I'm guessing at this point. The next thing I'd check is the database. What are you using? Have you checked whether the columns holding strings can deal with UTF-8? Also, if the database doesn't know from UTF-8, what you saw there might well be correct, if it's just saving the 2-byte characters as 2 1-byte characters - it may be upconverted back to Unicode on the way out. Are the characters messed up when displayed through the app, also? Sorry I can't be more helpful - anyone else? -Ed Staub View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4046996#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...