Introduction
ORA-12704 is an error that can occur when a character set mismatch occurs between a client application or driver and the database. This error can cause problems that range from the inability to connect to the database at all to data loss when characters get corrupted. Thankfully, this error is preventable and manageable.
What Causes ORA-12704?
ORA-12704 is caused when your client application is trying to interpret data with one character set but the database's character set is different. It can be triggered when the client application has not included the proper NLS_LANG settings. ORA-12704 can also be caused when the client's character set is different from the database's, multi-byte character sets cannot be processed, or compatibility between character sets is not supported.
How to Fix ORA-12704
There are a few steps that can be taken to resolve this issue and successfully establish a connection between your client application or driver and the database:
Make sure the NLS_LANG parameter is set in the client's environment.
- For example, if you are using an Oracle database and SQL Workbench, the NLS_LANG must be set in the sqlwb.sh file.
Ensure that the client's character set is a subset of the database's character set.
If you are working with multi-byte character sets, make sure the characterset of the database is compatible with the client's characterset.
Check if the Oracle database is configured to use the right characterset. If not, you can use the ALTER DATABASE command to change the database's character set.
Check if a database link is configured correctly and that the character set used by the database link is compatible with the database's character set.
FAQ
What is an ORA-12704 error?
ORA-12704 is an error that occurs when a character set mismatch occurs between a client application or driver and the database.
What are the possible causes of ORA-12704?
The causes of ORA-12704 can be linked to the NLS_LANG settings as well as the client's character set not being a subset of the database's, multi-byte character sets not being able to be processed, and incompatible charactersets.
How can I fix ORA-12704?
To fix ORA-12704, the NLS_LANG parameter must be set in the client's environment and the client's character set must be a subset of the database's character set. Additionally, the database needs to be configured to use the right characterset, and the characterset used by the database link must be compatible with the database's.