Sybase 12.4.2 manual Ansi and OEM code pages in Windows and Windows NT, 320

Understanding character sets in software

Remember that the code page used by the client system determines both the values that are sent to server for each character you enter, and the characters that are displayed when particular values are sent to the client from the server. The code page used by the server system determines how the server interprets values the client sends.

ANSI and OEM code pages in Windows and Windows NT

	For Microsoft Windows and Windows NT users, the issue is complicated
	because there are at least two code pages in use on most PCs. This issue affects
	both Windows and NT clients and NT servers.
	MS-DOS, as well as character-mode applications (those using the console or
	"DOS box") in Windows 95/98 and Windows NT, use code pages taken from
	the IBM set. These are called OEM code pages (Original Equipment
	Manufacturer) for historical reasons.
	Windows operating systems do not require the line drawing characters that
	were held in the extended characters of the OEM code pages, so they use a
	different set of code pages. These pages are based on the ANSI standard and
	are therefore commonly called ANSI code pages.
	Adaptive Server IQ supports collations based on both OEM and ANSI code
	pages.
Example	Consider the following situation:
	• A PC is running the Windows 98 operating system with ANSI code page
	1252.
	• The code page for character-mode applications is OEM code page 437.
	• Text is held in a database created using the collation corresponding to
	OEM code page 850.
	An uppercase A grave in the database is stored as character 183. This value is
	displayed as a graphical character in a character-mode application. The same
	character is displayed as a dot in a Windows application.
	For information about choosing a single-byte collation for your database, see
	“Understanding collations” on page 328.

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