mysqldump problem

[Rone Dagg]

I'm having some problem using mysqldump. I'm a newbie to mysql and so it is probably something very easy, but its driving me crazy. I simply want to backup my database on my local hard drive and then use the file to update another database on a server.

I'm at the command prompt and here is what my screen looks like with the command I use (note: i've already selected the database I want to use with the "\u database_name":

mysql> mysqldump database_name > backup_file.sql;

When I run this I get an error saying to check the manual for my version because there is a syntax error. The version I show in the command prompt is version 4.1.10-nt. My windows operating system is windows xp.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for your help.