How to check the character set of an sql database

Could someone let me know how to check the character set of an sql database

I have the database to upload to my hosting/ server.

So need to know what it is before i upload

Thanks for any answers.

 

It ok I've worked it out - you can open the file with notepad and it states the character set near the top of the file.

 

or you can use SELECT DEFAULT_CHARACTER_SET_NAME FROM information_schema.SCHEMATA.

 

Is that for SQL output /download files? and you're referring to char-set for presentation? I'm assuming you know that regardless what chars it's in with database can be converted on pages through your basic CSS etc? If I'm understanding you right.

 

I'm writing code down side please check it how to use character set in My Sql
For Schemas:

SELECT default_character_set_name FROM information_schema.SCHEMATA S
WHERE schema_name = "schemaname";
For Tables:

SELECT CCSA.character_set_name FROM information_schema.`TABLES` T,
information_schema.`COLLATION_CHARACTER_SET_APPLICABILITY` CCSA
WHERE CCSA.collation_name = T.table_collation
AND T.table_schema = "schemaname"
AND T.table_name = "tablename";
For Columns:

SELECT character_set_name FROM information_schema.`COLUMNS` C
WHERE table_schema = "schemaname"
AND table_name = "tablename"
AND column_name = "columnname";

 

Hi,

If its a MySQL database then open your PHPMyadmin, click on "Character sets and Collations", it will list databases with their character sets and collation