Connecting phpMyAdmin to MySQL Workbench

Question

I want to be able to create EER-diagram to handle relationships between my tables. I found MySQL Workbench and installed it on my PC. I wonder if I can import my tables to the program from phpMyAdmin, and how do I do that if it´s possible?

Or even better, can I connect phpMyAdmin to MySQL Workbench so that I can manage everything from Workbench, such as creating new tables, editing data in tables and stuff like that?

Answer 1

I don't think you can create a direct 'link' - but you can export from phpMyAdmin in SQL format (it's in the 'export' tab when overviewing the selected database) - and then import this into MySQL Workbench.

It is then possible to reverse the process to export changes from MySQL Workbench and import them back into the database through phpMyAdmin.

If doing this you would need to either include 'drop table' instructions in order to replace tables completely with any changes you have made to their structure, or think about how to alter existing tables in the SQL.

If you use 'drop table' you will lose any data stored in the table.

I find this quite useful at original design stage for the database, but less use once there is data in the system - although it continues to be useful as a way of visualising changes made using phpMyAdmin.