Exporting and Importing MySQL Databases from the Windows Command Line

Exporting a MySQL Database

1. Open a command prompt and navigate to MySQL’s bin directory, for example: cd C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 4.1\bin Alternatively, add this directory to the Windows PATH environment variable.

2. Run mysqldump with your credentials and the target database name, redirecting the output to a file: mysqldump -u root -p jluibmclub > D:\jluibmclub.sql You will be prompted for the MySQL password. To export a single table, append the table name after the database name.

If you receive an error such as mysqldump: Got error: 1049: Unknown database 'jluibmclub', verify the database name by logging into MySQL and running SHOW DATABASES;. Note that commands entered at the Windows prompt must not end with a semicolon; only statements entered after the mysql> prompt require a terminating ;.

3. After a successful run, the dump file (e.g., jluibmclub.sql) appears in the specified directory; if no path is given, it defaults to the current bin folder.

Importing a MySQL Database

1. Log into MySQL: mysql -u root -p Enter the password when prompted.

2. Create the target (empty) database, for example: CREATE DATABASE news; 3. Select the newly created database: USE news; 4. Load the dump file with the source command. Use a relative path if the file is in the current bin directory, otherwise provide an absolute path: source D:\jluibmclub.sql; The import process uses the same utilities ( mysqldump, mysql, and source) for backup and restoration.

Key Tips

Do not append a semicolon to commands executed at the Windows command prompt; only MySQL statements typed after the mysql> prompt need it.

If the dump file is not found, double‑check the path and ensure the directory is accessible.

When exporting a single table, specify the table name after the database name in the mysqldump command.