INF: Using Double-byte Character Sets with SQL Server

ID: Q109199


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft SQL Server for OS/2, version 4.2
  • Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2x


SUMMARY

SQL Server version 4.2 for Windows NT or OS/2 does not utilize the double- byte or Unicode character sets. However, this does not prevent the storing of a numeric representation of a non-Roman character in a SQL datatype that is large enough to hold it.

There are some limitations to storing double-byte characters. One case would be if the second byte of a double-byte character were to collide with a special character such as a "%" or "'". With kanji, this would occur for about 2% of the kanji double-byte characters. Those characters could not be used for object names and could also cause problems when formulating Transact-SQL statements. You would also have problems with LIKE--again what if the second byte of a double-byte were the same numeric representation as the "%" wildcard used by LIKE.


MORE INFORMATION

For the reasons stated above, to handle dbcs, it is necessary to have the parser look ahead to see if the character is a single- or double-byte.

Additional query words: 4.20 DBCS wide NTAS Windows NT

Keywords : kbother SSrvGen
Version : 4.2
Platform : OS/2 WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999
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