KB15162: How to preserve UTF-8 characters (in this case Japanese) stored in MySQL 5.0 Data Warehouse in MicroStrategy Web and Desktop 8.x

The following settings would allow the Strategy Web and Desktop 8.x applications to retrieve UTF8 encoded characters intact from a MySQL database:
 

• Configure the DSN to read from the database in UTF-8. This can be found in Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources and the Initial Statement field is set to 'set names utf8,' as shown below:
  

• Configure the Database Connection in Strategy Administrator to UTF-8, as shown below:
  

The steps above will allow the Strategy Web 8.x user to be able to view the UTF-8 encoded characters correctly. To allow Strategy Desktop 8.x users on non-native OS versions to view the characters, an additional configuration must be made on the client machine itself. Change the Microsoft Windows machine where the Strategy Desktop 8.x client is running to a default language of Japanese (or the required language) under Control Panel > Regional Options, as shown below:
 

 
Third Party Software Installation:
WARNING:
The third-party product(s) discussed in this technical note is manufactured by vendors independent of Strategy. Strategy makes no warranty, express, implied or otherwise, regarding this product, including its performance or reliability.