>> ALTER TABLE table_XXX CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE
>> utf8_persian_ci;
>
> Wouldn't you have to alter the column definitions as well?
> IIRC altering the table would only change the defaults for columns that
> are added without specifying a character set and collation.

That is exactly what the above statement does. If you only want to
change the default, use something like:
ALTER TABLE table_XXX CHARACTER SET=utf8;

--
Willem Bogaerts

Application smith
Kratz B.V.
http://www.kratz.nl/