Problem using MySQL LOAD with "special" characters

[Judd Muir]

I am trying to load a MySQL table with text data that contains non-ASCII characters, such as an ñ [n-tilde] and è [e-grave].

When I use mysql LOAD to load the data from a text file, it completes without a warning or error, but those "special characters" turn into unrecognizable characters when viewed in a shell mysql session and when output in a PHP script to a browser.

I've tried importing the file using both a MySQL shell session, and phpMyAdmin, and have the same results.

NOTE: I *can* enter a "special character" directly into the field, again using either a shell or phpMyAdmin, so the database itself *does* support the character sets in question (or appears to!).

I'd appreciate any advice on how can I coerce MySQL to store those characters, without having to edit all my records manually once they've been imported!

Thanks in advance for any replies :-)