Save a MySQL result set to the local machine

Using MySQL Databases in PHP Pages example from a Well House Consultants training course
More on Using MySQL Databases in PHP Pages [link]

This example is described in the following article(s):
• Saving a MySQL query results to your local disc for Excel - [link]
• PHP header() function - uses and new restrictions - [link]

If you're searching for a page where you can try this code, select here

This example references the following resources:
http://www.wellho.net/resources/ex.php4?item=h113/aos.php
http://www.wellho.net/mouth/581_.html
http://www.wellho.net/mouth/1210_.html
http://www.grahamellis.co.uk/
http://www.wellho.net/

Source code: aos.php Module: H113


<?php

// Run a MySQL query, and send the results to the user
// suitable for import to a spreadsheet.

$error = 0;
if ($_REQUEST[sql]) {
        $query = stripslashes($_REQUEST[sql]);

// Following line forces a specific query and ignores
// user input as a demo - REMOVE for real use
        $query = 'select * from agents where town = "Trowbridge"';

// Following lines to be changed to reflect your MySQL login
// and the database you wish to query
        mysql_connect("localhost","trainee","abc123");
        mysql_select_db("trainee");

        if (! $rset = @mysql_query($query)) {
                $error = 1;
        } else {
                $result = "";
                $outtype = "Content-type: application/octet-stream";

// Change following line to reflect the name of the file
// you want (you could add an extra input box)
//              $outtype .= 'Content-disposition: attachment; filename="x.csv"';
// Previous line REPLACED by 2 lines
                header($outtype);
                $outtype = 'Content-disposition: attachment; filename="x.csv"';
// Due to changes to header function from PHP 4.4.2 which no longer allows
// a \n within header for security reasond (injection attack) that were not
// relevant in our example.

                header($outtype);
                while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($rset)) {
                        for ($col=0; $col<count($row); $col++) {

// Change following line if you want to change your field separator
// You would use "\t" for a tab delimited file for Excel, for example
                                if ($col > 0) $result .= ",";

// Simplify following line is you do NOT want fields surrounded by quotes
                                $result .= '"'.addslashes($row[$col]).'"';

                        }

// Change following line to change your end of line character
                        $result .= "\n";

                }
                print ($result);
                exit();
        }
}
// The following is the HTML form and page that's used to get the
// database enquirer to enter his/her request.
?>
<html>
<head><title>SQL Tool</title></head>
<body><h1>Run an SQL query, return a .csv file</h1>
This page runs a MySQL query and returns the result as a .csv file
which you can save through your browser.<hr>
<?php if ($error) { ?>
<font color=red>Error in your SQL - Query failed. Please correct!</font><br>
<?php } ?>
<form method=post>
Query <input name=sql size=60 value="<?= htmlspecialchars($_REQUEST[sql]) ?>">
<br><input type=submit>
</form><br>
<i>Note - for the purpose of this demonstration we have hardwired a simple
query against our database and THAT is what the example runs, no matter what
you type into the box (just don't leave it blank).<br><br>
The source code is on our web site
<a href=http://www.wellho.net/resources/ex.php4?item=h113/aos.php>here</a>
so that you can take a copy, adapt it for your use if it's suitable,
and so on.<br><br>
More about this example <a href=http://www.wellho.net/mouth/581_.html>On
the Horse's Mouth</a>.
Also <a href=http://www.wellho.net/mouth/1210_.html>an update here</a>
</i><hr>
<a href=http://www.grahamellis.co.uk/>Graham Ellis</a> /
<a href=http://www.wellho.net/>Well House Consultants</a> /
<?= date("Y") ?>
</body>
</html>

Learn about this subject

This module and example are covered on the following public courses:
* Learning to program in PHP
* PHP Programming
* MySQL
* PHP Programming
* Learning to program in PHP
Also available on on site courses for larger groups

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Other Examples

This example comes from our "Using MySQL Databases in PHP Pages" training module. You'll find a description of the topic and some other closely related examples on the "Using MySQL Databases in PHP Pages" module index page.

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