To start using the shared database you have to have installed public MySQL database server. Usually the system administrator of your department does it. You should ask him or her to give you the access to a MySQL database. Particularly, you need a few parameters to connect to the database: IP-adress of the server (the computer where MySQL server is running), user name for MySQL database and the password. You can also install MySQL server by yourself on any public computer you have an access to (even on your workstation), following the steps described here.
To connect to the database use the File->Connect to shared database main menu item. The following dialog will appear:
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