diff --git a/mysql_client_print.lua b/mysql_client_print.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..721e480
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql_client_print.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+
+--mysql table pretty printing
+
+local null = require'cjson'.null
+
+local function ellipsis(s,n)
+	return #s > n and (s:sub(1,n-3) .. '...') or s
+end
+
+local align = {}
+
+function align.left(s,n)
+	s = s..(' '):rep(n - #s)
+	return ellipsis(s,n)
+end
+
+function align.right(s,n)
+	s = (' '):rep(n - #s)..s
+	return ellipsis(s,n)
+end
+
+function align.center(s,n)
+	local total = n - #s
+	local left = math.floor(total / 2)
+	local right = math.ceil(total / 2)
+	s = (' '):rep(left)..s..(' '):rep(right)
+	return ellipsis(s,n)
+end
+
+local function fit(s,n,al)
+	return align[al or 'left'](s,n)
+end
+
+local function print_table(fields, rows, aligns, minsize, print)
+	print = print or _G.print
+	minsize = minsize or 0
+	local max_sizes = {}
+	for i=1,#rows do
+		for j=1,#fields do
+			max_sizes[j] = math.max(max_sizes[j] or minsize, #rows[i][j])
+		end
+	end
+
+	local totalsize = 0
+	for j=1,#fields do
+		max_sizes[j] = math.max(max_sizes[j] or minsize, #fields[j])
+		totalsize = totalsize + max_sizes[j] + 3
+	end
+
+	print()
+	local s, ps = '', ''
+	for j=1,#fields do
+		s = s .. fit(fields[j], max_sizes[j], 'center') .. ' | '
+		ps = ps .. ('-'):rep(max_sizes[j]) .. ' + '
+	end
+	print(s)
+	print(ps)
+
+	for i=1,#rows do
+		local s = ''
+		for j=1,#fields do
+			local val = rows[i][j]
+			s = s .. fit(val, max_sizes[j], aligns and aligns[j]) .. ' | '
+		end
+		print(s)
+	end
+	print()
+end
+
+local function invert_table(fields, rows, minsize)
+	local ft, rt = {'field'}, {}
+	for i=1,#rows do
+		ft[i+1] = tostring(i)
+	end
+	for j=1,#fields do
+		local row = {fields[j]}
+		for i=1,#rows do
+			row[i+1] = rows[i][j]
+		end
+		rt[j] = row
+	end
+	return ft, rt
+end
+
+local function format_cell(v)
+	if v == null then
+		return 'NULL'
+	else
+		return tostring(v)
+	end
+end
+
+local function cell_align(current_align, cell_value)
+	if current_align == 'left' then return 'left' end
+	if type(cell_value) == 'number' or type(cell_value) == 'cdata' then return 'right' end
+	return 'left'
+end
+
+function print_result(rows, cols, minsize)
+	local fs = {}
+	for i,col in ipairs(cols) do
+		fs[i] = col.name
+	end
+	local rs = {}
+	local aligns = {} --deduced from values
+	for i,row in ipairs(rows) do
+		local t = {}
+		for j=1,#fs do
+			t[j] = format_cell(row[j])
+			aligns[j] = cell_align(aligns[j], row[j])
+		end
+		rs[i] = t
+	end
+	print_table(fs, rs, aligns, minsize)
+end
+
+return {
+	fit = fit,
+	format_cell = format_cell,
+	cell_align = cell_align,
+	table = print_table,
+	result = print_result,
+}
+