Listing table information including collation
---------------------------------------------
```sql
show table status;
```
To show all table information use this command:
```sql
show full columns from xxx;
```
Convert existing columns in a table to a specific collation
-----------------------------------------------------------
```sql
alter table brands convert to character set utf8 collate utf8_swedish_ci;
```
This command converts all existing columns to the specified collation.
Change table collation
----------------------
```sql
alter table posts collate utf8_swedish_ci;
```
Note that this doesn't change collation of existing columns.
Setting the collation manually
------------------------------
```sql
set session collation_database=utf8_swedish_ci;
set session collation_connection=utf8_swedish_ci;
```
Common collation values
-----------------------
```sql
utf8_swedish_ci
utf8_general_ci
```