Part 2 - Creating and Preparing the Database

If you are on shared server hosting and cannot create your own databases:

You will have to have your host create the database for you. The username will likely be your account name, which is also likely to be your login name. Your host will need to know the database name. I suggest the default mdpro rather than any db names that include a version number. This can prevent confusion from having a database named after an older version while you are using a newer one that has had no database changes. The database name does not change as you upgrade your version of MDP so it makes no sense to include a version mumber as part of its name. There will never be any doubt or forgetting what program uses that database. If you expect to have multiple installations of MDP, you can preface it with a few initials to indicate its relationship to a particular site, such as dlmdpro, lpmdpro, etc. where the dl and lp are initials of the site names that correspond to their respective databases.

Your host may also want to know what password you want to use. You are advised to use one that is not a regular word and cannot be guessed at or cracked by a dictionary attack. Use a combination of alphanumeric characters and other allowed characters, vary the case, and make it impossible to be guessed. BigBob2 is a bad password. !52TuvX! is a good one. Once you have your password, write it down! Remember that your password is part of your account security!

1. Locate and open the config/md-config.php file as you will need to be familiar with the information in it. It must be a perfect match for the MySQL information. About half way down, you'll see a section that looks like this (except for the color instructions which you should follow)
   

   $pnconfig['dbtype'] = 'mysql'; do not change
   $pnconfig['dbtabletype'] = 'MyISAM'; do not change
   $pnconfig['dbhost'] = 'localhost'; do not change (unless your system calls for it)
   $pnconfig['dbuname'] = 'root'; change to the database user name you selected or were assigned
   $pnconfig['dbpass'] = ''; enter the password you decided on or were assigned and have written down
   $pnconfig['dbname'] = 'mdpro'; leave unchanged unless you are doing multiple installations of MDPro (see above)
   $pnconfig['system'] = '0'; do not change
   $pnconfig['prefix'] = 'md'; do not change
   $pnconfig['encoded'] = '1'; do not change

   When you have finished editing the config.php file, keep it open in a window or write it down. The database name, database user name and password entered in MDP must match the information entered in the database or you will not be able to establish a connection. You will be shown some of this information and enter the rest later on in the installation process. By understanding it now it won't be confusing when you are asked for it later.

2. If all goes well and no trouble shooting is involved, the hardest part is now over.

Note that the instructions above apply to setting up databases for other programs as well. However, some steps will not have to be repeated when adding other PHP/MySQL programs under the same user name.

Go to Part 3