Search code examples
sql-servernvarchar

SQL Server 2005: converting varchar to nvarchar issue

I have table with two varchar columns first_name and last_name.

Now I need to convert these columns to nvarchar in order to support UTF-8.

I choose nvarchar datatype in SSMS for these columns and when I try to enter some UTF-8 data, my symbols converts to question marks. For example, if I input йцукен (Ukrainian) it will be converted to ??????.

What is the problem and how to fix it?

Thanks.

Solution

  • When you want to insert nvarchar literals into the database table, you must use the N'..' prefix.

    So use

    INSERT INTO dbo.YourTable(First_Name)
VALUES(N'йцукен')

    so that this string will be treated as a unicode string

    If you're not using the N'..' notation, you're really inserting a non-unicode string literal - and this will cause these conversions to ?