psql shell uses code page 850, windows uses 1252. How to solve change console code page?

Question

I have installed PostgreSQL, wanting to set up a new database, everything is going fine, until I am trying to use the € sign. And then I knew, that warning I get in the beginning is for a reason.

The warning I am getting at starting up my psql shell is:

WARNING: Console code page (850) differs from Windows code page (1252)
         8-bit characters might not work correctly. See psql reference
         page "Notes for Windows users" for details.

So I am going to do as I am told (from PostgreSQL Documentation 9.2 - psql):

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Notes for Windows Users

psql is built as a "console application". Since the Windows console windows use a different encoding than the rest of the system, you must take special care when using 8-bit characters within psql. If psql detects a problematic console code page, it will warn you at startup. To change the console code page, two things are necessary:

• Set the code page by entering cmd.exe /c chcp 1252. (1252 is a code page that is appropriate for German; replace it with your value.) If you are using Cygwin, you can put this command in /etc/profile.
• Set the console font to Lucida Console, because the raster font does not work with the ANSI code page.

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When I type the cmd.exe /c chcp 1252 command I get a syntax error. So psql, doesn't recognize the command. Out of desperation, I was trying to do something in cmd.exe itself, does not work either.

I work in Windows 7 - 64Bit.

Answer 1

What is your database Character Set? If it is UTF-8, then before running, what ever you want in psql, just tell the console to use the UTF-8 encoding: cmd.exe /c chcp 65001

Answer 2

I had the same problem in Windows 10.

In psql type ! chcp

it revealed my setting as 850. This I changed to 1252 by doing the following.

! dir revealed a file runpsql.bat in C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.6\scripts

From windows after exiting psql I ran Notebook in Administrator mode and added above the REM Run psql statement the command chcp 1252

Now runs without the warnings

Answer 3

I was able to fix this by running SET CLIENT_ENCODING TO 'UTF-8'; in the sql bash

Answer 4

I had the same problem in Windows 8. You have to set the chcp to 1252. With the command cmd.exe /c chcp 1252, or, if you are using powershell: powershell /c chcp 1252.

Answer 5

You can also use powershell /c chcp 1252. But you have to type it before enter in the psql console.

Answer 6

As far as I know, in SQL shell you just need to type \! chcp <codepage_you_need>.

Still, after that, you might encounter another issue:

In order to solve this problem you need to go to properties (left upper corner) -> Fonts -> choose Lucida Console.

Then type \! chcp 1251

After that, everything must be alright.