SQL Server 2005: converting varchar to nvarchar issue

Question

I have table with two varchar columns first_name and last_name.

Now I need to convert these columns to nvarchar in order to support UTF-8.

I choose nvarchar datatype in SSMS for these columns and when I try to enter some UTF-8 data, my symbols converts to question marks. For example, if I input йцукен (Ukrainian) it will be converted to ??????.

What is the problem and how to fix it?

Thanks.

Answer 1

When you want to insert nvarchar literals into the database table, you must use the N'..' prefix.

So use

INSERT INTO dbo.YourTable(First_Name)
VALUES(N'йцукен')

so that this string will be treated as a unicode string

If you're not using the N'..' notation, you're really inserting a non-unicode string literal - and this will cause these conversions to ?