RE: FN-FORUM: MySQL, ASP.NET and Chinese PRC

date posted 9th August 2007 22:41

Hi Alex,

Thanks for this. I've now recoded the site front end to use the .NET 1
MySQL connector and can now input and view Chinese characters on a test page
I built. However, the big challenge is the CMS which is in Classic ASP and
uses the ODBC method. If I can't get that to work, it's a major re-write.
I'm just stunned there's so little definitive information, even on the MySQL
site's forums.

Many thanks,

Craig

-----Original Message-----

Hi Criag,

I've just read your posting, and was intrigued at your challenge, so I
thought I would give it a go too. I am not an ASP.NET user (I prefer open
source!), but found this:
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?103,17168,21269#msg-21269. It is part of a
string of comments about trying to show Chinese characters in
MySQL/VB.NET/C#, but it does mention using a different connector than ODBC.
Would this present a problem for you, or are you obliged to use ODBC (as I
suspect might be the case)?

I then came across this site as well -
http://www.w3schools.com/php/func_string_htmlentities.asp; it does not look
immediately like it might fit in with what you are looking for, but a gut
feeling says that it might be possible to look at the rendering of the text
on screen in HTML as an alternative?

I have also found this blog posting:

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 2:08 AM by Shunjie
Adding chinese characters using mysql .net connector
I got this problem when adding chinese characters to mysql database using
mysql .net connector. After changing the database encoding to utf-8 and the
page encoding to utf-8, i still get ??? when inserting information into the
database. Finally, the problem is solved by insert 'charset=utf8' to the
connection string, so it looks something like this:

Database=;Data Source=;User
Id=;Password=;charset=utf8

=)

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I hope the above helps, as a start?

Alex.


Hi Adam,

All that's been done already thanks. The issue appears to be ODBC connector
but I can't find any actual instructions on syntax or usability that makes
sense in the current application.

You only get marmite if you can tell me if the MySQL ODBC 3.51.18 connector
will pass Chinese characters for both classic ASP and ASP.NET. What needs
to be in the connection strings and are there any other things that need to
be done like issuing a "SET NAMES utf8" instruction, but if so, how do you
do it, where and when?

You see, this site front end is AHTML ASP.NET VB V1.1 but the CMS is XHTML
classic ASP. Both use the same ODBC connector. Don't ask, I didn't write it,
but I now have to have it spitting out Chinese text and soon!

Shall I pop out to Sainsbury's?

Craig

-----Original Message-----


Craig wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I'm now getting desperate. Is there anyone out there with experience
> of using MySQL 5.0, ASP.NET VB V1.1 and ODBC 3.51 connector to drive a
> site that can potentially have European and Chinese (PRC) characters
displayed.
>
Just a quick thought, MySQL does not by default create tables in UTF-8
format. Have you ensured that this is switched on? Basically check that
ASP.NET also understands that this stuff is UTF-8 and also ensure your html
states that this is UTF-8

That *should* solve the problem.

If it does, I'll email you address and you can send me a jar of marmite :)



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