getting mysql dump using php

hi, can anyone tell me how to make auto backups of mysql databases? i have a particular database that i want to backup everyday. what i can think of now is to use crontab to execute a .php that will do the work, then send the db schema (dump) via email every midnight. however, i do not know the code to GET THE DUMP of the mysql db. i know that i can be done because phpAdmin from sourceforge.net has the export feature, which does what i want, except that i cannot execute the hyperlink there using crontab. can someone tell me: 1. what is the php code for getting the schema? 2. what is an alternatively BETTER way to backup? thanks in advance Yours sincerely, See Kok Boon --------------------------------- looking for - jobs? career? customer? look in realPortal! http://realportal.realizecreations.com