Learn the basics for connecting to a database and running queries.

1. Database Basics
The power behind your web application

2. Overview
Objective
Learn the basics of connecting to a database and
executing sql queries ProdigyView.
Requirements
 A Mysql, Postrgesql or MSSQL database
Estimated Time
10 Minutes

3. Follow Along With Code
Example
1. Download a copy of the example code at
www.prodigyview.com/source.
2. Install the system in an environment you feel
comfortable testing in.
3. Proceed to examples/database/Database.php

4. A Brief Note About The
Database
Even though you can write a complete application in
ProdigyView without using the database, it is more than likely
that you are going to need the database at some point. The
great feature that PVDatabase has is that it can connect to
MySQL, PostgreSQL and MSSQL. In this tutorial we are
going to learn:
 Connecting to a database
 Executing A Query
 Iterating Through Results
Current development is being done for MongoDB and
SQLITE

5. Disabling the Database
If we are going to learn about truly manipulating the
database, let’s first boot ProdigyView in a way that
disables the database. Turn the database initialization off
and loading the plug-ins off since they require a database
connection.
Boot System Disable Options

6. Set a database
Good, now with the database not initialized, we are going
to configure a connection. Similar to the database
configuration file, we are putting our database variables in
an array.

7. Time to Connect
In our last slide, we created configuration paramters for a
database we have access too. Next we are going to add
the connection to PVDatabase and then connect to it.
Name of the connection Connection Parameters
Connect to a specified database. Use to switch between connections

8. Create a table
We are going to need a table to test with, so now lets
create one. The process of creating tables is in another
tutorial but we will give you a glimpse of it.

9. Sanitizing Data
When a user is inputting data, it is a general rule NOT to
trust that data because it might contain malicious code
that can wreak havoc on your database. Before inputting
any information into your database through a
query, sanitize it through makeSafe() function.
Data after it is sanitized Data to be sanitized
Data to be sanitized

10. Executing
1. We have our connection set
2. We have a table and columns
3. We sanitized our information
4. We are ready for executing our first query.
Insert query with our sanitized data
Executes any query

11. Again but get the id
Great, we now know how to insert data into the database.
But what if we want the id of the last entry? No problem.
Let’s run our example again except this time we are going
to execute using the return_last_insert_query();
The generated id
The column that contains the auto incrementing id
The table to return the column from

12. A Closer Look
The method return_last_insert_query(); takes the query
and to additional arguments. The arguments are the
column to be returned and the table to return the column
from.
These options are here because some databases require
that there is a specified column or table to return the last
generated id. If you want to make your application
database agnostic, it is suggested that these
parameters be used.

13. Find Results – Row Count
PVDatabase::query executes any query so it can be
used for creating, updating, finding and deleting. But how
to we get the results that are found?
Not a problem. Let’s create a search querying and get row
count.
Count the rows in the result

14. Find Results – Row Iteration
That query in the previous slide will find the rows that we
had previously inputted. Use the same $result with the
method PVDatabase::fetchArray() to return an array of
found data to iterate through.

15. Challenge!
Ok so we have the database basics down. So here is your
challenge, it two parts
1. Add connections to multiple database and switch
between those connections
2. Execute a select query on a database but use
fetchFields() instead of fetchArray.

16. The Not So Obvious
1. The function setConnection will close the connection
to the current database and open a connection to a
new one.
2. All the database methods are designed to
automatically work with the set database
3. Other methods in ProdigyView, such as when creating
content, will automatically sanitize data for you.
4. PVDatabase::makeSafe can also sanitize arrays

17. Summary
1. Add a connection by using
PVDatabase::addConnection()
2. Connection to a database using
PVDatabase::setConnection()
3. Sanitize data before inserting into the database by
using PVDatabase::makeSafe()
4. Execute a query using PVDatabase::query();
5. Fetch results by using PVDatabase::fetchArray();

18. API Reference
For a better understanding of the database, visit the api
by clicking on the link below.
PVDatabase
More Tutorials
For more tutorials, please visit:
http://www.prodigyview.com/tutorials
www.prodigyview.com