[mysql dir]/bin/mysql -h hostname -u root -p
Create a database on the sql server.

create database [databasename];
List all databases on the sql server.

show databases;
Switch to a database.

use [db name];
To see all the tables in the db.

show tables;
To see database's field formats.

describe [table name];
To delete a db.

drop database [database name];
To delete a table.

drop table [table name];
Show all data in a table.

SELECT * FROM [table name];
Returns the columns and column information pertaining to the designated table.

show columns from [table name];
Show certain selected rows with the value "whatever".

SELECT * FROM [table name] WHERE [field name] = "whatever";
Show all records containing the name "Bob" AND the phone number '3444444'.

SELECT * FROM [table name] WHERE name = "Bob" AND phone_number = '3444444';
Show all records not containing the name "Bob" AND the phone number '3444444' order by the phone_number field.

SELECT * FROM [table name] WHERE name != "Bob" AND phone_number = '3444444' order by phone_number;
Show all records starting with the letters 'bob' AND the phone number '3444444'.

SELECT * FROM [table name] WHERE name like "Bob%" AND phone_number = '3444444';
Use a regular expression to find records. Use "REGEXP BINARY" to force case-sensitivity. This finds any record beginning with a.

SELECT * FROM [table name] WHERE rec RLIKE "^a$";
Show unique records.

SELECT DISTINCT [column name] FROM [table name];
Show selected records sorted in an ascending (asc) or descending (desc).

SELECT [col1],[col2] FROM [table name] ORDER BY [col2] DESC;
Return number of rows.

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM [table name];
Sum column.

SELECT SUM(*) FROM [table name];
Join tables on common columns.

select lookup.illustrationid, lookup.personid,person.birthday from lookup
left join person on lookup.personid=person.personid=statement to join birthday in person table with primary illustration id;
Switch to the mysql db. Create a new user.

INSERT INTO [table name] (Host,User,Password) VALUES('%','user',PASSWORD('password'));
Change a users password.(from unix shell).

[mysql dir]/bin/mysqladmin -u root -h hostname.blah.org -p password 'new-password'
Change a users password.(from MySQL prompt).

SET PASSWORD FOR 'user'@'hostname' = PASSWORD('passwordhere');
Allow the user "bob" to connect to the server from localhost using the password "passwd"

grant usage on *.* to bob@localhost identified by 'passwd';
Switch to mysql db.Give user privilages for a db.

INSERT INTO [table name] (Host,Db,User,Select_priv,Insert_priv,Update_priv,Delete_priv,Create_priv,Drop_priv) VALUES ('%','databasename','username','Y','Y','Y','Y','Y','N');

or

grant all privileges on databasename.* to username@localhost;
To update info already in a table.

UPDATE [table name] SET Select_priv = 'Y',Insert_priv = 'Y',Update_priv = 'Y' where [field name] = 'user';
Delete a row(s) from a table.

DELETE from [table name] where [field name] = 'whatever';
Update database permissions/privilages.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Delete a column.

alter table [table name] drop column [column name];
Add a new column to db.

alter table [table name] add column [new column name] varchar (20);
Change column name.

alter table [table name] change [old column name] [new column name] varchar (50);
Make a unique column so you get no dupes.

alter table [table name] add unique ([column name]);
Make a column bigger.

alter table [table name] modify [column name] VARCHAR(3);
Delete unique from table.

alter table [table name] drop index [colmn name];
Load a CSV file into a table.

LOAD DATA INFILE '/tmp/filename.csv' replace INTO TABLE [table name] FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' LINES TERMINATED BY 'n' (field1,field2,field3);
Dump all databases for backup. Backup file is sql commands to recreate all db's.

[mysql dir]/bin/mysqldump -u root -ppassword --opt >/tmp/alldatabases.sql
Dump one database for backup.

[mysql dir]/bin/mysqldump -u username -ppassword --databases databasename >/tmp/databasename.sql
Dump a table from a database.

[mysql dir]/bin/mysqldump -c -u username -ppassword databasename tablename > /tmp/databasename.tablename.sql
Restore database (or database table) from backup.

[mysql dir]/bin/mysql -u username -ppassword databasename < /tmp/databasename.sql
Create Table Example 1.

CREATE TABLE [table name] (firstname VARCHAR(20), middleinitial VARCHAR(3), lastname VARCHAR(35),suffix VARCHAR(3),officeid VARCHAR(10),userid VARCHAR(15),username VARCHAR(8),email VARCHAR(35),phone VARCHAR(25), groups
VARCHAR(15),datestamp DATE,timestamp time,pgpemail VARCHAR(255));
Create Table Example 2.

create table [table name] (personid int(50) not null auto_increment primary key,firstname varchar(35),middlename varchar(50),lastnamevarchar(50) default 'bato');