Storing UTF8 bin characters properly

[Jakotsu]

I'm using MySQL and phpMyAdmin with tables and collation using the UTF8_bin encoding. I'm storing strings from a webpage with PHP, with the UTF8 charset content-type specification.

Strings are always displayed correctly on the webpage, but are not saved right on the database. For example, the spanish word "árbol" becomes "árbol" in the database. Yet it's always displayed right on the webpages.

The question is how do I save these strings with accents properly on the tables, and if PHP should make the conversion, how to do it.

Thanks in advance.

[physics]

What are you using to view the database entries?

[souFrag]

I'm having the same problem.

First I posted data from a form in a UTF-8 PHP/XHTML page and then stored it on a MySQL database using adodb.

Example of posted text:
árbol

Then, if I see the MySQL DB using phpMyAdmin, the text is shown as:
árbol

BUT, if I see the text from a UTF-8 PHP/XHTML file (UTF-8 encoded and correct UTF-8 meta tag) it is shown correctly (árbol).

¿Is the data been saved correctly?
¿Is it phpMyAdmin problem?... ¿Or am I doing something wrong?

Thx.

[Clark]

sounds like a phpmyadmin problem to me. And I have some similar issues with them too.

[souFrag]

I've found the solution.

Using ADOdb:

$db_charset = $conn->Execute( "SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'character_set_database'" );
$conn->Execute( "SET NAMES '" . $db_charset->fields['Value'] . "'" );
$db_charset->Close();

You could also use something simpler like:

@mysql_query("SET NAMES 'utf-8'");

[edited by: rogerd at 11:11 pm (utc) on Mar. 28, 2007]
[edit reason] No URLs, please... [/edit]

[Clark]

Good work. The url you pointed to will probably be removed though. Try to figure out what search terms to go after in google to find that solution, which is the accepted way to do that here.

[edited by: Clark at 10:58 pm (utc) on Mar. 28, 2007]

[souFrag]

sorry, i didn't know i couldn't post url's in this forums :-)

i just registered here to post this question (and then the answer.. lol)
i've alredy posted the solution, but if you want a larger explanation, try searching google for something like "SET NAMES '" . $db_charset->fields['Value'] . "'"