ASA SQL User's Guide
Importing and Exporting Data
Rebuilding databases
UNLOAD TABLE allows you to export data only, in an efficient manner in text/ASCII/FIXED formats. The UNLOAD TABLE statement exports with one row per line, with values separated by a comma delimiter. To make reloading quicker, the data exports in order by primary key values.
To use the UNLOAD TABLE statement, the user must have ALTER or SELECT permission on the table.
Choose the UNLOAD TABLE statement when you want to export data in text format or when performance is an issue.
For more information, see UNLOAD statement.
The dbunload/dbisql utilities and Sybase Central are graphically different, and functionally equivalent. You can use either one interchangeably to produce the same results.
You can use the Sybase Central Unload Database wizard or the dbunload utility to unload an entire database in ASCII comma-delimited format and to create the necessary Interactive SQL command files to completely recreate your database. This may be useful for creating SQL Remote extractions or building new copies of your database with the same or a slightly modified structure. The dbunload utility and Sybase Central are useful for exporting Adaptive Server Anywhere files intended for reuse within Adaptive Server Anywhere.
Choose Sybase Central or the dbunload utility when you want to rebuild your or extract from your database, export in text format, when you need to process large amounts of data quickly, or when your file format requirements are flexible.
For more information, see Rebuilding a database not involved in replication and Rebuilding a database involved in replication.