Dumping a database in PHP MyAdmin

[Evie]

Hey, I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I'm trying to move my board (YaBBSE..) from one server to the other, and I've gotten to the point where I'm supposed to dump my database. I've tried the export function in PHP MyAdmin but all I get is a huge amount of text.. what am I supposed to do with that? Am I supposed to save it as a .txt, .html or .php file and what do I do next? I may sound stupid but I'm just so very new to all of this.. Thanks in advance.

Hugs, Evie

[[Unknown]]

It should give you text, which is the dump.  You'll want to save it as a .sql file.

-[Unknown]

[Evie]

sql.. thanks. now how do I import it into my other database..? this is kinda hard for me as English is not my primary language, but I think it has something to do with the query thingy.. am I right? is that where I'm supposed to go?

[[Unknown]]

Go to the SQL tab and use the "from a file" interface.  Autodetect and all that nice stuff.. and it should work out fine.

-[Unknown]

[Evie]

ok thanks.. I think it's gonna work.. I have one more question now, this time I had to view the source to get to the export file, and I had to cut out all the code and stuff to make sure it was a plain text file. is there any easier way to download the export file..? thanks..

[Evie]

ok.. problem.. I'm trying to use my .sql file as a query but when I hit the 'start' button, nothing happens. at all.

I'm afraid I have a kind of 'clean' version of PHP MyAdmin on my host.. it was pre-installed.

[edit] never mind, I think it's busy cause I suddenly have new tables in my database annoying I can't see how far it's coming along though..

[[Unknown]]

Hmm.. you shouldn't have to view the source.  Are you able to download a compressed version at all? (should be an option if phpMyAdmin is new enough.)

-[Unknown]

[Evie]

I did see that option, but I'm new to all of this so I didn't want to take any risks.. I assume that when I choose one of the compressors, I get a zip file that contains a readymade sql file..?

I hope I'm not asking stupid questions here 

[[Unknown]]

Yes, it *should* give you a zip file... although I personally recommend tar.gz, since that compresses better anyway.

-[Unknown]

[Evie]

okay, thanks. I'll do that if I ever have to dump another database

one more question though.. I just got an 'unable to display' page trying to import my sql file. I only have 7 new tables now.. apparently there's been a time-out or something. my sql file is about 3 mb large, is that too much..?

[edit] I'll try compressing it first.

[edit] okay, that didn't work either. I think I should be able to import my sql file while it's still compressed, but I can't find that option.. I think I'll install PHP MyAdmin on my host myself. I installed it on my other host and it's got more options.. I think I'll figure it out. Thanks a lot..

[Evie]

PHP MyAdmin also times out when I try to import the compressed file

I can't give up cause I really need to move my board now..

[Peter Duggan]

my sql file is about 3 mb large, is that too much..?

No, it should handle that OK, but it might start to choke before it gets all that much bigger.

<edit>OTH, the DB might already be too big if that's the *compressed* size.</edit>

[Evie]

the compressed file is about 800 kb large..

[edit] by the way, I don't even need everything from that file.. but I can't dump certain tables from a database, can I?

[Peter Duggan]

OK, if it's 3MB uncompressed and 800K compressed, phpMyAdmin should cope!

[Evie]

it doesn't

trying to import the compressed file, I get this error..

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in /data/members/paid/t/r/trebleweb.nl/htdocs/phpmyadmin/libraries/read_dump.lib.php on line 185

trying to import the sql file, I didn't get a page at all ('unable to display yatta yatta..')

[Peter Duggan]

The maximum execution time is a PHP (rather than phpMyAdmin) setting, so it might be worth talking to your host about that.

[Evie]

ouch is it possible to dump only a small part of a database? cause I have three boards installed in my database and I only want to transfer one..

[Evie]

damn I think I just found a way.. hold on

[edit] I'm just exporting and importing six tables at a time now. it's not ideal but it's working and I'm glad I didn't have to give up thanks you guys!!!

[Evie]

okay.. back earlier than expected..

the messages table was still too large, so I had to cut it in six (!) parts which I had to import separately. it was quite a hassle and my board works now, BUT about, o, let's say, 8000 of 9000 posts have gone missing. I'm pretty sure I imported all of them. what could have gone wrong..? as I said I imported all tables separately.. was I supposed to import them in a particular order? for instance, the topics table after the messages one..? I hope you guys can help me cause this has been taking me up for four hours so far and I'm going crazy..

[[Unknown]]

Do you know if you have shell access on either or hopefully both servers?

-[Unknown]