# File lib/dbd_mysql/Mysql.rb, line 51
  def connect(dbname, user, auth, attr)
    # connect to database
    hash = Utils.parse_params(dbname)

    #if hash['database'].nil? 
    #  raise DBI::InterfaceError, "must specify database"
    #end

    hash['host'] ||= 'localhost'

    # these two connection parameters should be passed as numbers
    hash['port'] = hash['port'].to_i unless hash['port'].nil?
    hash['flag'] = hash['flag'].to_i unless hash['flag'].nil?

    handle = ::Mysql.connect(hash['host'], user, auth, hash['database'], hash['port'], hash['socket'], hash['flag'])
    #handle.select_db(hash['database'])

    return Database.new(handle, attr)
  rescue MyError => err
    raise DBI::DatabaseError.new(err.message, err.errno)
  end