How can I import/export a MySQL database without redirection? I've been told that redirection via shell (e.g. &lt; and &gt; ) can (not always) affect the collation of a database (.e.g utf8). How can I import an export without redirecting so that I don't have to worry about this.
There's always the mysqlimport utility, however, your source would have to be delimited values... such as those obtained from a "SELECT * FROM ... INTO OUTFILE ..."

If you're moving large amounts of data, it might be faster to use this bulk loading method anyway.

Beware of the consequences it may have with replication however.