MySQL db.opt File

When you create a database, you have to specify options such as the character set it will use:

 

mysql> create database andrew default charset utf8;

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.01 sec)

 

mysql>

 

These options are recorded in the db.opt file in the database directory:

 

UNIX > pwd

/usr/local/mysql/data/andrew

UNIX > cat db.opt

default-character-set=utf8

default-collation=utf8_general_ci

UNIX >

 

You can change them with the alter database command:

 

mysql> alter database andrew charset = dec8;

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.05 sec)

 

mysql>

 

... and the db.opt file will be updated:

 

UNIX > pwd

/usr/local/mysql/data/andrew

UNIX > cat db.opt

default-character-set=dec8

default-collation=dec8_swedish_ci

UNIX >