MySQL Bugs: #106161: Instructions on Symbolic Links for Databases on Windows are insufficient

Bug #106161	Instructions on Symbolic Links for Databases on Windows are insufficient
Submitted:	13 Jan 2022 17:30	Modified:	2 Feb 2022 23:40
Reporter:	Alex Kundzich	Email Updates:
Status:	Closed	Impact on me:	None
Category:	MySQL Server: Documentation	Severity:	S3 (Non-critical)
Version:	ALL	OS:	Windows
Assigned to:	Jon Stephens	CPU Architecture:	Any
Tags:	documentation

Description:
Document 8.12.2.3 Using Symbolic Links for Databases on Windows from MySQL 8.0 Reference Manual has insufficient, if not misleading, instructions
I spent several hours of trials and errors trying to resolve the issue.

How to repeat:
Follow instructions from 8.12.2.3:

Change location into the data directory:
   C:\> cd \path\to\datadir
In the data directory, create a symlink named mydb that points to the location of the database directory:
   C:\> mklink /d mydb D:\data\mydb.

After that: 
  - try to use mydb - you get an error Database doesn't exist;
  - try to Create Database mydb - you get an error File already exists.

Suggested fix:
I suggest instruction should be rewritten as below. Then it would be easy to implement.

On Windows, you can create a symlink using the mklink command. This command requires administrative privileges.

1. Make sure the path to a new database location exist: D:\data\Mydb. 
2. In MySQL, create the Database Mydb.
3. Stop MySQL service.
4. In Windows Explorer, delete an empty folder \path\to\datadir\Mydb.
5. Open Command prompt and go to the data directory:
   C:\> cd \path\to\datadir
6. In the data directory, create a symlink named Mydb that points to the location of the database directory:
   C:\> mklink /d Mydb D:\data\Mydb
7. Start MySQL service.

After this, all tables created in the database mydb are created in D:\data\mydb.

Hi Mr. Kundzich,

Thank you for your documentation bug report.

Verified as reported.

Hi,

We've updated the material in question with your feedback and some additional input from our Support staff. The changes should appear in the online Manual shortly.

Thanks!

Fixed in all current versions of the Manual, in mysqldoc rev 71837.

Closed.

Thank you, Jon .....