Configuring an Oracle database with a compatible ISO Latin-1 character set

This procedure describes how to configure the Oracle database with a character set that is compatible with the ISO Latin-1 character set.

NOTE: The Oracle DBA is responsible for completing the following task. This can be done on any computer with a database client that connects to the Oracle database server.

To configure an Oracle database with a compatible ISO Latin-1 character set:

1. Run the following command:

   select value from nls_database_parameters where parameter='NLS_CHARACTERSET';

2. Take action according to the character set in use:
   • WE8ISO8859P1, AL32UTF8/UTF8, or WE8MSWIN1252: The current character set is compatible with the ISO Latin-1 character set. Skip to step 4.
   • US7ASCII: The current character set is not compatible with the ISO Latin-1 character set, but can be changed. Skip to step 4.
   • Other: The current character is not compatible.
3. Run the Oracle Scanner utility csscan.exe in the Oracle binaries directory.

   This verifies that the character set conversion is possible without data loss.

   This utility simulates the new character sets and generates a report or user objects that would be affected if you changed the character set. If the report indicates no problems, continue with the following steps. If problems are listed in the report, contact BMC Customer Support.

4. Run the following command:

   select * from nls_database_parameters where parameter in ('NLS_COMP','NLS_SORT');

   The output must resemble the following sample and indicate the binary sort order:

   PARAMETER VALUE
   -------------------------- -----------
   NLS_SORT BINARY
   NLS_COMP                   BINARY

   If the sort order is not binary, contact BMC Customer Support. Do not continue customizing Western European language support.

5. If your current character IS NOT compatible with ISO Latin-1 and uses binary sort, complete the following steps:
   1. Shut down all Control-M/EM and Control-M/Server components and applications that might connect to the database server.
   2. Export the data by running the command, as described in Application commands.
6. Log in to the SQLPLUS application with administrator privileges:

   sqlplus /nolog

   connect / as sysdba

7. Shut down the database as follows:

   SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE;

8. Configure the database character set as follows:

   STARTUP MOUNT

   ALTER SYSTEM ENABLE RESTRICTED SESSION;

   ALTER SYSTEM SET JOB_QUEUE_PROCESSES=0;

   ALTER SYSTEM SET AQ_TM_PROCESSES=0;

   ALTER DATABASE OPEN;

   ALTER DATABASE CHARACTER SET INTERNAL_USE WE8ISO8859P1;

9. Shut down and restart the database:

   SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE

   STARTUP;

10. Restart all components that you shut down.