SSI.php problem with UTF-8 in Joomla: can't get to display characters right

[Kursk]

Here's my setup: SMF 2.0 RC1 and Joomla 1.5.10. Unbridged.  Both UTF-8. All I need is to show latest topics (via SSI.php) on Joomla frontpage.

Making a custom module was not problem.  What I'm having a problem with is to display stuff in UTF-8.  For all the stuff SSI.php calls out of database I'm getting a bunch of question marks ? ? ? The rest of the stuff, such as dates, words "today", "yesterday" in my specific language, they are displayed correctly.

This same exact problem is described in this joomla hxxp:forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?p=1348731 [nonactive].  The solution suggested there apparently works, but not only for 1.1.x, not 2.0. It includes adding to ssi.php the following:

mysql_query('set names utf8', $db_connection);

I've also found a reference that suggested including global $db_character_set; in ssi.php.  It didn't work for me.

Any help will be appreciated.

[H]

Sorry for the slow response, do you still require assistance with this?

[Kursk]

Yes please.

[Jazmo]

I'm sorry i'm answering this same topic, but my topic is pretty much the same.
My SMF is utf8, my webpage is utf8 .
I use SSI's ssi_recentPosts function, but i only use it for getting the data, i handle the printing myself.

All the special characters were not displayed on my webpage. Why? Where's the problem? My databases are in UTF8 too.

I got it corrected easily this way

Code Select Expand


// this is in my own printing function which has before gotten $posts -array from SSI and foreachs it as $post
<?php echo utf8_encode($post['link']); ?>


but you shouldn't need to do that, should you?

[Jazmo]

Ah so. I do not have that SET NAMES utf8. I read that it should be there but i didn't understand why. Now i visited Mysql website, and the idea became much clearer.
Thanks.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Hi Kursk, have you managed to sort this out - or do you still need assistance on this?