Database Characterset Conversion from AMERICAN to JAPANESE

Question

Hello
We are creating a test environment from a database with NLS_LANG = AMERICAN_AMERICA.WE8ISO8859P1. This needs to be converted into Japanese characterset with NLS_LANG = JAPANESE_JAPAN.JA16EUC
As per my understanding, I need to first export the database, then create a new database with Japanese NLS_LANG, and then re-import it
Could someone please confirm the steps please
1. Do I need to change NLS_LANG before exporting the database?
2. Can I run a database characterset conversion check before exporting db?
3. Is there any other pre-cautions that I need to take
Oracle Version: Oracle9i Enterprise Edition Release 9.2.0.6.0 - 64bit Production
OS Version: HP-UX B.11.11
Regards
Sudhanshu

Answer 1

Hello,
I have used the Character Set Scan utility (csscan) Version 1.2. I have attached the report results below.
To convert the character set instead of export/import, can I simply do
ALTER DATABASE CHARACTER SET ja16euc;
I would appreciate feedback on this if anyone has worked on this conversion before.
Parameter Value
CSSCAN Version v1.2
Database Version 9.2.0.6.0
Scan type Full database
Scan CHAR data? YES
Database character set WE8ISO8859P1
FROMCHAR WE8ISO8859P1
TOCHAR JA16EUC
Scan NCHAR data? NO
Array fetch buffer size 10240
Number of processes 20
Capture convertible data? NO
[Scan Summary]
Some character type data in the data dictionary are not convertible to the new character set
Some character type application data are not convertible to the new character set
[Data Dictionary Conversion Summary]
Datatype Changeless Convertible Truncation Lossy
VARCHAR2 3,303,684 386 0 8
CHAR 5 0 0 0
LONG 219,988 1 0 0
CLOB 0 58 0 0
Total 3,523,677 445 0 8
Total in percentage 100% 0% 0% 0%
[Application Data Conversion Summary]
Datatype Changeless Convertible Truncation Lossy
VARCHAR2 3,316,273,097 8,517 56 2,675
CHAR 6,954 0 0 0
LONG 197,690 0 0 0
CLOB 0 0 0 0
Total 3,316,477,741 8,517 56 2,675
Total in percentage 100% 0% 0% 0%
Convertible Truncation Lossy
1 0 0
4 0 0
28 0 6
2,792 43 20
55 1 0
45 0 0
3 0 0
39 0 0
978 0 0
69 0 0
36 0 0
16 0 0
45 0 0
21 0 0
102 4 0
195 4 0
205 0 2
102 4 0
61 0 470
2 0 0
6 0 0
67 0 487
0 0 1
1 0 0
3 0 0
8 0 0
1 0 0
3,115 0 1,689
261 0 0
4 0 0
230 0 0
5 0 0
4 0 0
4 0 0
6 0 0
3 0 0
1 0 0
58 0 0
386 0 8
Convertible Truncation Lossy
1 0 0
4 0 0
28 0 6
2,792 43 20
55 1 0
45 0 0
3 0 0
20 0 0
11 0 0
2 0 0
4 0 0
2 0 0
978 0 0
69 0 0
16 0 0
10 0 0
4 0 0
4 0 0
2 0 0
10 0 0
4 0 0
2 0 0
45 0 0
21 0 0
4 0 0
4 0 0
0 4 0
59 0 0
27 0 0
8 0 0
4 0 0
93 0 0
4 0 0
0 4 0
59 0 0
27 0 0
8 0 0
102 0 1
58 0 1
35 0 0
10 0 0
4 0 0
4 0 0
0 4 0
59 0 0
27 0 0
8 0 0
61 0 470
2 0 0
6 0 0
67 0 487
0 0 1
1 0 0
3 0 0
8 0 0
1 0 0
3,115 0 1,689
261 0 0
4 0 0
73 0 0
115 0 0
37 0 0
5 0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 0 0
4 0 0
6 0 0
2 0 0
1 0 0
1 0 0
58 0 0
386 0 8
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