MailList Controller supports 2 different list modes: standard list mode and linked list mode. The linked list mode can be used if the program should be used to send out messages only, e.g. when using a hosted MySQL database.

Many users already have a newsletter database using php-subscribe/remove webforms, which fill the information directly to a hosted MySQL database table. The programs email-form-based subscribe/remove functions are not required (and not available) in the linked list mode
MailList Controller opens a  linked (external) database in read-only mode!

Setting up a linked list is easy:

1. Download and install the required MySQL ODBC Connector from the MySQL homepage:
   http://www.mysql.com/downloads/connector/odbc/
   
   
2. Run MailList Controller as Adminsitrator(!):  right-click on the MailList Controller desktop icon and select "Run as Administrator".
   (required on Windows 7 and Windows Vista)
   
   
3. Click on "New Member List".
   
   
4. Fill in the list details and mail account settings as described in the user manual #3.
   
   
5. Select List Type: Linked List
   
   
6. Click on "ODBC" on the database selection dialog.
   
   
7. Create a new "Computer Data Source". Select "SYSTEM DSN" and the MySQL ODBC driver.
   Its important to use a SYSTEM DSN connection, otherwise the mailservice (which runs as "local system" by default) will not be able to access the MySQL database on the hosted server. Fill in the required details and test the connection. If everything is working fine, then save it and close the "Data Source (ODBC)" dialog.
   
   
   
   The "Data Source Name" is the name, which identifies the connection. You can type in any name here, e.g. "MyConnection".
   
   The TCP/IP Server is the server name of your hosted MySQL (webserver). Please take a look at your hosted control panel or ask your web adminsitrator if you don't know what servername you should enter here.
   
   
8. Continue as described in the user manual #3.7.

Important:

MailList Controller version 9 is written in UNICODE!
Some older versions of the MySQL ODBC Connector won't support unicode, which could result in missing characters,
e.g. a missing char at the end.

• Download and install the MySQL ODBC Connector version 5.1 (or newer)
• Create a new list using the updated MySQL ODBC Connector
• Open the list and verify the fields
  
  
• If it still won't show the chars, then:
  Change the charset in the "Details>>>" of the MySQL ODBC Connector! (use unicode ... or utf-8)

Resources:

• Official MySQL homepage
• MySQL ODBC Connector download page
• How to INSERT data to a MySQL table @ w3schools.com