SQL Server Express 2005 unicode characters

Question

I'm working with an SQL Server 2005 Express instance. Any attempt (both programatically or by using a table editor (for example VS Server Explorer --> Edit Table Data)) to enter a unicode string results in a sequence of question marks (????). I guess that either SQL Server 2005 Express doesn't support unicode at all or it requires some extra configuration to enable unicode. Please help.

Answer 1

THe datatype must be nvarchar (note the n at the start) and you must use the N prefix when using strings ..

INSERT INTO <table> (somefield) VALUES (N'string to insert..')

• Microsoft technote
• nchar and nvarchar

Answer 2

Not all Unicode characters may be rendered correctly by the font you chose in your editor.