Can I Import an updated structure into a MySQL table without losing its current content?

Question

We use MySQL tables to which we add new fields from time to time as our product evolves. I\'m looking for a way to export the structure of the table from one copy of the db, to

Answer 1

What I usually do is store each and every ALTER TABLE statement run on the development table(s), and apply them to the target table(s) whenever necessary.

There are more sophisticated ways to do this (like structure comparison tools and such), but I find this practice works well. Doing this on a manual step by step basis also helps prevent accidental alteration or destruction of data by structural changes that change a field's type or maximum length.