The mysql client program never generates the fixed length, pipe layout from the shell's command line. This is only possible at mysql's command line.
1) Try this: my -Ae "show tables;" | while read a ; do my -Ae "show create table $a"; echo >> myfile.txt ; done 2) Try mysqldump in this manner mysqldump --no-data [database] > myfile.txt This will export the schema only using 'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ...' and 'CREATE TABLE ...' syntax for every table in a given database. If database is not specified, the schema of every database, and the 'CREATE TABLE ...' for all tables per schema are exported. 3) Try using the INFORMATION_SCHEMA database Create a SQL script (myschema.sql) using the following SQL command in it select CONCAT('show create table `',t.table_schema,'`.`',t.table_name,'`;') from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.tables t where t.table_schema = '<database>'; If you are doing all databases, try this: select CONCAT('show create table `',t.table_schema,'`.`',t.table_name,'`;') from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.tables t order by t.table_schema,t.table_name; Then, from the shell, do this: mysql < myschema.sql > myfile.txt ---------------------------------------------------- All of these solutions will generate the SQL for schema creation. Try these out. I hope they help. Have a good day. ----- Original Message ----- From: Payne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: mysql@lists.mysql.com Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 2:20:55 AM GMT-0500 US/Eastern Subject: schem help... Hi, I need some help. I got a 161 tables that I am trying to create schem on, the problem is I can get any of my boxes to show you know +---+ | | +---+ Here is the command I am doing.... my -Ae "show tables;" | while read a ; do my -Ae "desc $a"; echo >> myfile.txt ; done what I get the desc with out the boxes. Can someone help me? I need the box because I am going to cut these tables out so I can map out the relatation to them. Thanks, Payne -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]