I would be most grateful for an explanation of how I could create a database other than test. I have no difficulty in using mysql>drop database test; but when I try mysql> create database new; I am told that Access is denied for user ''@'%' to database new. So far as I can tell XAMPP is configured so that the user is root and there is no password. Using this configuration I have no difficulty in creating tables in the test database and adding and retrieving data from with PHP code via the Apache server on localhost. (And when I used MySQL as a stand-alone server I don't encounter this glitch. XAMPP is a marvel in that it spares us the trials of configuring Apache.)
Perhaps the solution is blindingly obvious but in this area of human endeavour I am surprised with increasing frequency at my lack of intuition