How to Setup a Linked List
Connected to a MySQL Server
MailList Controller supports 2 different list modes:
standard and linked list mode. The linked list mode connects
the program to an external database.
Many users already have a newsletter
database using php-subscribe/remove web forms, filling the information directly
to a hosted MySQL database table. MailList Controller opens a linked
(external) database in read-only mode!
Setup and connect a Linked List to MySQL
- Download and install the required MySQL ODBC Connector (32bit) from
the MySQL homepage:
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/connector/odbc/
Download the 32bit version even if you are running a 64bit system. MailList Controller is a 32bit application. - Run MailList Controller as administrator(!): right-click on the
MailList Controller desktop icon and select "Run as Administrator".
- Click on "New List".
- Fill in the list details and mail account settings as described in the
user manual.
- Select List Type: "Linked List"
- Click on "ODBC" on the database selection dialog.
- Create a new "Computer Data Source". Select "SYSTEM
DSN" and the "MySQL ODBC Unicode" driver.
Its important to use a SYSTEM DSN connection, otherwise the mail service (which runs as "local system" by default) will not be able to access the MySQL database on the 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".
We recommend to avoid spaces and special chars in the "Data Source Name".
The TCP/IP Server is the server name of your hosted MySQL (web server). Take a look at your (hosted) control panel or ask your web administrator if you don't know what server name you should enter here. - Continue as described in the user manual.
Important:
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.
Please
make sure you have installed the latest version of the ODBC driver and select
the "MySQL ODBC Unicode" driver - not the ANSI driver!
- Download and install the MySQL ODBC Connector version 5.1 (or newer)
- Create a new list using the updated MySQL ODBC Connector
- If you still have problems, change the charset in the "Details>>>" of the MySQL ODBC Connector to "unicode" or "utf-8".