I present two different ways :
• Using Borland dBexpress for Borland Developer Studio 2006 (updated 09/04/2006)
• Using Borland dBexpress (updated 18/12/2005)
• Using Zeos VCL components (free and open source)

Using Borland dBexpress for Borland Developer Studio 2006

Using Borland dBexpress

• Borland C++ Builder 6 Pro or Entreprise.
  
• MySQL installed (I use Apache 2 (apache_2.0.55-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi), MySQL 4.0 (mysql-4.0.23-win.zip, be aware, MySQL 4.1.15 doesn't work with BCB6 dBExpress) on a WXP PC).
  
• My example, see below.
  

• Generate the database tables :
  These tables are in the test database. You have to use phpMyadmin or so to load the sql script and execute it.
  It will create the tables that we will use in our example.
  Don't forget to convert the path of the Blob destination files to point to your directory, example in :
  INSERT INTO ex_2_blob VALUES (1, 'graph', LOAD_FILE('C:\\users\\baghli\\c\\builder\\MySQL\\MyExampleSQL\\graph.txt'), LOAD_FILE('C:\\users\\baghli\\c\\builder\\MySQL\\MyExampleSQL\\graph.bmp'));
  
• Copy the files dbexpmysql.dll, dbxconnections.ini, dbxdrivers.ini, libmySQL.dll to your Windows directory.
• Open the example. You will see database dbExpress VCL components icons : click on the SQLConnection1.
• SQLConnection1 Params (TSring) value must be :
  
  • DriverName=MySQLCon, or what ever that is linked to MySQL
  • BlobSize=-1
  • Database=test
  • ErrorResourceFile=
  • HostName=localhost
  • LocaleCode=0000
  • Password=
  • User_Name=root
  Of course, it depends on your local MySQL configuration...
  


• Then toggles Connect on true. If everything is ok (nothing seems happening), it has connected, otherwise, you receive an error that tells you that it was imposible to connect or... so check your MySQL and/or dBexpress configuration.
  
• Then look to the TableName property of the second VCL component SQLTable1.
  It should points vers table ex_2_blob.

• Press Open.


• It will load the DBGrid with the datas (you will see datas.


• You can navigate through the DBGrid thanks to the DBNavigator.


• Have fun and make this example more usefull !

Using Zeos VCL components

• Borland C++ Builder 6 Pro or Entreprise.
  
• MySQL installed (I use Apache 2 and MySQL 4-nt on a W2000 pro PC).
  
• Zeos VCL components (free and open source) use the 6.1.5 which is stable + its patch.
  
• My examples, see below.
  

• Generate the database tables :
  These tables are in the test database. You have to use phpMyadmin or so to load the sql script and execute it.
  It will create the tables that we will use in our example.
  Don't forget to convert the path of the Blob destination files to point to your directory, example in :
  INSERT INTO ex_2_blob VALUES (1, 'graph', LOAD_FILE('C:\\users\\baghli\\c\\builder\\MySQL\\MyExampleSQL\\graph.txt'), LOAD_FILE('C:\\users\\baghli\\c\\builder\\MySQL\\MyExampleSQL\\graph.bmp'));
  


• Open the first example. You will see 3 database VCL components icons : a TZConnection, TZQuery (Z as Zeos !) and TDataSource.
  The DataSource will use the ZQuery1 VCL instance of TZQuery to give info to other db controls (TDBGrid, TDBNavigator)
  


• ZQuery1->Connection=ZConnection1 (VCL instance of our TZConnection).
  


• ZConnection1 Properties default value must be :
  
  • Database=test
  • Hostname=localhost
  • Port=3306
  • User=root
  • Password=
  Of course, it depends of your installed MySQL configuration...
  


• Then look to the Params (TSring) of ZQuery1.
  It contains :
  SELECT * FROM ex_1 WHERE 1   which is the SQL query we will use to open and see what is in the table ex_1.

• Press Connect and Open.


• It will load the DBGrid with the datas (you will se birthdays and...).


• You can also print the result of the SQL query action in the Memo using the button Print Q result.


• You can navigate through the DBGrid thanks to the DBNavigator.