Creating a Database

Trash Flow stores all the data for your business in either a SQLite file or in a MySQL database. SQLite is simpler; MySQL is faster. See below for further information to help you decide which format you want to use.

About SQLite

If you have only one Trash Flow user and fewer than 4,000 or so customers, you will probably want to use a SQLite database. This saves all your Trash Flow data in a single file with a .db extension. To create a new SQLite file to hold your Trash Flow data click your Start button in Windows and go to All Programs > Trash Flow 3 > SelectDB. Click Store Data on your hard drive. In the File name box, enter a name for the file (like trashflow.db). Use the sidebar at the left to navigate to where you want to save this file (often C:\Users\Public\Public Documents) and click Open. You're done; no need to go through any of the setup and configuration steps below.

About MySQL

SQLite works fine for smaller sets of data with few users, but larger operations will want to run MySQL Server. Choose which computer in your office will act as the server. Note whether this computer runs a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. (You can find this information out by right-clicking your Computer icon and clicking Properties.) It is best to complete these steps before installing Trash Flow.

  1. Go to the Downloads section of our website. Click on the green download button for MariaDB v10.4 file at the bottomleft. This will let you save the installer for MariaDB on your computer Once the file has been saved, double-click it to start the installer.
  2. Windows may ask “Do you want to run this file?”; if it does, click Run. At the title window, click “Install MySQL Products,” then select “I accept the terms in the license agreement” and click Next again.
  3. Check MySQL Server 5.6.10 and click Next.
  4. If you see the Find latest products window, jump to the bottom and select the “Skip the check for updates (not recommended)” option, and click Next. (They may not recommend this but we do!)
  5. Select the “Server only” option on the Choosing a Setup Type window and click Next. The following screen titled Check Requirements should be blank and you can simply click Next again.
  6. On the Installation Progress window you should see “MySQL Server 5.6.10” listed as the only product. Simply click Execute and wait for MySQL to install the server on your machine.
  7. Click Next twice to start configuring the server. Windows may ask “Do you want to allow the following program to make changes to this computer?”; if it does, click Yes. On this screen (the first of three) the only setting you need to change is the “Server Configuration Type”. Choose “Server Machine” as the Config Type. This lets MySQL use a good chuck of the memory on the machine without hogging everything. If you are not planning on running anything else on this box (like serving files, print jobs, email, etc.) then select “Dedicated Machine” and let MySQL be a pig. Once you've select the option you want, make sure that “Enable TCP/IP Networking” is checked, the Port Number as 3306, and the setting to "Open Firewall port for network access" is checked. Click Next.
  8. Choose a root password for the database. This password will allow a user to make changes and create new users. Root is to MySQL as Administrator is to Windows. Do NOT lose this password.
  9. Click Add User, fill out the “Username” field as well as the “Password” and “Confirm Password” fields to create the user Trash Flow will use. This can be the same as the root password for the database you just chose, but it doesn't have to be. (Please write this information down as well; you will need it shortly.) Leave the Host and Role settings at their defaults. After completing the form click “OK”. Click “Next.”
  10. The final window for MySQL Server Configuration should need no changes. Just be absolutely sure that “Start the MySQL Server at System Startup” is selected and click Next. The MySQL installer will now configure the server for you. Click the Next button as soon as you see it illuminate
  11. You’re finished installing MariaDB! Simply click the Finish button to exit the installer.

Now you can create the database to hold your Trash Flow data. When you start Trash Flow 3, the program should ask whether you would like to import your data from Trash Flow 2.8. Click Yes, then click No when the installer asks if you would like instructions on how to install MySQL. Click Yes to start the importer, then Change Database, then New MysQL Connection. Create a profile name for the database. You can enter your business name or just choose trashflow; please keep in mind that no spaces are allowed in the profile name. Fill in the username and password you chose when setting up MySQL Server, then click Search for MySQL.

This should find the Hostname of the MySQL server and fill in a default database name (trashflow) and the port (3306). If for whatever reason this process does not work, manually enter the IP address of the server in the Hostname field and set the Port number to 3306. Click Test Connection. If all the information is correct you should receive the message Test Successful Secure; click OK on that message and click Save. If you do not know how to find the server’s IP address or have any other trouble with this process, please give us a call at 800-708-8642. Click Next to continue with the data import. When it’s done, double-click the Trash Flow shortcut on your desktop to start the program!