The ultimate MySQL legacy database nightmare

Question

Table1: Everything including the kitchen sink. Dates in the wrong format (year last so you cannot sort on that column), Numbers stored as VARCHAR, complete addresses in the \'st

Answer 1

Can't you use the existing code which accesses this database and adapt it to your needs? Of course, the code must be horrible, but it might handle the database structure for you, no? You could hopefully concentrate on getting your work done instead of playing archaeologist then.