12
SQL*Plus Globalization Support

This chapter provides a brief overview of the globalization support in SQL*Plus:

• Configuring Globalization Support in Command-line SQL*Plus
• Configuring Globalization Support in iSQL*Plus

For more information on globalization support, see the Oracle Technology Network globalization notes at http://otn.oracle.com/tech/globalization/content.html, and see the Oracle9i Database Globalization Support Guide

Configuring Globalization Support in Command-line SQL*Plus

To display another language in SQL*Plus, you must configure both the Oracle9i database and the client environment before starting SQL*Plus. Configuration of the client environment involves setting the NLS_LANG environment variable. NLS_LANG is read by SQL*Plus at startup.

SQL*Plus

To display and enter data in the Japanese character set using UTF-8 character encoding.

On UNIX, do the following:

1. Ensure you have exited your current SQL*Plus session.
2. Set the NLS_LANG variable using either set or setenv depending on the UNIX shell you are using. For example, in csh, you would enter:

   setenv NLS_LANG Japanese_Japan.UTF8
   

On Windows, do the following:

1. Ensure you have exited your current SQL*Plus session.
2. Open System from the Control panel
3. Create a new environment variable, NLS_LANG, with a value of Japanese_Japan.UTF8.
4. Restart Windows.

The NLS_LANG parameter has three components, each controlling a subset of the globalization features. Your operating system and keyboard must be able to support the character set you have chosen. You may need to install additional support software. For more information about NLS_LANG, and software support, see the Oracle9i Database Globalization Support Guide.

Oracle9i Database

To store data in the Japanese character set using UTF-8 character encoding.

Ensure that your Oracle9i database has been created with the UTF8 character set. See your Oracle9i Installation Guide for information about creating your database in a character set other than US7ASCII.

Configuring Globalization Support in iSQL*Plus

To display another language in iSQL*Plus, you must configure all three tiers. The following example is for Japanese using the Unicode (UTF-8) character set in Microsoft Windows.

To use the UTF-8 character encoding for Japanese:

Web Browser

1. Ensure you have a font available that supports the Unicode character set.

   Microsoft Language Packs and updates are available for Windows operating systems to provide international language support at:

   http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

   or you can find information about Asian language support for Windows at:

   http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/features/ime.asp

   Netscape information about fonts, and font downloads to support international language sets can be found at:

   http://home.netscape.com/eng/intl/.

2. Change the character encoding in your web browser:

   For Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0:

   1. Select Encoding from the View menu.
   2. Select Unicode (UTF-8).

   For Netscape Navigator 4.7:

   1. Select Character Set from the View menu.
   2. Click Unicode (UTF-8).
3. Set the fonts associated with the UTF-8 character encoding:

   For Microsoft Internet Explorer:

   1. Select Internet Options... from the Tools menu.
   2. Select the General tab in the Internet Options dialog box and click Fonts...
   3. Choose a language script and the web page (proportional) font and plain text (fixed-width) font to be used with it.
   4. You can install fonts and support for additional languages by selecting Windows Update on the Tools menu

   For Netscape Navigator:

   1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
   2. Select Fonts under Appearance.
   3. Choose Unicode from the Encoding dropdown list.
   4. Select the variable and fixed pitch fonts that support the Unicode character set from the Variable and Fixed Pitch dropdown lists.

Oracle HTTP Server

Set the Globalization Support variables you want in the Oracle HTTP Server operating system. Every iSQL*Plus session inherits this environment.

On Windows, do the following:

1. Shutdown the Oracle HTTP Server.
2. Open System from the Control Panel.
3. Create a new environment variable, NLS_LANG, with a value of Japanese_Japan.UTF8.
4. Restart the Oracle HTTP Server.

On UNIX, do the following:

1. Shutdown the Oracle HTTP Server.
2. Set the NLS_LANG variable using either set or setenv depending on the UNIX shell you are using. For example, in csh, you would enter:

   setenv NLS_LANG Japanese_Japan.UTF8
   

3. Restart the Oracle HTTP Server.

The Oracle HTTP Server should be started from the terminal used to set the NLS_LANG variable. This is to ensure that the variable is read at startup. Alternatively, NLS_LANG could be set in your login initialization file or a command shell initialization file.

Oracle9i

Create your Oracle9i database with the UTF8 character set.