Backing up a Database NOT via PHPMyAdmin

Gareth · 01-14-2008, 09:27 PM

Hello.

I would like to be able to back up parts of my database by providing a form / link which will give the admin the choice to download the file in a sql format (like in IPB).

I have researched this a little; and been succesful in being able to backup the database into a location on the server where I define, but I'm not sure how I can change it into being download-able (obviously if it is downloaded I don't want it on the server anymore...).

This is what I have so far (I have commented it):

PHP Code:


			
<?php

include 'conf_global.php'; // File with database settings



$tableName  = 'a_table'; // The table which the admin has chosen to backup (Static for exemplory reasons)

$backupFile = 'backup/DATE_TABLE.sql'; // Where the sql is places

$query      = "SELECT * INTO OUTFILE '$backupFile' FROM $tableName"; // Back up table into file

$result = mysql_query($query); // Query it



if ($result){

    echo 'Database Backed Up';    // If succesful

}

else {

    echo 'Database NOT Backed Up'; // If not..

}

?>

Can someone help me please?
Much appreciated.
Gareth

Alan @ CIT · 01-14-2008, 10:01 PM

Hi Gareth,

Completely un-tested, but something like the following should do the trick

PHP Code:


			
header('Content-type: text/plain');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="backup.sql"');
readfile($backupFile);

That should popup a download dialouge (default name of backup.sql - might want to change that to include the date or something).

Alan.

Village Idiot · 01-14-2008, 10:18 PM

That should work.

Gareth · 01-14-2008, 10:39 PM

Thanks! Should this go at the top?

RobertK · 01-14-2008, 10:58 PM

That needs to be present after the query is known to be successful; there shouldn't be any output up to or past that point.