+
−==================================
+
−Integrating with a legacy database
+
−==================================
+
−
+
−While Django is best suited for developing new applications, it's quite
+
−possible to integrate it into legacy databases. Django includes a couple of
+
−utilities to automate as much of this process as possible.
+
−
+
−This document assumes you know the Django basics, as covered in the
+
−`official tutorial`_.
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−
+
−.. _official tutorial: ../tutorial1/
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−
+
−Give Django your database parameters
+
−====================================
+
−
+
−You'll need to tell Django what your database connection parameters are, and
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−what the name of the database is. Do that by editing these settings in your
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−`settings file`_:
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−
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−    * `DATABASE_NAME`
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−    * `DATABASE_ENGINE`_
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−    * `DATABASE_USER`_
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−    * `DATABASE_PASSWORD`_
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−    * `DATABASE_HOST`_
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−    * `DATABASE_PORT`_
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−
+
−.. _settings file: ../settings/
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−.. _DATABASE_NAME: ../settings/#database-name
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−.. _DATABASE_ENGINE: ../settings/#database-engine
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−.. _DATABASE_USER: ../settings/#database-user
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−.. _DATABASE_PASSWORD: ../settings/#database-password
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−.. _DATABASE_HOST: ../settings/#database-host
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−.. _DATABASE_PORT: ../settings/#database-port
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−
+
−Auto-generate the models
+
−========================
+
−
+
−Django comes with a utility that can create models by introspecting an existing
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−database. You can view the output by running this command::
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−
+
−    django-admin.py inspectdb --settings=path.to.settings
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−
+
−Save this as a file by using standard Unix output redirection::
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−
+
−    django-admin.py inspectdb --settings=path.to.settings > models.py
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−
+
−This feature is meant as a shortcut, not as definitive model generation. See
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−the `django-admin.py documentation`_ for more information.
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−
+
−Once you've cleaned up your models, name the file ``models.py`` and put it in
+
−the Python package that holds your app. Then add the app to your
+
−``INSTALLED_APPS`` setting.
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−
+
−.. _django-admin.py documentation: ../django_admin/
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−
+
−Install the core Django tables
+
−==============================
+
−
+
−Next, run the ``manage.py syncdb`` command to install any extra needed database
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−records such as admin permissions and content types::
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−
+
−    django-admin.py init --settings=path.to.settings
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−
+
−See whether it worked
+
−=====================
+
−
+
−That's it. Try accessing your data via the Django database API, and try editing
+
−objects via Django's admin site.