title: read/write unicode data in MySql
body: <p>I am using MySql DB and want to be able to read &amp; write unicode data values. For example, French/Greek/Hebrew values. </p>
  
  <p>My client program is C# (.NET framework 3.5).</p>
  
  <p>How do i configure my DB to allow unicode? and how do I use C# to read/write values as unicode from MySql?</p>
  
  <h2>Upddate: 7 Sep. 09</h2>
  
  <p>OK, So my Schema, Table &amp; columns are set to 'utf8' + collation 'utf8_general_ci'. I run the 'set names utf8' when the connection is opened. so far so good... but, still values are saved as '??????? '</p>
  
  <p>any ideas?</p>
  
  <h2>The Solution!</h2>
  
  <p>OK, so for C# client to read &amp; write unicode values, you must include in the <strong>connection string</strong>: charset=utf8</p>
  
  <p>for example: server=my_sql_server;user id=my_user;password=my_password;database=some_db123;charset=utf8;</p>
  
  <p>of course you should also define the relevant table as utf8 + collation utf8_bin. </p>