Populatimg MySQL database with txt files...

Hi guys...

Just started trying to get my head around MySQL and php.

I have been following the tutorial that comes in the manual with MySQL and I am having a problem with the following.

I have created a txt file and have used this to add data into my database. However when I do a SELECT * FROM pet instead of getting a NULL value shown in the death column I get the following 0000-00-00. I have used the \N value to populate this field in the txt file as directed. Why is it throwing the date value??
Especially when I have done the exact same thing in the sex field and that shows a NULL value...

I guess it'll be something really daft , thats why I put it in here.

Also if you would be so kind as to explian why it is that when I access MySQL through MySQL.exe I havent been asked for host user or password parameters. I have looked in the user table of the mysql database and I have a root account with no password and another account which I must have created when I installed MySQL. Is it because I am accessing MySQL and as there is no password associated with this account so I get straight in...

Sorry if these seem mundane questions .I guess the last point is to do with permissions etc and I've tried to look at some of the things written on it and it doesnt sink in....

Thanks

Dave