1.22.1 Problem
mysql produces tabular output when you want tab-delimited output, or vice versa.
1.22.2 Solution
Select the desired format explicitly with the appropriate command-line option.
1.22.3 Discussion
When you use mysql non-interactively (such as to read queries from a file or to send results into a pipe), it writes output in tab-delimited format by default. Sometimes it's desirable to produce tabular output instead. For example, if you want to print or mail query results, tab-delimited output doesn't look very nice. Use the -t (or --table) option to produce tabular output that is more readable:
% mysql -t cookbook < inputfile | lpr % mysql -t cookbook < inputfile | mail paul
The inverse operation is to produce batch (tab-delimited) output in interactive mode. To do this, use -B or --batch.
Using the mysql Client Program
Writing MySQL-Based Programs
Record Selection Techniques
Working with Strings
Working with Dates and Times
Sorting Query Results
Generating Summaries
Modifying Tables with ALTER TABLE
Obtaining and Using Metadata
Importing and Exporting Data
Generating and Using Sequences
Using Multiple Tables
Statistical Techniques
Handling Duplicates
Performing Transactions
Introduction to MySQL on the Web
Incorporating Query Resultsinto Web Pages
Processing Web Input with MySQL
Using MySQL-Based Web Session Management
Appendix A. Obtaining MySQL Software
Appendix B. JSP and Tomcat Primer
Appendix C. References