“..How do I Connect GroupMail to a MySQL Database?..”
There are three main steps involved in connecting your GroupMail Group to a MySQL Database, we will step through each one now.
1. Install MYODBC
MySQL provide their own ODBC driver which you need to install on your Microsoft Windows Operating System first. The Driver that you download needs to be the 32 bit version as GroupMail is a 32 bit application.
You can find steps on installing the 32 bit driver here.
2. Create a MySQL Data Source Name
The ‘ODBC Data Source Administrator’ application is used to create the MySQL DSN. To run this application go to your Start Menu.
Choose Run and type odbcad32 then press Enter.
Click on the Add Button.
Select the MySQL Driver from the list and press Finish.
Enter the Data Source Name, Description and all other details for your MySQL Database.
Then press the Test button to ensure the details are correct.
Press Ok to return to the ODBC Data Source Administrator screen.
That’s that part done.. onto step 3.
3. Create a GroupMail Group and Link to your MySQL Database
In GroupMail, go to Groups, New Group.
Select ‘External Database – Recipients information is retrieved from an external Database’. Next.
Click on New to create a New Database Connection. Next.
Enter a Descriptive Name for the Database Connection.
Then click on the Wizard Button.
Select Microsoft OLE DB Provider for ODBC Drivers. Next.
Select the Data Source Name that you configured previously.
Note: The User Name, Password and initial catalog are already specified in the Data Source Name, there is no need to specify again.
Click on the Test Connection Button to confirm these settings are correct.
Press Ok.
Select Dynamic as the Cursor Type and then Press Ok.
The Database Connection is now displayed. Next.
We would recommend creating a Query on your MySQL Database itself which returns the recipients you want in GroupMail.
Then by selecting the option “Specify records using SQL”.
You can simply enter “Select * from QueryName”
[where “QueryName” is the name of the Query saved in the MySQL Database].
Select the Field in your Database that contains the recipients Email Address. Next.
Finally specify your Group Name.
Once created you can then view your MySQL Database in GroupMail!
As always, if you have any questions or need some help along the way, don’t hesitate to contact our technical support team.