MySQL Server supports a HELP statement that returns information from the MySQL Reference Manual (see Section 13.8.3, “HELP Syntax”). This information is stored in several tables in the mysql schema (see Section 5.3, “The mysql System Schema”). Proper operation of the HELP statement requires that these help tables be initialized.

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 Section 2.10.1, “Initializing the Data Directory”). For an RPM distribution on Linux or binary distribution on Windows, content initialization occurs as part of the MySQL installation process.

For a MySQL upgrade using a binary distribution, help-table content is upgraded automatically by the server as of MySQL 8.0.16. Prior to MySQL 8.0.16, the content is not upgraded automatically, but you can upgrade it manually. Locate the fill_help_tables.sql file in the share or share/mysql directory. Change location into that directory and process the file with the mysql client as follows:

mysql -u root -p mysql < fill_help_tables.sql

The command shown here assumes that you connect to the server using an account such as root that has privileges for modifying tables in the mysql schema. Adjust the connection parameters as required.

Prior to MySQL 8.0.16, if you are working with Git and a MySQL development source tree, the source tree contains only a “stub” version of fill_help_tables.sql. To obtain a non-stub copy, use one from a source or binary distribution.