Database

The database system allows creating and modifying database tables. As usual you can edit the tables and datasets online. The import and export functions are available to handle large datasets.

Database management

The database manager can be opened with DB -> Database management in editing mode.

The top line allows you to create a new database, first enter a database name and then click create. In the bottom part of the window, any existing database tables are displayed, e. g., database ‘shop’.

To edit a table, click on Edit next to database name.

You do not have to create the database tables ‘shop’, ‘forum’ and ‘guest-book’ manually. The modules will create them automatically during installation. For details see Modules.

Table view

The table view displays every dataset (up to 50 per page) as a table. This enables you to change multiple datasets conveniently and quickly.

While in editing mode, click on DB -> Database management and click ‘Edit’ next to the database name you want to open. The data gets loaded into the table view.

Database table view

Save database

Cut

Copy

Paste

Import from clipboard

Export to clipboard

Following page
Create new dataset
Edit dataset
Delete dataset
Clear whole table
Insert column
Column setting
Delete column
Search

Editing fields

Click into a field (it will be highlighted in red) and enter a text. You can use the cursor (1 2) to navigate from one field to another.

Deleting row content, deleting column content

After selecting a dataset by clicking on the number to its left, the dataset can be deleted with the Backspace key.

Do the same procedure if you want to delete a complete column, just select the column to be deleted by clicking on its name.

Copying row content, copying column content

The functions of Copy and Paste can be used as you are accustomed to by working with any text editor.

Adding, deleting and editing columns

After clicking Add column a new column appears right next to the selected column.

Now enter a column name and define its type. The setting ‘Type’ assists in filling out the database fields on a web page. For example a HMTL type will be displayed as a link in the editor or the image type will link to the image manager. Save your settings.

Be careful not to add, delete or change columns in the module related databases like the shop, the forum or the guest book unless you have a better understanding of programming code as PHP code changes will need to be done to reflect your changes.

Editing datasets

The datasets can be edited in the table view. But to insert long text or to use the filling function, the dataset view is more helpful. To show datasets in dataset view click on the dataset and then on Edit dataset.

Dataset view

The dataset view shows all dataset columns in a handy overview.

To fill out details, click on a field and enter text. Using the tab key is an easy way of jumping to the next field.

Save database

Cut

Copy

Paste

Previous dataset

Dataset quick selection – enter a dataset number to jump there directly

Change

Next dataset

this option means that the ID number of the next selected dataset raises by 1.

Editor
Image manager
Document manager
Link

Import and export through clipboard

The import and export function from/to the clipboard is a helpful tool to copy datasets from or to different programmes. Just open the DB -> Database manager and click on Edit next to the database name.

Press the Export symbol. Now start Excel and go to Edit -> Paste. Contents like prices and descriptions can be changed using a programme you are accustomed to.

The maximum number of datasets which can be imported and exported is the number of datasets per page (50 per default). If you want to import/export more than 50 datasets, you will have to check the chapters Import database and Export database.

To import all data that has been changed select rows (maximum of 50) and all columns (the shop database has 19, this means for Microsoft Excel up to the row titled ‘S’). Within the menu click on Edit -> Copy, then go to bluetronix table view and click the Import symbol. Finally Save the database table.

Take care to write references to images, links or documents always as complete URL, including ‘http://’. Do not use spaces or any special characters in a web address. It is safe to use characters a-Z, 0-9, and ’_’, ’-’, ’.’.

Importing a database

Using the import function allows you to handle large databases/datasets and merge them with your existing data. You can import either CSV files or TXT files.

It is essential to have as many columns in the source file as columns exist in the target database. To assure this, compare table columns in the table view to columns in your Excel file. Adjust your source if necessary. You can leave fields blank, but the column itself must exist.

Following example shows how to import a Microsoft Excel file with details about articles into the shop database. The number of columns matches the number of columns in the target table. The table row with column names has been deleted, as we do not want to transfer this information as article details.

Step 1 - Save file as CSV in Excel

In Excel select File -> Save file as, enter a file name and select as file type CSV. Answer any following prompts with OK/Yes.

Step 2 - Import file into the database management system

Start your homepage in editing mode and click DB -> Import database.

Now click on Document manager. To upload a source file, first click on Browse, select a file on your local hard drive and Open it. Start uploading by clicking the upload button.

Now select which file you want to upload and click Insert data.

Now define a target database, in this case it is the shop database. If you check the option ‘Clear existing data’ any data in the target table will be deleted before importing new data. If this option is not checked, imported data will be added to existing data sets.

To start the process, press Import. Depending on the size of data this can take several minutes. After finishing successfully you can check the result in the table view. The identical process is being used to import TXT files.

Exporting a database

By using this function data of large size can be exported.

In editing mode click on DB -> Export database. Select a database you want to export from the list and define the output format (for example CSV). Now click on Export. Confirm the following prompt and click Save to save the new file to your local hard drive. After the exporting process has finished, the file can be opened in Excel.

MySQL commands

The MySQL command input allows advanced users to create extra functions in addition to the database manger. The command interface can be found at DB -> MySQL command input. For further information about MySQL please refer to the internet using the search term ‘MySQL’.