Due to their reliability, ease of use and versatility, databases are now used in almost all areas of IT. As a rule, the display of data, access to which is provided by the DBMS, is carried out by application programs or web services in a form convenient for the user. But sometimes, in order to study, diagnose problems, or for other reasons, you need to look at the database.
Necessary
- - browser;
- - access to the Internet;
- - possibly the right to install applications.
Instructions
Step 1
Identify the DBMS that manages databases of the type to which the existing database belongs. If the database is in the form of files, analyze their extension. Use filext.com or wotsit.org for information on file type and format. Knowing the name of the data format, find information about the DBMS developer. If the database is located on a running database server, contact your service provider or server administrator for information on the type of database and connection parameters. Visit the DBMS developer's site for more information on working with your existing database.
Step 2
List the client applications or services that you can use to browse the database. The company that develops the database management system, as a rule, also supplies the client software for working with it. On the developer's website, find and study the section devoted to application software for maintaining and viewing databases. For popular and, moreover, open source DBMSs, there may be several alternative clients, as well as sets of scripts designed to create database management services via the web. For example, to view the contents of MySQL databases, you can use the "official" console mysql client, the "official" client with the MySQL Administrator graphical interface, programs MySQLcc, MySQL Front, services based on the phpMyAdmin distribution kit. Search for alternative client programs using information from the website and forum of the DBMS developer.
Step 3
Select the appropriate client software to view the database. Explore the capabilities and system requirements for the applications from the list compiled in the second step. Determine the appropriate option. Pay attention to the capabilities, convenience and scope of the software provided by the software. For example, MySQL Administrator is perfect for viewing the database on a locally running server, but to view the database on the hosting provider's server, you will most likely have to use the pre-installed phpMyAdmin, since the DBMS will not accept external connections.
Step 4
Install the client software to view the database or connect to the corresponding service. Download the software distribution from the developer's site. Check the installation documentation if it is included with the distribution or published on the source site. Install the software. To access the service, obtain credentials from your administrator or service provider.
Step 5
Browse the database. Run the installed software and open the database file in it. Alternatively, connect to the database using the capabilities of the web service. Go to the section displaying database tables. Select the table you want. Open it in view or edit mode.
