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     <h3 class="title">
      <a name="server-side-help-support">
      </a>
      7.1.17 Server-Side Help Support
     </h3>
    </div>
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  <a class="indexterm" name="idm46045260107456">
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  <p>
   MySQL Server supports a
   <a class="link" href="help.html" title="15.8.3 HELP Statement">
    <code class="literal">
     HELP
    </code>
   </a>
   statement that returns information from the MySQL Reference Manual
      (see
   <a class="xref" href="help.html" title="15.8.3 HELP Statement">
    Section 15.8.3, “HELP Statement”
   </a>
   ). This information is stored in
      several tables in the
   <code class="literal">
    mysql
   </code>
   schema (see
   <a class="xref" href="system-schema.html" title="7.3 The mysql System Schema">
    Section 7.3, “The mysql System Schema”
   </a>
   ). Proper operation of the
   <a class="link" href="help.html" title="15.8.3 HELP Statement">
    <code class="literal">
     HELP
    </code>
   </a>
   statement requires that these
      help tables be initialized.
  </p>
  <p>
   For a new installation of MySQL using a binary or source
      distribution on Unix, help-table content initialization occurs
      when you initialize the data directory (see
   <a class="xref" href="data-directory-initialization.html" title="2.9.1 Initializing the Data Directory">
    Section 2.9.1, “Initializing the Data Directory”
   </a>
   ). For an RPM
      distribution on Linux or binary distribution on Windows, content
      initialization occurs as part of the MySQL installation process.
  </p>
  <p>
   For a MySQL upgrade using a binary distribution, help-table
      content is upgraded automatically by the server. To upgrade it
      manually, locate the
   <code class="filename">
    fill_help_tables.sql
   </code>
   file in the
   <code class="filename">
    share
   </code>
   or
   <code class="filename">
    share/mysql
   </code>
   directory. Change location into
      that directory and process the file with the
   <a class="link" href="mysql.html" title="6.5.1 mysql — The MySQL Command-Line Client">
    <span class="command">
     <strong>
      mysql
     </strong>
    </span>
   </a>
   client as follows:
  </p>
  <div class="copytoclipboard-wrapper">
   <pre class="programlisting one-line language-terminal"><div class="docs-select-all right" id="sa45558849"><div class="copy-help left">Press ⌘+C to copy</div> <div class="right"><button class="clipboard-btn" title="Copy to Clipboard"><span class="icon-clipboard"></span></button></div></div><code class="language-terminal">mysql <span class="token property">-u</span> root <span class="token property">-p</span> mysql &lt; fill_help_tables<span class="token punctuation">.</span>sql</code></pre>
  </div>
  <p>
   The command shown here assumes that you connect to the server
      using an account such as
   <code class="literal">
    root
   </code>
   that has
      privileges for modifying tables in the
   <code class="literal">
    mysql
   </code>
   schema. Adjust the connection parameters as required.
  </p>
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