How to save unicode data to oracle?

Question

I am trying to save unicode data (greek) in oracle database (10 g). I have created a simple table:

I understand that NVARCHAR2 always uses UTF-16 encoding

Answer 1

You can determine what characterset your database uses for NCHAR with the query:

SQL> SELECT VALUE
  2    FROM nls_database_parameters
  3   WHERE parameter = 'NLS_NCHAR_CHARACTERSET';

VALUE
------------
AL16UTF16

to check if your database configuration is correct, you could run the following in SQL*Plus:

SQL> CREATE TABLE unicodedata (ID NUMBER, unicodestring NVARCHAR2(100)); 

Table created
SQL> INSERT INTO unicodedata VALUES (11, 'Τι κάνεις;');

1 row inserted
SQL> SELECT * FROM unicodedata;

        ID UNICODESTRING
---------- ---------------------------------------------------
        11 Τι κάνεις;