In general, CHARACTER, VARCHAR, and CLOB data types represent character data.
Character data is automatically translated between the client and the database. Its form-of-use is determined by the client character set or session character set.
The form of character data internal to Teradata Database is determined by the server character set attribute of the column.
Note the definition of the following expressions used throughout this chapter.
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Expression |
Definition |
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Character data type |
The definition for the type of data stored in a column. See: |
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Defines how Teradata Database translates character data from client form to server form and from server form to client form. Specifically, a client character set consists of a set of translation codes that map each character in the client character set to an equivalent character in a server character set. For details on client character sets, see International Character Set Support. For details on how to set the client character set for a session, refer to an appropriate tool or connectivity book such as Basic Teradata Query Reference or Teradata JDBC Driver User Guide. |
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Server character set |
The internal character storage handling implied by the ANSI CHARACTER SET phrase. See “CHARACTER SET Phrase” on page 226. |
You can combine CHARACTER and VARCHAR types with the following options:
Character literals can be prefixed with a server character set to ensure conformity to the given server character set.
Teradata Database translates output characters (internal-to-external, or I2E) from server form to one of the following:
Query the DBC.HostsInfoV and DBC.CharSetsV views to see the contents of the system tables.