Yes, Chinese characters isn't much of a problem. They will be stored in
ASCII format unless you are using a Chinese system for your server, which
should then display it as Chinese characters. Sorting isn't too much of a
problem as long as sorting is done in ASCII order. I have done it this way
and so far I have had no word back from the users about there are problems
in sorting.
I haven't had the need as yet, but I expect text searches would need to use
LIKE.
Some things to be aware of:
1. If you are using an English OS for the server, you will definitely need a
UI running on a Chinese OS in order to insert Chinese characters.
2. Web pages: The correct character set needs to be defined. eg. Big5.
You should then end up with ASCII "garbage" (English OS server) not
something like #10346. A number like this is incorrect and will result in
other problems in the future.
3. MS programming languages: Be aware that these may deal with Unicode and
MySQL isn't quite ready for that. Even then, MS languages may pass it to
the database as something other than Unicode. I know this for a fact with
VB6. A Chinese character is stored as Unicode in a variable and when it is
passed to ODBC, it is passed as a 2 byte Big5. If you get a 2 byte
character like '@, $\ or ^" then you will be in trouble. First 2 are easy.
Add a \ to the front (ie. \'@) or to the end (ie. $\\). 3rd one is not that
easy as you will have ^\". Two characters will need to be converted back to
Unicode before being passed but it is most likely that neither ^\ or \" will
map correctly. So far, I have only come across the first 2 situations.
I have yet to experience simplified in conjunction with traditional Chinese
but I'll find out in a month or so.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tonu Samuel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Mark Lo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 14:30
Subject: Re: simpify chinese and traditional chinese
> Mark Lo wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > Is it possible for mysql to store simpify and tranditional chinese.
>
>
> Yes, storing is not problem at all. MySQL can store any data without
> loss in binary fields. Problem is on sorting, upper->lower conversions
> and fulltext search. We do not have any chinese sorting as much I know,
> there is no such things like "upper" and "lower" case charactes in
> chinese languages and fulltext search doesn't work as chinese languages
> do not use spaces nor any other separator between words :(
>
> I am sitting here in Hong Kong and one of my targets is to get MySQL
> support both traditional and simplified chinese but as far I can see
> there is a huge technical problems.
>
> --
> For technical support contracts, goto https://order.mysql.com/
> __ ___ ___ ____ __
> / |/ /_ __/ __/ __ \/ / Mr. Tonu Samuel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> / /|_/ / // /\ \/ /_/ / /__ MySQL AB, Security Administrator
> /_/ /_/\_, /___/\___\_\___/ Hong Kong, China
> <___/ www.mysql.com
>
>
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