title: Encoding problems with dBase III .dbf files on different machines
body: <p>I'm using C# and .NET 3.5, trying to import some data from old dbf files using ODBC with Microsoft dBase Driver.</p>
  
  <p>The dbf's are in dBase III format and using ibm850 encoding for strings. </p>
  
  <p>Now, when I run my program on my machine, all string data read from OdbcDataReader comes out converted to UTF-16 or UTF-8 or something, idk and I save it as UTF-8 and everything is ok, but when I try to use this program on an XP box, some characters aren't converted correctly to UTF-8. 'Õ' for example. There may be some others too. Characters like 'Ä', 'Ö' and 'Ü' are ok. This is the problem. 
  Maybe the ODBC or the driver uses some machine culture info or something to mess everything up. </p>
  
  <p>Is it possible to read strings from the database as binary? Maybe some functions like CONVERT or CAST? Or where could I find some references for SQL functions and syntax which works for this dBase driver or other drivers? I searched around and couldn't find anything. I feel so blind when using ODBC and SQL.</p>
  
  <p>Right now I'm using a temporary hack that replaces all σ's with Õ's.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>
  
  <p>Example code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>System.Data.Odbc.OdbcConnection oConn = new System.Data.Odbc.OdbcConnection();
  oConn.ConnectionString = @"Driver={Microsoft dBase Driver (*.dbf)};DriverID=277;Dbq=" + dbPath + ";";
  oConn.Open();
  
  System.Data.Odbc.OdbcCommand oCmd = oConn.CreateCommand();
  oCmd.CommandText = @"SELECT name FROM " + dbPath + "TABLE.DBF";
  
  System.Data.Odbc.OdbcDataReader reader = oCmd.ExecuteReader();
  reader.Read();
  
  byte[] buf = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(reader.GetString(0));
  BinaryWriter writer = new BinaryWriter(File.Open(@"C:\DBF\Test.txt", FileMode.Create));
  writer.Write(buf);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Result:</p>
  
  <p>E5 in dbf (Õ in 850)</p>
  
  <p>Test.txt on pc1: C3 95 (Õ in UTF-8)</p>
  
  <p>Test.txt on pc2: CF 83 (σ in UTF-8)</p>