KB484524: How to change the data type of a column alias to avoid reports with emoji from returning no data

Description 

If a report contains an emoji in a column and the data type of the column alias in the attribute form is set to Char or VarChar, no data is returned. In Strategy 2021, parameterized query for text input and column type hint for secure text input are enabled for the SQL Server by default. With this feature enabled, reports with emojis may continue to not return data–the same behavior as having the feature disabled. 

Why is this happening? 

The report is composed of attributes with emojis and the corresponding column is stored as NVarChar in the SQL Server database. However, the data type of the column alias is set to Char or VarChar in Strategy, which is not consistent with the data type of the SQL Server database column. When running the report with parameterized query for text input and column type hint for secure text input enabled, the emoji cannot be retrieved from the SQL Server database.

Solution

There are two ways to workaround this issue.
 

Workaround 1: Disable column type hint for secure text input and keep parameterized query for text input enabled for the SQL Server

• Remove

  <PROPERTY NAME="Column Type Hint for Secure Text Input" VALUE="1" />

  under the

  VLDB Data Type

  section in

  DATABASE.PDS

  .
  

• Upgrade the metadata.
• Reload

  DATABASE.PDS

  for the SQL Server.
• Restart the Intelligent Server for the changes to take effect.

Workaround 2: Set the data type of the column alias to NVarChar

• Edit the attribute form.
  

• Modify the column alias.
  

• Create a new column with the data type, NVarChar. Please note that a new column name should be used.
  

• Save the changes.
• Update the schema.