TidBITS#849/02-Oct-06
=====================
Issue link: <http://db.tidbits.com/issue/849>
Apple turned on the update hose last week, spraying out updates to
many of the company's software products. Jeff Carlson reports on Mac
OS X 10.4.8, Aperture 1.5, iTunes 7.0.1, Final Cut Pro 5.1.2, Logic
Express 7.2.3 and Logic Pro 7.2.3, plus lesser updates to Final Cut
Studio and the programs in the iLife '06 and iWork '06 suites. For
your reading pleasure while Apple's updates download, Jonathan Sousa
provides a primer on getting started with MySQL, Adam looks at the
release of StuffIt Deluxe 11 and explains how to keep tabs on your
friends with iChat, and Glenn Fleishman notes the release of
Microsoft Messenger for Mac 6.0.
Articles
Mac OS X 10.4.8 Fixes Numerous Issues
iTunes 7.0.1, iLife '06, iWork '06 Updated
Aperture 1.5 Faces Latest Lightroom Beta at Photokina
Apple Updates Pro Applications, Final Cut Pro, and Logic
StuffIt Goes to 11
Microsoft Releases Messenger for Mac 6.0
Tracking Your Friends via iChat
Using MySQL on a Mac
Take Control News/02-Oct-06
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/02-Oct-06
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Mac OS X 10.4.8 Fixes Numerous Issues
-------------------------------------
by Jeff Carlson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8689>
The autumn harvest from Apple's programmers came in last week, as
Apple updated almost their entire software product line. Although
each major application saw revisions, most Mac users will be
interested in Mac OS X 10.4.8, a bug-fix update that spans several
areas of the operating system.
Notable changes include security enhancements, improved connections
using the Apple USB Modem, support for the EAP-FAST protocol to
improve wireless network authentication security, better
compatibility with third-party USB hubs, better performance on some
broadband networks, and improved camera RAW support. Also, Apple has
addressed a few bugs that affect Microsoft Office, and fixed a
problem where Rosetta code translation on Intel-based Macs could be
inaccurate.
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304200>
The coolest new feature is that if you hold down the Control key
while scrolling with a scroll wheel (or a pseudo scroll wheel, such
as is provided by Raging Menace's Side Track utility), the screen
zooms smoothly. Screen zooming has been available for a long time
(see the Universal Access preference pane), but using keyboard
shortcuts to zoom in and out is awkward. Scroll wheel-based zooming,
which you can control in the Mouse view of the Keyboard & Mouse
preference pane (and where you can also choose another modifier key
besides Control), will be a boon to anyone with less-than-perfect
eyesight or presenters who want to focus on a particular aspect of
the screen.
<http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/sidetrack/>
Mac OS X 10.4.8's release notes were chatty, for Apple, but we're
still pondering several of the items, such as "Windows File Sharing
now generates only one process, avoiding an issue that could cause a
Mac OS X computer to become unresponsive if it won a master browser
election" - might a recount help?
Then there's "Resolves an issue in which a Finder alert message with
the buttons 'Initialize', 'Ignore', and 'Eject' might not appear
after connecting a partitioned FireWire hard drive." We generally
prefer _not_ seeing that dialog when we connect FireWire hard drives
of any sort, other than uninitialized ones.
And although Apple does explain this next comment in a link, our
first reading had us desperately trying to recall our classes in
theoretical physics: "Improves Apple File Sharing client performance
by changing the default AFP WAN quantum size."
The update is available in several forms, depending on your machine.
Software Update should deliver the correct version, but updaters are
also available as stand-alone downloads. For the Intel updates,
Apple notes that the computer will restart _twice_ after the update
has been applied. As with all system updates, we recommend making a
backup before proceeding. You can find the updaters here:
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update (Intel) (206 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1048updateintel.html>
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update (PPC) (31 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1048updateppc.html>
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Combo Update (Intel) (294 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1048comboupdateintel.html>
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Combo Update (PPC) (149 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1048comboupdateppc.html>
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Server Update (PPC) (62 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxserver1048updateppc.html>
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Server Combo Update (PPC) (196 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxserver1048comboupdateppc.html>
* Mac OS X 10.4.8 Server Update (Universal) (202 MB)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxserver1048updateuniversal.html>
iTunes 7.0.1, iLife '06, iWork '06 Updated
------------------------------------------
by Jeff Carlson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8690>
Apple has released a maintenance update for iTunes 7 that deals with
a variety of issues in the initial release. According to Apple,
iTunes 7.0.1 "addresses stability and performance issues with Cover
Flow, CD importing, iPod syncing, and more." Windows users were
apparently hit harder with iTunes 7.0, so we hope this release
solves those issues as well. iTunes 7.0.1 is available via Software
Update or as a 25 MB download.
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunes701.html>
The programs that make up iLife '06 and iWork '06 add
interoperability with Aperture 1.5 (see "Aperture 1.5 Faces Latest
Lightroom Beta at Photokina," 02-Oct-06). The following updaters are
available via Software Update or as separate stand-alone downloads:
iMovie HD 6.0.3 (7.1 MB), iWeb 1.1.2 (23 MB), iDVD 6.0.3 (7.2 MB),
GarageBand 3.0.4 (30 MB), iPhoto 6.0.5 (80 MB), Keynote 3.0.2 (2.7
MB), and Pages 2.0.2 (2.8 MB). The iMovie HD update also claims to
improve stability and fix a number of unspecified "minor issues,"
while the iPhoto update also contains new themes for printing
calendars, greeting cards, and postcards.
<http://www.apple.com/aperture/>
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/8691>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imoviehd603.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/iweb112.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/idvd603.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/garageband304.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/iphoto605.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/keynote302.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/pages202.html>
Aperture 1.5 Faces Latest Lightroom Beta at Photokina
-----------------------------------------------------
by Jeff Carlson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8691>
At last week's Photokina photographic conference in Cologne,
Germany, Apple unveiled Aperture 1.5, a significant update to its
professional photo-management tool. The software itself was released
late in the week as a free update for existing Aperture owners (a
125 MB download); it costs $300 for new users.
<http://www.photokina-cologne.com/>
<http://www.apple.com/aperture/>
<http://www.apple.com/aperture/download/>
Aperture 1.5 addresses several issues that professional
photographers have asked for since Aperture 1.0 arrived almost a
year ago. At the top of the list is the capability to access images
anywhere, rather than allowing Aperture to copy everything to its
own library location on disk. The program can now also store
previews of photos that reside on offline volumes to help you track
your entire photo library better; these previews can be rated,
reviewed, and organized while the originals are offline as well.
Also improved are Aperture's color adjustment controls, RAW image
support, the loupe's viewing settings, and metadata import and
export. Aperture photos can now also be accessed from within iLife
'06 and iWork '06 applications, and can be synchronized to an iPod
using iTunes.
<http://www.apple.com/aperture/newfeatures/>
In an unusual (but welcome) move, Apple also reduced the minimum
hardware requirements with Aperture 1.5, enabling it to work on all
current Macs; earlier versions did not recommend the Mac mini and
MacBook due to those machines' integrated graphics processors.
Apple has aggressively pushed Aperture to establish a foothold in
the professional photography market, no doubt due to increasing
competition from Adobe's pro photo tool Lightroom. Now re-branded
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, the beta 4 version was also released at
Photokina as a free 14 MB download for Mac or Windows.
<http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom/>
Lightroom is still a work in progress, but it demonstrates how Apple
and Adobe are actively courting photographers and apparently
responding directly to feedback. It's always fun to watch two
heavyweights duke it out, knowing that the people using the products
will end up winning as the programs improve.
Apple Updates Pro Applications, Final Cut Pro, and Logic
--------------------------------------------------------
by Jeff Carlson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8692>
Apple's high-end video and audio applications got a boost this week
with a pair of updates. The Pro Applications Update 2006-02 fixes
some unspecified problems with the underlying frameworks and shared
components of Final Cut Studio 5.1, Final Cut Pro 5.1, Motion 2.1,
Soundtrack Pro 1.1, DVD Studio Pro 4.1, LiveType 2.1, Compressor
2.1, Apple Qmaster 2.1, and Final Cut Express HD 3.5. The update is
available via Software Update (if you own any of those products) or
as a 7 MB download. However, clicking the download link at Apple's
page about the update takes you to a form for downloading Final Cut
Studio updates, which requires a Final Cut Studio license, so
Software Update looks to be your only source if you use Final Cut
Express HD or LiveType.
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/proapplicationsupdate200602.html>
Independent filmmakers will be happy to learn that Final Cut Pro
5.1.2 fixes a number of bugs and improves native compatibility for
cameras, such as new HD camcorders from Canon (the XLH1) and JVC
(the GY-HD100 ProHD) that are capable of shooting at 24 frames per
second (which is standard film speed). The update also supports
native editing of the Sony XDCAM HD format, fixes critical issues
with video scopes, and now supports Apple's FxPlug plug-in
architecture. More details can be found in the Late Breaking News
About Final Cut Pro 5 PDF (a 244K download). The Final Cut Pro 5.1.2
update is available via Software Update or as a 28 MB download for
registered owners.
<http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/finalcutpro512.html>
<http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=175&modelid=12152>
<http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101642>
<http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/Final_Cut_Pro_5.0_lbn_z.pdf>
Apple also released updates to its audio-editing tools this week.
Logic Express Update 7.2.3 (a 14 MB download) and Logic Pro Update
7.2.3 (a 25 MB download) resolve issues related to running the
applications on the Mac Pro and Power Mac G5 Quad systems. In
addition, both programs are "optimized for PowerPC G4, G5, and Intel
based Macs with up to 2 dual-core processors," according to Apple.
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/logicexpressupdate723.html>
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/logicproupdate723.html>
StuffIt Goes to 11
-------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8693>
Smith Micro Software, which purchased Allume Systems (previously
known as Aladdin Systems) last year, has released StuffIt Deluxe 11,
the latest version of the compression program that has been a part
of the Macintosh landscape since 1986. StuffIt Deluxe 11 makes some
significant changes to the way users interact with archives, but
leaves the core functionality from StuffIt Deluxe 10 alone (see
"StuffIt Deluxe 10 Plays with Tiger," 19-Sep-05).
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/8165>
<http://www.stuffit.com/mac/deluxe/>
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/8252>
**StuffIt Archive Manager Takes Over** -- The most notable change in
StuffIt Deluxe 11 is StuffIt Archive Manager, which brings an
iTunes-like interface to archive management. A pane on the left
lists "collections" which are essentially the equivalent of smart
folders in the Finder - automatically created groups of files that
meet specific criteria. StuffIt Archive Manager comes with
pre-defined collections for archives of various sorts, and you can
also create your own collections with any criteria you want, and
StuffIt Archive Manager keeps those collections up-to-date using
Spotlight. In this respect, StuffIt Archive Manager isn't doing much
more than creating a set of smart folders that appear in the
Finder's sidebar, although it lets you filter the list of files
quickly, providing a way of narrowing the list without redefining
the collection.
But the point of StuffIt Archive Manager isn't to replace smart
folders, it's to provide an interface for working with archives, and
it replaces the old StuffIt Deluxe application. Toolbar buttons in
StuffIt Archive Manager enable you to create new archives, browse
existing ones (double-clicking them also works), and expand selected
archives. When browsing an archive in its own window, you can create
new folders, drag additional files in, get info on files in the
archive, extract individual files, delete items, and add comments
about the archive.
If you work with a lot of JPEG images, a preview pane in StuffIt
Archive Manager displays thumbnails of images inside archives,
eliminating the need to go outside the program to figure out which
files to work with. StuffIt Deluxe's Spotlight support has gone in
the other direction; it installs Spotlight plug-ins that enable
Spotlight to look inside compressed archives. StuffIt Deluxe 11 also
includes support for opening encrypted Zip archives that use the
256-bit AES encryption method.
Not surprisingly, StuffIt Deluxe 11 is now a universal binary for
improved performance on Intel-based Macs. It also takes advantage of
multiple PowerPC processors and Intel cores, and is multi-threaded,
so rendering thumbnails for the preview pane doesn't restrict access
to the rest of the program.
Other aspects of the StuffIt Deluxe 11 package include:
* Archive Assistant, which helps users schedule archive creation and
copying to a variety of locations; it could be a useful tool for
automating certain backup and copying tasks.
* DropStuff and StuffIt Expander, which provide a drag-and-drop
interface to compression and expansion.
* Magic Menu, which puts an item in the menu bar that provides access
to all the basic StuffIt features (they're also available from the
contextual menu if you Control-click an item in the Finder).
* StuffIt SEA Maker, which lets you create what are essentially simple
installers that automatically expand files to a particular location
and can display splash screens and Read Me files.
**StuffIt Standard Edition Updated** -- Also updated was StuffIt
Standard Edition, a bundle of DropStuff and StuffIt Expander (the
latter remains a free download on its own). The only new feature in
StuffIt Standard Edition 11 is support in StuffIt Expander for
encrypted Zip archives.
<http://www.stuffit.com/mac/standard/>
<http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/>
**Pricing and Requirements** -- StuffIt Deluxe costs $80, with
upgrades from previous versions of either StuffIt Deluxe or StuffIt
Standard Edition priced at $30. StuffIt Standard Edition costs $50,
with upgrades from previous versions at $15. StuffIt Deluxe requires
Mac OS X 10.3 or later, with Mac OS X 10.4 required for the
Spotlight importer and Automator support in StuffIt Deluxe and for
StuffIt Standard Edition 11 (older versions of StuffIt Standard
Edition are available for earlier versions of Mac OS X and Mac OS
8.6 through 9.2).
Microsoft Releases Messenger for Mac 6.0
----------------------------------------
by Glenn Fleishman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8694>
Instant messaging from Microsoft received a significant Mac-centric
upgrade last week with the release of Messenger for Mac 6.0. The
latest version is a universal binary, offers Spotlight searching of
transcripts, and interoperates with Yahoo's Messenger service.
Microsoft Messenger is a free 8.6 MB download and has no fees for
its use.
<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=msnmessenger>
The latest version offers a custom status message showing the
currently playing track in iTunes. It also handles custom and
animated emoticons, a feature that doesn't exactly thrill us, but
it's nice that the Mac version is in parity with Windows on this
front.
iChat and AOL Instant Messenger users can't be reached with the
single-user version of the Microsoft product, but corporate users
with a Microsoft Office Live Communications Server can connect with
AIM, iChat, and Yahoo IM users.
Tracking Your Friends via iChat
-------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8695>
Let's say you desperately need to chat with a friend in another time
zone as soon as he's awake or at work. Leaving voice mail or email
is fine, but what if your friend doesn't think to check voicemail or
read email first thing? Assuming he uses iChat sufficiently to log
in automatically, you may be able to rely on a little-known feature
of iChat: single-use, per-person alerts.
Select your friend's name in your Buddy List, choose Buddies > Get
Info (Command-I), and in the Info window, choose Actions from the
Show pop-up menu at the top. Then choose Buddy Becomes Available
from the Event pop-up menu, and choose an alert - I prefer spoken
text. Make sure to select "Perform actions only next time event
occurs" if you don't want to be alerted every time your friend
becomes available. Click OK, and wait. As soon as he appears online,
iChat alerts you, and you have a chance to touch base right away.
I looked for a similar feature in Skype, but as far as I could tell,
it has only the capability to alert you in general when any one of
your contacts becomes available, rather than when a particular
person becomes available (iChat can do that too). Still, unless you
have a vast number of contacts, even that general capability could
be worth using on a short term basis.
Using MySQL on a Mac
--------------------
by Jonathan D. Sousa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8696>
For many Macintosh users, the relational database is first and last
encountered through recent versions of FileMaker Pro. While Windows
users have long utilized Microsoft Access, there has never been an
equivalent product included in the Mac version of Microsoft Office.
Since the move to Mac OS X and its BSD underpinnings, however,
several of the favorite databases of the Unix crowd now run with
little fuss on your Mac. One of the most popular of these databases
is the open source MySQL. It is certainly not the only option if you
are looking to try your hand with a full relational database, but it
does have a number of friendly interface options and the additional
advantage of being packaged with Mac OS X Server.
<http://www.mysql.com/products/database/mysql/>
Recently, new or improved applications have made it possible to
access most features of MySQL without having to master a command
line interface or the nuances of SQL (Structured Query Language).
Power users can still take advantage of the extensive capabilities
for storing and retrieving complex data, but one no longer needs to
become a full-time database administrator to create a handy index of
clients, books, sales figures, or whatever material you need to
store. There is even a program to import your iTunes library
directly into MySQL (SQLTunes). If you are finding spreadsheets
useful but unwieldy, you might want to consider MySQL.
<http://www.sqltunes.com/>
Using most current relational databases requires knowing a bit about
how their pieces fit together. The core of the database is software
designed to store, index, and retrieve data efficiently, but it
normally has no graphical user interface at all. You communicate
with the database through a text console by sending it commands in
SQL or its own variant of SQL. In effect, the database acts as a
server, and its actual location matters little so long as you have
an IP connection directly to it and the appropriate ports open in
any firewalls along the way.
The front end to such a database is really just the equivalent of a
Web browser in that it interprets your requests, sends them in
language the database server can understand, and displays the output
in a friendly fashion. In theory, a single front end could not only
connect to multiple MySQL databases, it could connect to any
database that speaks SQL. Unfortunately, there are many
eccentricities in how different database products interpret SQL, so
you are often limited to certain pairings of database and front end.
ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) drivers are supposed to act as the
interpreters between SQL and the database's internal language, but
they are sometimes proprietary pieces of code and not available for
all situations. MySQL, as an open source product, offers more
flexibility than many databases in letting you pick the front end
you want to use.
**Installing the MySQL Server** -- But before we get to the fun part
of working with the graphical interface, you need to start the
database server humming on your Mac. As I mentioned, if you are
already running Mac OS X Server, you probably have MySQL installed
and simply need to start it using the preference pane (in System
Preferences) for that purpose.
Otherwise, if you have Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4, a version is ready for
you at the MySQL organization's Web site. The current stable release
is 5.0, with 5.1 undergoing further testing and development. Note
that Apple includes a fairly old version with Mac OS X Server, so
you may wish to upgrade to access the latest features. Simply follow
the instructions in the Readme file to install the database (most
often double-clicking on the package installer is all you need to
do) and add the System Preferences pane included on the disk image.
The preference pane needs to be placed in /Library/PreferencePanes;
again, double-clicking the file should handle this task smoothly.
The forums on the site can be helpful if you get stuck. The moment
of truth comes after the database is installed and when you open
System Preferences. Select the MySQL icon that should appear at the
bottom of the window and click the Start MySQL Server button. You
will need to supply an administrator password. If you are informed
that your database is running, then you have successfully installed
and started a full relational database.
<http://dev.mysql.com/>
<http://forums.mysql.com/>
Now you need to pick a front end... or several. There is no reason
not to experiment with a number of the products I mention to find
the one that best meets your needs. A good place to start, however,
is with the tools offered by the MySQL organization. You will need,
at a minimum, MySQL Administrator installed on your computer.
Remember that what we have installed so far is only a server, so we
must give instructions to the client you use on how to access it,
just like you tell your Web browser what site you want to visit.
When you start MySQL Administrator for the first time, it will ask
you what database you wish to connect to. You should enter a server
hostname of 127.0.0.1 (that IP address is a shortcut to your
computer; the address "localhost" will also work), a port of 3306, a
username of root, and no password. If all has gone as it should, you
will be looking at a window with all sorts of information about your
database. The first thing you should do is add a password for the
root account (you will need to use it the next time you log into the
database) and create an additional account for day-to-day use. Be
sure to give this new account most of the privileges available, or
at least Select, Insert, Update, Delete, Create, Drop, and Alter.
Keep in mind that these privilege restrictions exist in case you
want to create an account that, for instance, can only select data
from the database but not make any changes.
<http://www.mysql.com/products/tools/administrator/>
**Working with Tables and Data** -- Now that you have the database
installed and running, and you have a way to administer it, you can
begin to work with tables and data. Several software choices are
available, all of which attempt to do the same thing: let you work
with MySQL while limiting your reliance on SQL. Many people will opt
for the MySQL organization's toolset that includes MySQL Query
Browser and MySQL Workbench. These programs overlap somewhat in
features - the Table Editor is built into both MySQL Query Browser
and MySQL Administrator. Workbench, also included in the download,
aids in visually laying out and constructing a complex database.
These programs are good, if basic, tools for creating tables and the
data fields that they contain.
<http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html>
<http://www.mysql.com/products/tools/query-browser/>
Unfortunately, these tools don't always work as would be ideal. For
example, creating a field using the CHAR data type to hold text
prompts you to fill in the maximum number of characters that should
be allowed. Using the similar but more flexible VARCHAR data type,
however, does not prompt you for the field length, and if you forget
to add it, applying your changes brings up a notice that there is a
syntax problem with your SQL, but doesn't specify the error. Given
that one of the reasons to use the graphical interface is to avoid
memorizing SQL, you are left with little recourse but to dive into
the copious online documentation. That's not to say the
documentation isn't useful; it is constantly expanded by helpful
users through comments added at the bottom of each entry. In fact, I
highly recommend you spend a few minutes learning about the
different data types that MySQL offers for storing your data. There
is always more to learn about using relational databases, but you
can get surprisingly far with only a little bit of study.
<http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/>
The MySQL Query Browser won't do enough for many novices in avoiding
SQL when it comes to selecting specific data. Its features are more
those of a drag-and-drop syntax helper for creating queries than a
fully graphical interface. If you have never encountered a basic
SELECT statement before, you might want to look to one of the more
friendly free or commercial applications.
When we venture beyond the MySQL application family, we encounter
some other open-source projects designed to interface with your
database server. CocoaMySQL is a clean, exceedingly Mac-like piece
of software built to let users administer MySQL databases. While it
does not provide functionality much beyond that of MySQL
Administrator, it manages to be more intuitive at practically every
step of the way. It won't help you build queries to retrieve your
data, nor lay out a complex database diagram, but for quickly
constructing a table with many columns it is an excellent
application. Note that you will need the beta version to interface
with MySQL 5.0, since the stable edition is now some three years out
of date.
<http://cocoamysql.sourceforge.net/>
The SQuirreL SQL client is built on Java so as to be cross-platform,
but it also requires that you have a recent version of Java
installed on your computer and forsakes most Mac interface
conventions. Because the SQuirreL client runs inside the Java
runtime environment, you end up with an awkward double set of menus.
Installation instructions suggest you need to venture into Terminal,
but simply double-clicking the downloaded file works for most
people. In general SQuirreL is an ungainly piece of software and
only something the most advanced users will want to explore.
<http://squirrel-sql.sourceforge.net/>
Another free, albeit limited, option comes from the phpMyAdmin
Project. If you are already running a Web site using PHP and MySQL,
then installing their set of PHP scripts enables you to administer
most aspects of the database through a Web browser. It can also
retrieve data for you if you already know enough SQL to create the
queries you want to use. The situations where phpMyAdmin is handy
are very specific and mostly concern webmasters, but using it can
make your job easier... or at least keep you from having to go into
the office on the weekend to clean up a database problem.
<http://www.phpmyadmin.net/>
A similar but more extensible software tool is Webmin, based on the
Perl language. This free product not only manages your MySQL
database, but adds system accounts, configures file sharing, and
performs dozens of other common server administration tasks. Webmin
aims to be a complete and expandable system for running most common
types of servers through a Web interface, but unless such servers
are your everyday companions, the package is likely overkill for
simply interacting with MySQL.
<http://www.webmin.com/>
Moving away from the free tools and into generally more polished
commercial products, we find a number of options at various levels
of maturity and sophistication. Luckily, as with text editors and
Web browsers, the variety of alternatives ensures there is probably
a database front end that will suit every user's needs, likes, and
dislikes. Better yet, most of these products offer trial versions
for download on their Web sites.
One of the most Mac-friendly applications out there is SQLGrinder
from Advenio. At $60, SQLGrinder provides an elegant, universal
binary front end with nice features like SQL auto-completion,
excellent import and export capabilities, and AppleScript and
Automator compatibility. Images are stored and viewed directly
through the program and it even remembers query results locally,
allowing you to flip back to recent sets of data without having to
rerun complex queries. The application uses a single window approach
that makes it fairly intuitive to use and speeds navigation through
multiple connections to different databases. Unfortunately, it does
not offer a graphical SQL query builder - an omission that will
leave novices struggling to create basic queries - yet it remains an
excellent and well-designed tool for the user already familiar with
writing SQL code.
<http://www.advenio.com/sqlgrinder/>
The awkwardly named SQL4X Manager J from InterServices is a
universal binary program for $60 that allows one front end to manage
most major relational databases, including the big commercial ones
such as Oracle and Microsoft's SQL Server. It is smart enough to
adjust to whichever database you are connecting to by downloading
recent database drivers, and it shows you only the features that
work with that server. The interface is fairly complex (and could
benefit from the addition of tooltips) but offers some very advanced
features. You can add image files directly into BLOB (binary large
object) fields and then view them in a slide-out drawer. There is
even a basic reporting module like that found in the venerable
Windows program Crystal Reports for creating dynamic documents from
your data. Unfortunately for novices, there is no non-SQL query
builder included, so with this product you must learn the language
to leverage the power of your relational database. For people
already comfortable with databases, however, SQL4X Manager J offers
some unexpected capabilities in a single package.
<http://www.dbsuite.de/?action=product&actionid=sql4xmanagerj>
<http://www.oracle.com/>
<http://www.microsoft.com/sql/>
<http://www.businessobjects.com/products/reporting/crystalreports/>
Of all the commercial products (and there are more I tested but
found either too unstable to mention or lacking the updates
necessary to use with MySQL 5.0), two remain on my hard disk after
experimenting with their features. The first, and the best one for
power users, is Aqua Data Studio from AquaFold. This program
requires Java 1.5 to be installed on your Mac, and it feels a little
sluggish despite being a universal binary application, but it offers
an excellent feature set that behaves similarly to the tools
supplied by Microsoft to manage their SQL Server product. The
average user will never utilize all of this program's capabilities,
but it includes a powerful graphical query builder, a full query
analyzer to ease writing SQL by hand, and complete database
administration functionality. The license allows for free personal
and educational use; otherwise it costs $150. Aqua Data Studio has
its quirks and takes some time to learn, but it is an expansive and
exceedingly useful product.
<http://www.aquafold.com/>
The other standout program is Navicat from PremiumSoft, which
delivers a clean and efficient front end for MySQL for $100. A
30-day trial is available for download. The program's single primary
pane and detailed editing windows let you create tables, modify
their fields, add data to them, and retrieve result sets through
complex queries, all without knowing a bit of SQL. If you switch
between operating systems, Navicat is available for Windows and
Linux in addition to Mac OS X. Navicat's interface is very Mac-like
and friendly, with clear, labeled icons and a sensible layout. The
graphical query builder provides an introduction to SQL by enabling
you to create queries through arranging and connecting
representations of tables, while showing the code your actions
produce in another tab. The query builder does not let you set
selection, grouping, and sorting criteria in a single window the way
Aqua Data Studio or Microsoft Access does, but its approach using
multiple tabs to build the parts of a query works reasonably well.
Navicat is currently my choice of the commercial options for the SQL
beginner because of its ease of use, intuitive design, and graphical
query builder.
<http://www.navicat.com/>
If you end up spending a lot of time working with MySQL or value the
time savings a well-designed interface provides, you may want to
consider either of these two commercial products, which come with
the added benefit of technical support.
Regardless of the front end selected, Mac users at last have access
to the power and efficiency of a full relational database. When
spreadsheets no longer meet your needs, it might be time to give
MySQL a try.
[Jonathan D. Sousa, an online applications architect, owns Sousa
Consulting, LLC in Washington, DC. When not at his computer, he can
be found running long distances or practicing yoga.]
<http://www.jonathansousa.com/>
PayBITS: If this article helped you to get the most out of MySQL
on your Mac, consider thanking Jonathan via a PayBITS donation!
<https://www.paypal.com/xclick/[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Read more about PayBITS: <http://www.tidbits.com/paybits/>
Take Control News/02-Oct-06
----------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8697>
**New Ebook Helps Dreamweaver Users Get Started** -- Dreamweaver may
be the dream tool of the pros, but it can be a nightmare for
newcomers and casual Web designers. Users who need help getting
around in Dreamweaver and who need to put together a real site in a
sensible way can now find help in the handy "Take Control of Getting
Started with Dreamweaver." Written by Arnie Keller, a professor who
teaches Web design at the University of Victoria, the 88-page ebook
gives step-by-step instructions for creating a functional,
template-based Web site that uses styles, layers, and an interactive
navigation bar.
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/dreamweaver.html?14@@!pt=TRK-TB849-TCNEWS>
Like all Take Control ebooks, "Take Control of Getting Started with
Dreamweaver" contains clickable links and bookmarks to help readers
navigate efficiently and switch to the Web for supplemental
material. New in this ebook are video screenshots that play
mini-movies to provide live-action illustration of Arnie's
instructions. The video screenshots are freely available for
previewing from the ebook's Web page.
**Upcoming Author Appearances** -- TidBITS Senior Editor Joe Kissell,
author of numerous Take Control ebooks, will be speaking at the
Macintosh Computer Expo (MCE) in Santa Rosa, California this coming
Saturday, 07-Oct-06. His presentation, which begins at 10:00 AM,
will cover running Windows on an Intel-based Mac. In addition to the
material in "Take Control of Running Windows on a Mac," Joe will
discuss CrossOver and other methods for running Windows applications
without Windows itself.
<http://www.ncmug.org/mce.html>
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/windows-on-mac.html?14@@!pt=TRK-TB849-TCNEWS>
Then, on Tuesday, 17-Oct-06, Joe will be the featured presenter at
the Diablo Valley Mac User Group in Walnut Creek, California. At the
7:00 PM meeting, Joe will cover the ins and outs of backing up your
Mac based on "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups," and how Leopard's
Time Machine feature will affect your backup strategy. He'll also
present a special segment devoted to Thanksgiving dinner!
<http://www.dvmug.org/>
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/backup-macosx.html?14@@!pt=TRK-TB849-TCNEWS>
<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/thanksgiving.html?14@@!pt=TRK-TB849-TCNEWS>
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/02-Oct-06
------------------------------------
by TidBITS Staff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/8698>
**Bluetooth and Mighty Mouse on Mac Pro** -- Kirk McElhearn shares his
tale of woe getting the add-on Bluetooth module working in his Mac
Pro. (7 messages)
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/962/>
**Any good deals on .Mac renewals?** This is the time of year when
early adopters signed up for Apple's .Mac service at its
introduction, which means it's time to renew. However, there are
less-expensive ways to get a year's coverage. (13 messages)
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/963/>
**Peering into the Future of the Infosphere** -- A reader notes
parallels between Luciano Floridi's ideas (in last week's issue) and
the writings of a French Jesuit paleontologist 50 years ago. (2
messages)
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/964/>
**Proofread repetition** -- The previous TidBITS Talk thread spawns
its own thread about philosophical schools of thought. (3 messages)
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/965/>
**Nibbed USB extension cable fits only Apple Keyboard** -- The handy
USB extension cable was designed to work only with one device,
because you really need even more cables near your Mac. (3 messages)
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/TidBITS/Talk/966/>
$$
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