Unicode in SQL Server 2012 Express

Question

I am inserting some unicode characters such as Chinese characters using a c# program into a SQL Server 2012 database.

The column I am trying to insert is nvarchar, but am still getting ??????? instead of the correct characters. I am getting tweets from twitter and inserting it into a database.

I am using SQL Server 2012 Express. Must I install any language packages or change the settings? I am not really familiar with SQL Server.

This is how i use c# to insert the codes into database:

String command4 = "INSERT INTO  tweets ([username], [createdDate], [tweet]) Values ('" + item.user.screen_name + "' , '" + item.created_at + "' ,N'" + escapedString + "')";

SqlCommand insertTweet = new SqlCommand(command4, connectionstring);

insertTweet.ExecuteNonQuery();

Thank you!

You don't need anything more - SQL Server is perfectly capable of handling Unicode. Please **show us HOW** you insert your data from C# — marc_s, Jul 05 '12 at 10:29
@marc_s sorry, this is how i insert the data from c# : String command4 = "INSERT INTO tweets ([username], [createdDate], [tweet]) Values ('" + item.user.screen_name + "' , '" + item.created_at + "' , '" + escapedString + "')"; SqlCommand insertTweet = new SqlCommand(command4, connectionstring); insertTweet.ExecuteNonQuery(); — Phantom, Jul 05 '12 at 11:02
@CodeByMoonlight I execute the statement Select * from tweets to execute in the sql express and then am able to see the table — Phantom, Jul 05 '12 at 11:05
Please **do not** put code samples or sample data into comments - since you cannot format it, it's **extremely hard** to read it.... Instead: **update** your question by editing it to provide that additional information! Thank you. — marc_s, Jul 05 '12 at 11:52

Stefan Steinegger · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-05T12:47:34.963

3

When passing the characters as SQL strings, always precede with an "N":

N'Unicode'

instead of just

'Unicode'

Or in your case:

@"INSERT INTO tweets ([username], [createdDate], [tweet]) 
Values (N'" + item.user.screen_name + "' , '" + item.created_at + "' , N'" + escapedString + "')"

By the way, you should use parameters. It would solve many problems at once (like the one you have, date and number formats, security...)

edited Jul 05 '12 at 12:47

answered Jul 05 '12 at 11:07

Stefan Steinegger

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Parameters Like : String username = item.user.screen_name ? – Phantom Jul 05 '12 at 11:13
1

No, parameters like SqlParameter (documentation helps). You then put the value into the SqlParameter instance and reference it in your code by name. – TomTom Jul 05 '12 at 11:14
Or even better: **use parameters** instead of concatenating together your SQL statement! – marc_s Jul 05 '12 at 11:52
@mar_s Can u give me an short example on the parameters part? Thank you! – Phantom Jul 05 '12 at 12:32
1

I had the same problem with Persian (Farsi) words. Preceding them with N solved the issue. – Kamran Bigdely Dec 23 '12 at 17:22

Unicode in SQL Server 2012 Express

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