Thread: encoding converting from ascii to unicode

I have been trying to get unicode to work for us (we moved from MSSQL and had to initially use ascii because it would blow up writing the French chars when I built my data base).

I have a .net app that reads my tables and does insert statements into a Unicode database.

The actual conversion is being done with this code:

        Dim ascii As Encoding = Encoding.ASCII

        Dim [unicode] As Encoding = Encoding.Unicode

        ' Convert the string into a byte[].

        Dim asciiBytes As Byte() = ascii.GetBytes(asciiString)

        ' Perform the conversion from one encoding to the other.

        Dim unicodeBytes As Byte() = Encoding.Convert(ascii, [unicode], asciiBytes)

        sqltounicode = [unicode].GetString(unicodeBytes)

So read in ascii and have :

Dim cnnunicode As New NpgsqlConnection("Server=" + TextBoxunicodeserver.Text + ";Port=5432;User Id=postgres;Password=;Database=" + TextBoxunicodedbname.Text + ";Encoding=UNICODE;")

To open up my Unicode connection that I use for writing.

If I observe the string using the debugger it looks like French when I read it from the ascii database.

If I do not convert it, it gives a byte sequence error, If I run the conversion above the French turns into question marks.

I am sorry for asking this so many times, but what do I have to do to get the French to look like French and in the Unicode database.

One of my goals is to be able to use the 8.0 odbc drivers which return question marks for French chars (the 7.4 odbc driver does not turn them into question marks it reads the French ascii ok).

Any help is much appreciated.

Joel Fradkin

Wazagua, Inc.
2520 Trailmate Dr
Sarasota, Florida 34243
Tel.  941-753-7111 ext 305

jfradkin@wazagua.com
www.wazagua.com
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I finally got it to work. I tested the unicode database with the newer odbc drivers as well.

It is working ok as far asp pages now.

        Dim ascii As Encoding = Encoding.ASCII

        Dim [unicode] As Encoding = Encoding.Unicode

        Dim unicodeBytes As Byte() = [unicode].GetBytes(asciiString)

        sqltounicode = [unicode].GetString(unicodeBytes)

This worked in a .net app using ascii (do not specify the encoding on this connection) read and Unicode write (specify Encoding=UNICODE;).

Any one know if I will run into any other issues using a unicode database (is sqlascii now).

I use zeos for Delphi, and

Java I use:

            static String driver = "org.postgresql.Driver";

            static String url = "jdbc:postgresql://192.168.123.121/wazagua";

Just want to make sure my .net, asp , java and Delphi stuff will not break switching to Unicode.

I am switching because I hope the new odbc drivers work better for us (we have seen IIS crash from time to time, where we did not before switching to postgres).

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org [mailto:pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Joel Fradkin
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 8:09 AM
To: pgsql-admin@postgresql.org
Subject: [ADMIN] encoding converting from ascii to unicode

I have been trying to get unicode to work for us (we moved from MSSQL and had to initially use ascii because it would blow up writing the French chars when I built my data base).

I have a .net app that reads my tables and does insert statements into a Unicode database.

The actual conversion is being done with this code:

        Dim ascii As Encoding = Encoding.ASCII

        Dim [unicode] As Encoding = Encoding.Unicode

        ' Convert the string into a byte[].

        Dim asciiBytes As Byte() = ascii.GetBytes(asciiString)

        ' Perform the conversion from one encoding to the other.

        Dim unicodeBytes As Byte() = Encoding.Convert(ascii, [unicode], asciiBytes)

        sqltounicode = [unicode].GetString(unicodeBytes)

So read in ascii and have :

Dim cnnunicode As New NpgsqlConnection("Server=" + TextBoxunicodeserver.Text + ";Port=5432;User Id=postgres;Password=;Database=" + TextBoxunicodedbname.Text + ";Encoding=UNICODE;")

To open up my Unicode connection that I use for writing.

If I observe the string using the debugger it looks like French when I read it from the ascii database.

If I do not convert it, it gives a byte sequence error, If I run the conversion above the French turns into question marks.

I am sorry for asking this so many times, but what do I have to do to get the French to look like French and in the Unicode database.

One of my goals is to be able to use the 8.0 odbc drivers which return question marks for French chars (the 7.4 odbc driver does not turn them into question marks it reads the French ascii ok).

Any help is much appreciated.

Joel Fradkin

Wazagua, Inc.
2520 Trailmate Dr
Sarasota, Florida 34243
Tel.  941-753-7111 ext 305

jfradkin@wazagua.com
www.wazagua.com
Powered by Wazagua
Providing you with the latest Web-based technology & advanced tools.
© 2004. WAZAGUA, Inc. All rights reserved. WAZAGUA, Inc
 This email message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and delete and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.