The interface explained.
OPENING IT
cPanel > phpMyAdmin. You are logged in automatically with access to your own databases.
THE LAYOUT
- Left panel: your databases. Click one to expand its tables.
- Main panel: whatever you have selected.
- Top tabs: the actions available for the current selection.
THE TABS THAT MATTER
- Browse: view the rows in a table
- Structure: the columns and indexes
- SQL: run a query
- Search: find rows without writing SQL
- Export: download a backup
- Import: load a dump
- Operations: rename, repair, optimise
THE FIRST RULE
Read what is selected at the top of the screen before doing anything.
Running a query against the wrong database is the most common serious mistake here.
THE SECOND RULE
Back up before changing anything. Export takes thirty seconds and there is no undo.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Any query beginning UPDATE, DELETE or DROP.
WHAT IS SAFE
Browsing, searching and exporting. None of these change anything.
