title: Unable to retrieve UTF-8 accented characters from Access via PDO_ODBC
body: <p>I am trying to get an Access DB converted into MySQL. Everything works perfectly, expect for one big monkey wrench... If the access db has any non standard characters, it wont work. My query will tell me:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Incorrect string value: '\xE9d'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If I directly echo out the rows text that has the 'invalid' character I get a question mark in a black square in my browser (so é would turn into that invalid symbal on echo).</p>
  
  <p>NOTE: That same from will accept, save and display the "é" fine in a textbox that is used to title this db upload. Also if I 'save as' the page and re-open it up the 'é' is displayed correctly....</p>
  
  <p>Here is how I connect:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$conn = new PDO("odbc:Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)};Dbq=$fileLocation;SystemDB=$securefilePath;Uid=developer;Pwd=pass;charset=utf;");
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I have tried numerous things, including:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$conn -&gt; exec("set names utf8");
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I try a 'CurrentDb.CollatingOrder' in access it tells me 1033 apparently that is dbSortGeneral for "English, German, French, and Portuguese collating order".</p>
  
  <p>What is wrong? It is almost like the PDO is sending me a collation my browser and PHP does not fully understand.</p>