When you try to fetch special Arabic characters from DB2 columns by using SQL Server Reporting Services, garbage characters are displayed in Host Integration Server 2009

Symptoms

In a Microsoft Host Integration Server 2009 environment, when you try to fetch columns from a DB2 table by using the OLE DB provider for DB2, the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services may display garbage characters in the columns.

This issue occurs if the columns contain the following special Arabic characters:

• Dhad: ض

• Saad: ص‎

• Sheen: ش‎

• Seen: س‎

Cause

This problem occurs because the characters that are mentioned in the "Symptoms" section are represented as two EBCDIC characters. However, these characters are represented as only one character in ANSI. Because the data buffer is initialized by using NULLs, the data buffer has additional NULL characters when the data buffer fetches DB2 columns that contain those Arabic characters. Therefore, the SQL Server Reporting Services displays garbage characters.

Resolution

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=supportNote The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

The English (United States) version of this hotfix uses a Microsoft Windows Installer package to install the hotfix. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the following table. When you view the file information, the date is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft Host Integration Server 2009, 32-bit edition

Microsoft Host Integration Server 2009, 64-bit edition

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.