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Let’s create a Schema in your MySQL Workbench on Mac OS.

Welcome to a quick and user-friendly guide to generating your first schema in MySQL.

By the end of this blog, you will understand how to generate a MySQL schema.

A schema is necessary for importing CSV files or JSON files because our end objective is uploading CSVs and performing custom SQL, and pushing that content into Tableau Desktop.

Our following blogs will help you with importing a CSV into MySQL on your Mac OS.

If you don’t currently have MySQL on your Mac OS – follow our other tutorial on how to install MySQL on your Mac.

You’re creating a schema – not a database!

Firstly we are going to want to understand the verbiage used in the product and the difference between database and schemas.

After you’ve downloaded MySQL workbench – we will want to begin bringing in data for Tableau consumption.

MySQL has Schemas in the database!

I’m sure you’re familiar with what a database is, if not, here’s the definition.

A database is a structured set of data held in a computer, especially one that is accessible in various ways.

In the MySQL – you can build multiple ‘folders’ in your database, called schemas.

Schema VS Database

database is your primary container; it contains the data and log files, and all the schemas within it.

You always back up a database; it is a discrete unit on its own.

Schemas are like folders within a database and are mainly used to group logical objects together, which leads to ease of setting permissions by the schema.

Creating a Schema in MySQL Mac OS

Let’s talk about the point and click methods first.

When you have your workbench open – you’ll notice a place on the bottom left labeled “SCHEMAS,” and that’s where we want to click right to build a new Test Database!

create schema on mysql mac os mysql workbench alt text

Creating your first schema on your Mac OS MySQL.

Setting up your MySQL Schema on your Mac

Let’s start setting up your MySQL Schema.

Name your MySQL schema “Test_Schema1.”

schema name settings for test schema on mysql

After you right click to create your schema – rename your MySQL schema.

Use UTF-8 for your collation.

What is UTF-8 Collation?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

UTF-8 is a variable width character encoding capable of encoding all 1,112,064 valid code points in Unicode using one to four 8-bit bytes.

The encoding is defined by the Unicode standard and was initially designed by Ken Thompson and Rob Pike.

The name is derived from Unicode (or Universal Coded Character SetTransformation Format – 8-bit.

We will use UTF-8 for this schema.

utf8 collation selection on mysql macos alt text

MySQL refers to UTF8 as a common choice. For our needs – let’s use the UTF8 default.

Click apply – which is on the bottom right of the screen.

Left click apply.

Left click to apply.

Wrapping up your schema build in Mac OS MySQL Workbench

Let’s wrap up your schema creation in MySQL.

If you’ve followed along you will see this window.

schema creation on mysql for Mac OS

MySQL generates SQL, shows it to you, and maybe that’s easier for you in the future?

This leads us to our next topic.

Using SQL – instead of the GUI!

Using SQL to generate a Schema in your Mac OS on MySQL Workbench

Using SQL is an alternative to the clicks we just gained your first schema. Woot!

Most GUI steps on MySQL will uncover SQL that you’ve generated VIA using a built-in wizard.

The native features in MySQL offer a glimpse into creating your first schema.

CREATE SCHEMA `Test_Schema1` DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8 ;

You can copy and paste this code into a query on MySQL.

If you have MySQL Workbench open, you have a query open!

Paste your code and build Test_Schema2.

creating a schema in mysql query in SQL

Change your Schema1 to Schema2. Click the lightning bolt to execute the query.

Now you should have two SCHEMAS – be sure to click the refresh button, and both will be present.

It will look like this screenshot below.

schema refresh button on mysql Mac OS

Click the tiny refresh button.

Get used to clicking the refresh button on MySQL Workbench and all other database GUI interfaces.

You’re making changes to something living and breathing on your computer, and right now – you have a database on your computer. Congratulations!

Again, the refresh is a normal process, don’t worry if you don’t see your work – especially if you’ve not refreshed your GUI interface, also known as your MySQL Workbench!

Did you expect it would be this easy to create a Schema in your MySQL Workbench on Mac OS?