---
title: "Using the Database Admin & File Manager in InMotion Central"
description: "If you're an advanced user, you'll sometimes want to make adjustments to your WordPress site that aren’t possible within the default WordPress dashboard. InMotion Central's web-based file manager..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/product-guides/central/projects/database-file-manager/
date: 2022-10-01
modified: 2025-11-07
author: "Jesse Owens"
image: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/database-filemanager-central.png
categories: ["Projects"]
tags: ["Central Product Guide"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Using the Database Admin & File Manager in InMotion Central

![Using the Database Admin & File Manager hero image](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/database-filemanager-central-1024x538.png)

If you’re an advanced user, you’ll sometimes want to make adjustments to your WordPress site that aren’t possible within the default WordPress dashboard.

InMotion Central’s web-based file manager and database access make changing raw files and database tables easy. You get a cleaner, easier-to-navigate interface by offering only the tools you need to complete advanced tasks.

Continue reading to learn more about the file manager and database access within InMotion Central.

## File Manager

1. [Log in to InMotion Central](https://central.inmotionhosting.com/login) and select a project.
2. Click the **Cog Icon** at the top-right and select **File Manager**.![InMotion Central Project tools menu](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/settings-cog-menu.png)
3. **File Manager** will open in a new tab, displaying your website root directory.
4. At the top right, you’ll have three options:– **Search**. Search for files and subdirectories in the current directory– **Upload**. Upload files to the current directory using your system window manager, drag-and-drop, or the public URL![Upload File InMotion Central](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/filemanager-upload-1.png)– **New Item**. Create a new **file or folder**![Create New Item - InMotion Central](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/create-new-item-central.png)
5. Files and folders are listed and can be organized by alphabetical order, file size, date last modified, numeric file [permissions](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/security/file-permissions/), and owner.
6. To the right of each file and directory, in the** Actions** column, are options to:– Delete the file or directory– Rename the file or directory– Copy the file or directory to another location– View the public file or directory URL in the browser– Download the file![File Manager actions](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-file-manager-actions.png)
7. At the bottom, you’ll see system memory and disk space stats, along with buttons to manage multiple files at once, including creating archives with zip or tar.![Memory and disk space stats](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-file-manager-stats.png)

### Edit a File with InMotion Central File Manager

1. Select a file name to view the raw text or edit the file.![View file contents and metadata](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-file-manager-file-options.png)
2. There are two options for editing files:** Edit** and **Advanced Editor**.**Edit** opens a basic text editor with no additional features, sufficient for quick changes.![Basic text file editor](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-file-manager-editor.png)**Advanced Editor** is equipped with features fit for in-depth coding:– Full screen mode– Search and replace– Word wrap – Programming language syntax highlighting– Bright and dark color themes![Advanced text editor](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-file-manager-advanced-editor.png)

## Database Access 

1. You can access the database by selecting **Database Admin** in the top right corner of the **File Manager**.
2. The interface will display all tables in your WordPress database.![Database Admin - InMotion Central](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/database-admin-central.png)
3. From the top of the page, you can:– Alter the database character set ![Alter database character set](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-alter.png)– View and export a schema showing all tables and their columns![WordPress database schema](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-schema-1024x427.png)– Create a database user with remote database access ![Create a database user](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-privileges.png)
4. On the left of the interface, you’ll see the name of your database (username_wp#), tables within the database, and additional functions:– “SQL command” allows you to execute MySQL commands ![SQL Commands terminal emulator](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-cli.png)– Import SQL files from your local machine or already uploaded to the web server ![Import database from PC or server](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-import.png)– Export database tables in SQL, CSV, or TSV formats ![Export database with preferred settings](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-export.png)– Create a new table ![Create a database table](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-create-table.png)
5. In the main section, select a table name (e.g. “wp_commentmeta”) to view structure info including indexes, foreign keys, and triggers.![wp_commentmeta table details](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-table-structure.png)
6. Click **Select data** at the top of the page or **select **on the left of the page (beside the individual table) to run basic SQL commands with the graphical interface.![SQL commands available from the GUI](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-select-data.png)
7. **Alter table** is where you’ll modify a column:– Name– Data type– Length– Data type options– Allow “NULL”– Allow “AUTO_INCREMENT” (AI)– Order– Add and remove columns![Alter table column settings](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-alter-table.png)

### Check and Repair Database

If your WordPress site shuts down and displays “Error Establishing a Database Connection,” this is an indicator of database corruption. Fortunately, a “check and repair database” function can resolve most cases easily. Keep in mind that resolving the public-facing error doesn’t fix the underlying problem causing [database corruption](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/server/databases/database-corruption/).

The fastest method, especially if you see this error often, is to configure WordPress to complete this process automatically with one extra code block in the wp-config.php file:

define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', 'true');

```
define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', 'true');
```

While we recommend editing wp-config.php for this, you can repair the database manually in the database manager.

1. Return to the main page to view all WordPress database tables.
2. Select the top-left checkbox to select all tables.![Select all tables to check and repair](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central-database-access-tables-all.png)
3. Select **Check** at the bottom. The page should refresh and state “OK” beside every table to indicate no errors.
4. Select all tables again and select** Repair**. 
5. If the page refreshes to show “The storage engine for the table doesn’t support repair,” you’ll need to change the storage engine from InnoDB to MyISAM for each table to repair. Note which tables had the error and show “InnoDB” in the table list.Export a backup before making further changes.
6. Select **SQL command** on the left.
7. If only one or a few tables need to be changed, you can use the code block below. Remember to update “table_name” to the table name.ALTER TABLE table_name1 ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE table_name2 ENGINE=MyISAM;If all tables had the error, you can copy the selection below, which includes all default WordPress tables:ALTER TABLE wp_commentmeta ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_comments ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_links ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_options ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_postmeta ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_posts ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_termmeta ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_terms ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_term_relationships ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_term_taxonomy ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_usermeta ENGINE=MyISAM; ALTER TABLE wp_users ENGINE=MyISAM;
8. Execute the SQL command.
9. Return to step 4.

We hope this helps. Let us know if you have any questions about InMotion Central tools.