Over the last couple of years I have been working on a project called "Converge" to convert databases such as Excel and Access to MySQL. I am now working to get the programs into a commercial quality form. The commercial name is going to be “SQL Converter” and the first released application is an Excel Add-in called SQL Converter for Excel that will take worksheet data and perform a MySQL-compatible SQL dump.

Website: www.sqlconverter.com

Hi,

Very nice software. Please contact us if you are looking for resellers for this product. Also we would ourselves be interested if it is economically priced :)

Regards,
Abhishek

Thats nice. Building it right in the app.
However, you can already export as CSV in both Excel and Access and then import the CSV using PHP MyAdmin.

This is true, but to do that you have to make sure you define the table to accept all of the columns and all of the fields in the existing database are in the right order. With SQL Converter you end up mapping columns to fields and can specify the datatype for the field and then it creates an INSERT statement for each record.

I really want to make it be able to support "header" rows and pull recomended datatypes from the cell properties, but Excel does not expose that tyoe of functionality directly. However, I think I can come up with a creative solution to that.

Yeah its not easy to do.

You are clearly putting a lot of thought into and what benifits it will offer the end user therefore I am sure it will be a success.

Frank, have you got any rough pricing for this program yet? As it's a product that may interest a large market, including myself, but it really depends on the price of it.

Alan

Maybe I have missed something - but isn't this something that exists already?

I mean you create a ODBC DSN for your MySQL database. Then you open your Access database and exports it to the ODBC database (which could be for example a remote MySQL server) - and voila you have your whole database exported.

Sure, one can setup MySQL on their local machine and setup ODBC to get the job done, but that is not easy. If your database is located on a remote server, it is not secure unless it is encrypted (remote ODBC is not secure!).

The idea behind SQL Converter is to be able to install the product and begin. SQL Converter for Excel is designed so a "web master" can setup the database the first time and then let less-technically-savvy users maintain the database in Excel and export the data as necessary (less training for the final end user in a consulting project).

Pricing is going to be interesting. I have some people telling me to charge $5000 for it and companies will pay. I first wanted to make it less than $50. The Access converter is a different story possibly as I converted a 700,000 record database in less than 20 minutes on a Pentium 500 MHZ machine, the same program that can convert a 50 record shopping cart DB can also convert an arbitrarily large file given disk space.

Originally posted by AtlantaWebhost.com
Sure, one can setup MySQL on their local machine and setup ODBC to get the job done, but that is not easy.

Setting up ODBC is all "point-n-click"?

If your database is located on a remote server, it is not secure unless it is encrypted (remote ODBC is not secure!).

Just setup a SSH tunnel or similarly, and you have it encrypted.

Still, with your software I see that you're meant to for example FTP the exported file to the server, or to upload it to the phpMyAdmin system. Those are normally not encrypted, so you have the same security problem there.

The idea behind SQL Converter is to be able to install the product and begin.

Have you tried the MyODBC?

You download the MyODBC exe file. You double click it, and it installs.

Then just start up Access. Select "Export" and then choose "ODBC Data Source". Select New and then choose the MySQL data source.

Then you're asked to enter the name of the database, user name and password.

And voila you have it exported.

Hi jks, I have't tried MyODBC (though I am rather tempted now!)

a "web master" can setup the database the first time and then let less-technically-savvy users maintain the database
By the sound of what Jens says it might be best to make it so that the less technical people can setup aswell. Clearly you would need good documentation for this (if you need a hand with that let us know!).

In regard to price, as a marketing person aswell as a webhost I would have little confidence in your product if it retailed for $5000. A few years ago, maybe. Today? I think you know. Now <= $50? This could be big!

However, if phpMyAdmin is running on an SSL site (like I have it setup on my servers) it is secure. If you use SSH File Transfer over SSH it is also secure.

Granted there are ways of doing the job with ODBC. My particular program functions by created a dump file for the data and it will not have to be limited to MySQL. The prototype for the full-blown Access converter can convert to both MySQL and PostgreSQL and I am implementing a "data type mapping" editor and a mapping recommendation system since the data types available in MySQL and PostegreSQL do not always coincide directly to those in Access or FoxPro or other RDBMS exposed in Windows through ODBC.

I am working to make this program not only useful, but easy. I know that people are and will need to convert databases from Microsoft-specific platforms to MySQL and PostgreSQL. I know that the job can be done in other ways and I have experimented with those myself. With my product, I am working to avoid having to have users install lots of different software components on their systems to proceed. The first version is not going to be the easiest application in the world, but future versions will get easier and provide the user with more options for conversion and deployment.

There is a two-part goal that has gone in the development process:
1. Ease of install and use.
2. Compatibility with the databases provided by most virtual hosting providers.

I am a developer and avid computer user so I can setup MySQL, MyODBC, SSH Tunnels and all such things on my computer fairly easily. However, many of my hosting customers have trouble understanding what is going on with so many components interacting.

Originally posted by AtlantaWebhost.com
However, if phpMyAdmin is running on an SSL site (like I have it setup on my servers) it is secure. If you use SSH File Transfer over SSH it is also secure.

Yes, but you can also run ODBC over SSH, so that's the same.


and it will not have to be limited to MySQL. The prototype for the full-blown Access converter can convert to both MySQL and PostgreSQL


AFAIK you can also install the postgresql ODBC driver, and to the exact same export using standard Access.


with those myself. With my product, I am working to avoid having to have users install lots of different software components


Still: Having to install one ODBC driver is not harder than having to install one Access Extension.