This document provides an overview of tools available for running SQL queries on the Moodle database, including Moodle Adminer, ad-hoc database queries, configurable reports, and PHP MyAdmin. Moodle Adminer allows admins to author and run powerful SQL queries and browse database tables. Ad-hoc SQL queries can be written once and run many times, and delegated to managers. Configurable reports provide an elegant interface and formatting. PHP MyAdmin is installed at the server level as a full application. Dumps, finds/replaces, and imports of the Moodle database are done through command line tools.

1. Running SQL Queries on the Moodle
Database
An overview
18 November 2016

2. Tools available
• Moodle Adminer
• Ad-hoc Database Queries
• Configurable Reports
• PHP MyAdmin

3. Moodle Adminer
• The ‘work horse’
• SQL in, information out
• Aimed at Admins
• Powerful for large queries
• Slick authoring of queries
• Robust browsing of tables
• So what’s the catch?

6. Moodle Adminer
Great so I can edit the database directly?
Technically speaking yes…

7. Moodle Adminer
Installation and set up
The plugin installs like any other Moodle plugin, in the local
folder and can be found at Site Administration > Server
Top Tip: If your Database Server has multiple databases,
consider using moodleuser or similar in your config.php
(create if needed)

8. Moodle Adminer
Demo
SELECT fullname, shortname FROM mdl_course
ORDER BY fullname ASC

9. Ad Hoc SQL
Installation and set up
The plugin installs like any other Moodle plugin, in the reports
folder and can be found at Site Administration > Reports

10. Ad Hoc SQL
• Write once, run many
• Great for delegating running of queries to curriculum
managers
• Not 100% foolproof
• Elegant
• Easy to use
• Timer and Email utilisation

11. Ad Hoc SQL

12. Configurable Reports
• Very user friendly
• Elegantly formatted output
• Can be applied at course level as a block

13. Configurable Reports
Installation and set up
The plugin installs like any other Moodle plugin, in the block
folder and can be added at course level

14. PHP My Admin
Installation and set up
Installed as a fully fledged application at server level.

15. Managing the Databases
Dumps
We do this through command line
mysqldump –u root –p –h localhost moodle > dump.sql
-v (verbose mode)

16. Managing the Databases
Find and Replace
We do this through command line, but the replace tool is also
useful
sed –i
‘s/moodle.westcollegescotland.ac.uk/moodle14.westcollege
scotland.ac.uk/g’ ./dump.sql
(sed is a Linux tool)

17. Managing the Databases

18. Managing the Databases
Imports
We do this through command line too
mysql –u root –p –h localhost moodle < dump.sql
-v (verbose mode)