Do you know why when I am using PhpMyAdmin I am getting rows like ::
1 [BLOB - 8o] [BINARY - 1o] [BINARY - 1o] 0
and not the text values ?

the columns are varchar(45)
and the table ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8 COLLATE=utf8_bin ;

thank you for helping

what does "when I am using PhpMyAdmin" mean?

are you seeing this when you run a query?

if so, wouldn't showing us the query be a good idea?

yes
select * from mytable shows [BLOB - 8o] , [BINARY - 1o] , [BINARY - 1o] instead of text

oh, neat query

could you do a SHOW CREATE TABLE mytable please

I have to say, SHOW CREATE TABLE is such a great idea and I wish it was included in MSSQL!
+1 MySQL

george, we will swing you away from the dark side soon enough

so that's two: SHOW CREATE TABLE and GROUP_CONCAT

want more? start a thread like "ways that mysql pwns sql server, let me count them" and i'll be happy to contribute

I do not chose my RDBMS, my employer decides that for me...
I don't need persuading that MySQL is a serious contendo

not even for your own personal computer to play around with the syntax?

there's no excuse for failing to do that much

MySQL is the only RDBMS installed on my home PC, but I do so little development at home nowadays!