[mysql] How can I directly view blobs in MySQL Workbench

I'm using MySQL Workbench CE 5.2.30 CE / Rev 6790 . When execute the following statement:

SELECT OLD_PASSWORD("test")

I only get back a nice BLOB icon, I need to left-click to select the cell, right-click and choose "Open Value in viewer" and select the "Text" tab.

Using the same with phpMyAdmin, I get directly back the value of the OLD_PASSWORD call. It's just an example, but is there a way to directly see such results in the output?

Doesn't seem to be possible I'm afraid, its listed as a bug in workbench: http://bugs.mysql.com/bug.php?id=50692 It would be very useful though!

Perform three steps:

1. Go to "WorkBench Preferences" --> Choose "SQL Editor" Under "Query Results": check "Treat BINARY/VARBINARY as nonbinary character string"

2. Restart MySQL WorkBench.

3. Now select SELECT SUBSTRING(BLOB<COLUMN_NAME>,1,2500) FROM <Table_name>;

select CONVERT((column_name) USING utf8) FROM table;

In my case, Workbench does not work. so i used the above solution to show blob data as text.

there is few things that you can do

SELECT GROUP_CONCAT(CAST(name AS CHAR))
FROM product
WHERE  id   IN (12345,12346,12347)

If you want to order by the query you can order by cast as well like below

SELECT GROUP_CONCAT(name ORDER BY name))
FROM product
WHERE id   IN (12345,12346,12347)

as it says on this blog

http://www.kdecom.com/mysql-group-concat-blob-bug-solved/

SELECT *, CONVERT( UNCOMPRESS(column) USING "utf8" ) AS column FROM table_name

had the same problem, according to the MySQL documentation, you can select a Substring of a BLOB:

SELECT id, SUBSTRING(comment,1,2000) FROM t

HTH, glissi

NOTE: The previous answers here aren't particularly useful if the BLOB is an arbitrary sequence of bytes; e.g. BINARY(16) to store 128-bit GUID or md5 checksum.

In that case, there currently is no editor preference -- though I have submitted a feature request now -- see that request for more detailed explanation.

[Until/unless that feature request is implemented], the solution is HEX function in a query: SELECT HEX(mybinarycolumn) FROM mytable.

An alternative is to use phpMyAdmin instead of MySQL Workbench - there hex is shown by default.

I pieced a few of the other posts together, as the workbench 'preferences' fix did not work for me. (WB 6.3)

SELECT CAST(`column` AS CHAR(10000) CHARACTER SET utf8) FROM `table`;

casting works, but it is a pain, so I would recommend using spioter's method unless you are using a lot of truly blob data.

SELECT CAST(OLD_PASSWORD("test") AS CHAR)

You can also cast as other types, and even restrict the size, but most of the time I just use CHAR: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/en/cast-functions.html#function_cast

I'm not sure if this answers the question but if if you right click on the "blob" icon in the field (when viewing the table) there is an option to "Open Value in Editor". One of the tabs lets you view the blob. This is in ver. 5.2.34

Work bench 6.3
Follow High scoring answer then use UNCOMPRESS()

(In short:
1. Go to Edit > Preferences
2. Choose SQL Editor
3. Under SQL Execution, check Treat BINARY/VARBINARY as nonbinary character string
4. Restart MySQL Workbench (you will not be prompted or informed of this requirement).)

Then

SELECT SUBSTRING(UNCOMPRESS(<COLUMN_NAME>),1,2500) FROM <Table_name>;

or

SELECT CAST(UNCOMPRESS(<COLUMN_NAME>) AS CHAR) FROM <Table_name>;

If you just put UNCOMPRESS(<COLUMN_NAME>) you can right click blob and click "Open Value in Editor".