See  t/mysqltest.test for testing mtr command itself.

# it should be -1 before testing
eval select $mysql_errno as "before_testing" ;

./mtr --start-and-exit innodb 



Reference Manual:
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysqltest/2.0/en/index.html

Guide:
http://forge.mysql.com/wiki/How_to_Create_Good_Tests

Tip 1:

Do not assign the storage engine within your CREATE TABLE statements.
./myql-test-run.pl --mysqld="--default-storage-engine=<engine>" <test_case>

Tip 2:
How to invoke mysqld using config files generated by mtr ?

./mysql-test-run.pl --manual-debug alter_table

Start master in your debugger
dir: z:/mysql-5.1-maint_win/mysql-test
exe: z:/mysql-5.1-maint_win/sql/debug/mysqld.exe
args:  --no-defaults --basedir=....

Waiting ....

Now kill the client and invoke the same command manually.

Tip 3:
  ./mtr --start  meb.integrity
Just start the servers using the startup settings for the first test case.

Tip 4:
  Use perl snippets like below:
--perl
if ( expr )
{
   die  " There is error ... \n" ;
}

Tip 5:
  let  $myvar = "..."  ; local variable.
  let  myvar = "..."   ; sets env variable.
--let  $myvar = "some"   # This does not need terminator ";"
  let  $myvar = "some";  # This needs terminator ";"
  
  let files= one two three;
  exec ls  $files;   # Expands files as one argument embedding spaces.

Tip 6:
  Use eval for repeating long statements :

let $select= SELECT * FROM information_schema.column_privileges
WHERE grantee LIKE '''testuser%'''
ORDER BY grantee, table_schema,table_name,column_name,privilege_type;
eval $select;

Tip 7:
  How to write complicated mtr tests ? 
  Use these commands to produce .txt files.
  Use perl to set temp values.
  SELECT * INTO OUTFILE  .... OR
  LOAD DATA IN INFILE 
  OR create a temporary table which keeps track of list of strings.
  Use query get value to retrieve one by one.
  Follow this style to prevent variable output:
# --replace_result $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR MYSQLTEST_VARDIR
# eval SELECT * FROM mysql.proc INTO OUTFILE '$MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/proc.txt';
#


What does suite/meb/my.cnf do ?

- uses @mysqld.1 instance specification similar to include/default_my.cnf
- inlcude/default_my.cnf defines MASTER_MYPORT and MASTER_MYSOCKET
- Defines innodb_* values in [mysqld], then reuses that 
  in [mysqld.1]. Is it required ??!!
- rpl tests indicate that there is a variable called loose-innodb

What does loose- prefix do to variables ?
  - causes the client/server not to complain and die if it does not 
    understand the variable.
  - can be used in my.cnf as well as cmd line options.

How does have_meb.inc work ?
   - If IBBACKUP or INNOBACKUP vars are not defined, then skip test
   - Sets  $SERVER_CNF =  $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/my.cnf
   - Initializes  $TMP_DIR/ib.cnf using env variables defined in my.cnf

How does extreme_data.inc work ?

creates 3 extream_db1, db2, db3 databases;
create db1.table1 using 79 different columns of all types;
inserts min and max values on these.
insert a row with null values;
create a row with arbirary values;

create specific table spaces if env var defined for that.



bzr+ssh://bk-internal/bzrroot/server/mysql-5.1-innodb


 --remove_files_wildcard $DATA_DIR ib*

--copy_file errors if the destination file exists.
--remove_file errors if the destination file does not exist.
--copytree overwrites destination directory. Creates dir if not exists.

let $value= query_get_value(SHOW COLUMNS FROM t1, Field, 0);
let $value= query_get_value(SELECT a FROM t1, a, 1);
let $nmp= query_get_value("SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'named_pipe'", Value, 1);
let $nmp= query_get_value(cmd, col_name, row_number);

let $Field=   query_get_value($show_statement, Field,   $rowno);
   if (`SELECT '$Field' = 'No such row'`)

let $result=`select table_name from  information_schema.tables where
              table_schema = 'db1'`;
--echo result of list of tables is $result # This contains first table.
Note: If multiple results are returned, first result is stored!!!