Export Data from a MySQL Database
MySQL Workbench provides an easy way to export data to
an external source.
There are many ways to export data in MySQL. You can export a whole database.
You can export one or more tables. You can also export the result set of a query.
Here, we use MySQL Workbench to perform the export operations.
Exporting the Result Set of a Query
Let's start by exporting the result set of a query.
You can export the result set of a query to a number of formats, including CSV,
XML, HTML, JSON, SQL INSERT statements, Excel, and Tab separated.
You can export the result set of a query simply by running the query in MySQL
Workbench, then clicking the Export icon where you're prompted to save the file.
Steps below.
Start the Export
After running a query, click on the Export icon above the result set.
1. Name the File
Enter a name for the file. Note that you can export to many different file
formats.
Click Save.
2. The Result
This will export your query result set and the data will be saved to the file that
you specified.
Now you can open that file in an external application or import it into a
different database.
Here's what the above CSV file looks like when I open it in OpenOffice.
Exporting the Database and/or its Contents
You can export the whole database, its tables, and/or their data to an SQL file. This
file could be used later to restore the database and/or its contents.
You can choose whether to create one file for everything or one file for each table.
Therefore, you could restore the whole database by running one file, or you could
restore individual tables as required. You can also choose whether to export only the
database structure, its data, or both.
Here are the steps involved in doing this:
1. Start the Export
Ensure that the MANAGEMENT tab is selected on the left menu.
Click on the Data Export link.
2. Configure & Run the Export
The Data Export screen will appear. Select the database to export (as well as
which tables/objects to include). Choose whether to a self–contained file or
separate files.
In this case I chose Dump Structure and Data because I wanted the whole
database, including its tables and the data. If you only want to export the data,
change this to Dump Data Only. If you only want the database without the data,
select Dump Structure Only.
Also, I chose Export to Self–Contained File and then Create Dump in a
Single Transaction (self–contained file only), and Include Create
Schemaso that the script will create the database before trying to insert its
contents.
Once done, click Start Export
3. Enter Password
If prompted for password, enter it and click OK
4. The Result
The export operation will now be executed. Once completed, the Export
Progress screen reads Export Completed.
Next we'll open this file and run it to restore our whole database.
