The Same MySQL Database For Many Different Software Installations
If your hosting account limits the number of MySQL databases, consider using the same database for multiple different software installations.
The primary concern when using the same MySQL database for different software installations is table name clashes. Software A may use table name "usernames" and software B also use table name "usernames".
If it wasn't for table name clashes, all software might use the same database.
Some software makes it very easy to maintain unique table names. During installation, the software allows you to prefix a custom name or set of characters that will be the applied to the names of all the tables the software creates.
When installing the software to use the same database as other software does, give the new software a unique table name prefix.
Let's take Short URL V2 as an example. Here is a screenshot of the pertinent section of the installation page.
"shorturl_" is suggested as a table name prefix. But the prefix can be anything (or removed altogether).
You can even install the same software multiple times for using the same database by specifying a different table name prefix for each installation. Table prefixes "shorturl1_", "shorturl2_", and "shorturl3_" for example.
Probably for all software with the option of specifying a table name prefix, certainly all Willmaster software, the time to specify the prefix is during the installation process. Willmaster software asks for it on the installation page. Other software may have a different way.
When specifying a table name prefix, start it with a lower-case letter. Following that can be any combination of lower-case letters, numbers, and/or the underscore character.
WebSite's Secret members can use List All MySQL Structures to get a list of table names in a database. If you do not have membership and don't know what table names are already in the database or how to find out, including a date in the prefix is likely to ensure uniqueness. I.E., "shorturl18oct11_".
Not all software has provisions to specify a unique table name prefix. (Willmaster software does provide that option.)
For those whose hosting account limits the number of MySQL databases, software that does allow a custom table name prefix can be installed to use the same database as other software does.
Will Bontrager
