Dump a mysql database to a plaintext (CSV) backup from the command line

Question

I\'d like to avoid mysqldump since that outputs in a form that is only convenient for mysql to read. CSV seems more universal (one file per table is fine). But if there ar

Answer 1

Check out mk-parallel-dump which is part of the ever-useful maatkit suite of tools. This can dump comma-separated files with the --csv option.

This can do your whole db without specifying individual tables, and you can specify groups of tables in a backupset table.

Note that it also dumps table definitions, views and triggers into separate files. In addition providing a complete backup in a more universally accessible form, it also immediately restorable with mk-parallel-restore