Generator

allows generation of HTML reports of selected databases and objects, including

the source code for each object and links that display details for the object

when selected. The report generator can be invoked directly by right clicking on

any database object and selecting Generate Report option, which will initiate

the report generator wizard that will ask for what database objects one needs in

the report and in what type of layout. Similarly, Data Report Designer allows

you to design and distribute live reports that can be used by users to run and

view the latest data.

Use the Scripts tab to get the SQL code for that object and Data tab for editing the data for a table	Schema Compare shows which database objects differ and highlights those differences

Customize the report sheet with various controls and properties settings for each control using Data Report Designer	SQL Modeler lets you create framework for a query and view its immediate output; it also lets you rectify errors

Advanced features



Toad provides some advanced database administration tools like Schema

Compare, Data Compare, Session Monitor, and Group Execute. Schema Compare lets

us compare and synchronize database objects of two schemas. Similarly, Data

Compare will let you compare data from indexed tables with the same schema on

different databases (for example, you can compare the Employee table on the

Production database with the Employee table on the Test database). Group Execute

option can be used to execute one or more scripts in the active Editor window

against multiple servers or multiple instances on a server. Whereas Session

Monitor is a utility that can be used to view real-time information, including

the total active and cached threads in your MySQL session.

Toad for MySQL has many other features that are useful for day-to-day tasks

of database development and administration. One such feature is 'Explain Plan'

which displays the steps a database uses to execute an SQL statement. The

results of the Explain Plan show the order the database uses to search or join

tables, and the names of indexes used. You can also import and export the

scripts for SQL through an easy to use wizard. Another helpful feature is

Knowledge Xpert, which provides helpful background information, best practices,

and examples needed to write optimized code for your database. The Auto-Commit

function, if enabled, will automatically commit the changes done to a database

object. The Rollback function can also be used to revert the committed changes.

With version 3 of Toad for MySQL scheduled for release this July, expect more

enhanced features and functionalities.

Conclusion



Toad is a a powerful feature-rich GUI based tool for database developers and

DBAs that provides them with convenient and productive utilities for MySQL

database.