I'm starting to play around with mysql. I can run a script file - say a_script_file.sql in the sql directory in my home directory from the bash command line by invoking:
mysql -u username -p database_name < sql/a_script_file.sql
It works after inputing password at the prompt.
However from the mysql prompt, when connected to the database, I run:
database_name < sql/a_script_file.sql;
I receive an error message "You have an error in your SQL syntax 'database_name < sql/a_script_file.sql' at line 1.
I can't figure out what that syntax error might be, can anyone help.

Regards Richard

Within your SQL script file you probally have a create database type command:

How did you create the script file ?? with the mysqldump command ??

If so the script file will have lines like:

CREATE DATABASE /*!32312 IF NOT EXISTS*/ `MyDB` /*!40100 DEFAULT CHARACTER SET latin1 */;

Restore the script file like this:

linux:~ # mysql -uroot -ppassword < script_file.sql

Now recreate users for the database(s) with GRANT options.

linux:~ # mysql -uroot -ppassword

mysql> grant all on MyDB.* to 'MyUser'@'localhost' identified by 'MyPass' with grant option;

mysql> SHOW GRANTS for 'MyUser'@'localhost';
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Grants for MyUser@localhost |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| GRANT USAGE ON *.* TO 'MyUser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY PASSWORD '*A1361C38B5A8A0E651E9D019408FAB7F32F600A8' |
| GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `MyDB`.* TO 'MyUser'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+