Configure database for arabic data language support.

Question

Dear Masters,
i m creating database in arabic language support. all configuration has been done. but while i m getting error in putty.
SQL> select # from tab;
select # from tab
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00911: ??? ??? ????
SQL> show parameter nls
NAME TYPE VALUE
nls_calendar string
nls_comp string BINARY
nls_currency string
nls_date_format string
nls_date_language string
nls_dual_currency string
nls_iso_currency string
nls_language string ARABIC
nls_length_semantics string BYTE
nls_nchar_conv_excp string FALSE
nls_numeric_characters string
NAME TYPE VALUE
nls_sort string
nls_territory string SAUDI ARABIA
nls_time_format string
nls_timestamp_format string
nls_timestamp_tz_format string
nls_time_tz_format string
SQL>
SQL> SELECT value$ FROM sys.props$ WHERE name = 'NLS_CHARACTERSET' ;
VALUE$
AL32UTF8
but while i m trying to insert data from putty(putty is also configured on UTF8) i m getting ???????? on command prompt.
even form6i also throwing same ????????
kindly guide where i m wrong.
THanks in Advs

Answer 1

Where your database server is located does not matter, AIX or Windows or other os.
And AL32UTF8 would mean a Unicode database which means it may be used to store basically any language characters.
You need to look into client side locale settings, if e.g. windows pcs are setup properly or putty terminal configuration is correct.
Please download and use Oracle SQL Developer, as it is Unicode "aware" and can be used to verify character data.
In a Windows console window (cmd prompt), you need to take care of oem code page and matching char set part of NLS_LANG to indicate what's in use.
c:\>chcp
Active code page: 850
c:\>set nls_lang
nls_lang=.we8pc850
c:\>sqlplus test
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Mon Sep 24 21:44:35 2012
Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Express Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - Production
SQL> select unistr('abcåäö\2514\2524\2534') from dual;
UNISTR('A
abcåäö└┤┴
c:\>chcp 1256
Active code page: 1256
c:\>set nls_lang=.ar8mswin1256
c:\>sqlplus test
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on Mon Sep 24 21:44:49 2012
Copyright (c) 1982, 2010, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Express Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - Production
SQL> select unistr('abcåäö\2514\2524\2534') from dual;
UNISTR('A
abc??????The ?'s right above likely means that character replacement has ocurred, since character set in use by client does not define characters stored/retrieved from the database.