Re: UTF-8 Unicode.

Hello Amit, On my 9i database I have the NLS_LENGHT_SEMANTICS set to BYTE which is fair, then I know that my VARCHAR2(20) may containt lest than 20 Characters.. But I have a problem whit my 8i (8.1.7.0.0) database, when I select * from nls_database_parameters I see all parameter but there is NO nls_lenght_Semantics so I don't know if the semantics is CHAR or BYTE ?
How can I found if it's char or byte ?

When I create a database with Oracle DAtabase Assistant , is there a way to specify the database must be CHAR semantic ? Or I just need to change the nls_parameter is regedit ?

"Amit" <jindal_at_roguewave.com> wrote in message news:<b81eqe$plm$1_at_tux.cvo.roguewave.com>...
> Take a look at this document that describes considerations for
> Globalization. (You might need a free OTN membership).
> http://download-west.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/server.920/a96529/ch6.htm#
> 1656
>
> I can't speak much about Forms/Reports but I would assume that you will need
> to recompile that, unless they were already UTF enabled.
> Oracle does has the ability for implicit conversion of some datatypes to UTF
> and back. Depends on what you are using.
>
> More Info:
> Oracle has 2 datatypes for character storage: VARCHAR2 and NVARCHAR2. You
> can define a database which has these with separate characterset.
> Like VARCHAR2 can be using a AL32UTF8 (UTF8-32bits) (Oracle's characterset)
> and NVARCHAR2 can be using AL16UTF16 (UTF16). Or same.
> You can find out what they are currently by: SELECT * FROM
> NLS_DATABASE_PARAMETERS. (Might need some permissions).
>
> Further you can specify, while creating the database if you want the
> database in 'BYTE' semantics or 'CHAR' sematics. The difference is, in Byte
> semantics, a VARCHAR2(20) column means 20 bytes of storage (and may only
> hold 10 characters). However in CHAR semantics, a VARCHAR2(20) means 20
> unicode(whatever character set you specfied) characters and implicitely the
> needed size of bytes will be allocated. Default is BYTE semantics.
> Also for NVARCHAR2 datatypes its always CHAR semantics (no matter what your
> database semantics are).
>
> Importing a non-utf database to UTF8 should be easy as Oracle can do
> implicit conversion. However I haven't tried this myself.
>
> HTH
> --
> Amit
> Development Engineer
> http://www.roguewave.com/products/sourcepro/db/
> [Disclaimer: All views expressed here are my personal views and they can be
> incorrect at times]
>
Received on Tue Apr 22 2003 - 07:59:35 CDT