Save Data in Arabic in MySQL database

Question

I have changed the charset of the tables and of the column, i get the arabic text as ???? marks in MYSQL database

here is the design of the table

  CREATE DATABASE mydb
  DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8
  DEFAULT COLLATE utf8_general_ci;


   CREATE TABLE `categories` (                        
   `category_id` tinyint(2) NOT NULL auto_increment,           
   `category_name` varchar(50)character set utf8 NOT NULL ,  
   PRIMARY KEY  (`category_id`) 


   insert into `mydb`.`categories` 
    (`category_id`, `category_name`)
    values (1,'??????');
   commit;

When I again fire select query it shows ???? as text?

Can anyone tell me where am i doing wrong?

Answer 1

To insert Arabic Data manually into your Phpmyadmin.

First you check either your database , table and column name is utf8 set or not. If these are not set to utf8 then first you set it then you may insert arabic data into you db table.

YOU MAY CHECK EACH OF THESE BY LOOKING BELOW EXAMPLE.

For Database:

SELECT default_character_set_name FROM information_schema.SCHEMATA S
WHERE schema_name = "schemaname";

For Tables:

SELECT CCSA.character_set_name FROM information_schema.`TABLES` T,
       information_schema.`COLLATION_CHARACTER_SET_APPLICABILITY` CCSA
WHERE CCSA.collation_name = T.table_collation
  AND T.table_schema = "schemaname"
  AND T.table_name = "tablename";

For Columns:

SELECT character_set_name FROM information_schema.`COLUMNS` C
WHERE table_schema = "schemaname"
  AND table_name = "tablename"
  AND column_name = "columnname";

You may easily set utf8 to your tables if you are using SQLYog.

Just right click on db, table, column name and click on alter option and set to

Database Chartset = utf8 Database Collation = utf8_general_ci .

Just Enjoy ....