Creating a Database

Can anyone direct me to a GOOD tutorial on how to create a Database? I am completely new to all of this but willing to learn. I was trying to use this one http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/index.php but that wasn't working for me. I need something like The Morons Guide to making a database lol I don't need to make anything complicated just a simple 5 column page.

Thanks!

 

what db you using? Are you asking about the theory of DB design, or how to actually do it?

for newbies:
every record needs a record id. one of your columns should be an auto-incrementing integer. this will be the record id.

then create an excel spreadsheet with a one row that has all the values that will be in your database.
example:

tableBooks
recordID|BookTitle|BookAuthor|DateOfPublication|Publisher

Now look at each of those columns ans identofy those with values that could be duplicates. For example, a write might have written more than one book, so BookAuthor could contain a duplicate entry. Break that out into it's own table:

tableAuthors
recordID|AuthorFirstName|AuthorMiddleName|AuthorLastName

Now instead of putting the author's name in the first able, you put the record id of the author from the author table

Do the same thing for Publisher
tablePublisher
recordID|CompanyName|StreetAddress|City|State|Zip

So a sample row with all cooresponding records would look like:
tableBooks
recordID|BookTitle|BookAuthor|DateOfPublication|PublishingHouse
1|How to make a DB|1|2007|1

tableAuthors
recordID|AuthorFirstName|AuthorMiddleName|AuthorLastName
1|iShop|nmn|HQ

tablePublisher
recordID|CompanyName|StreetAddress|City|State|Zip
1|DigitalPoint Forum|123 Somewhere|SomePlace|CA|95693

then you join the table when you do your query

SELECT BookTitle, AuthorFirstName, AuthorLastName, DateOfPublication, CompanyName
FROM tableBooks
JOIN tableAuthors ON tableAuthors.recordID = tableBooks.BookAuthor
JOIN tablePublishers ON tablePublishers.recrodID = tableBooks.Publisher
ORDER BY BookTitle

 

I assume you want to use php and mysql ?

php freaks are very helpful and will handhold you through your first database
http://www.phpfreaks.com/

I also read tutorials on the w3 schools website
http://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.asp

Try and get a copy of php and mysql for dummies its very good for us newbies.

 

Thank you for the help. Hopefully I can figure something out now! This is a tough thing to learn! lol