Encoding Problem

[GJ!]

To begin with this might no be advanced enough for the advanced forum. as I am new to this forum I am unsure where to draw the line between advanced and beginner... Anyway, here is my problem.
I am using FileReader to read data from an xml-file. However when the data is read the swedish characters (it's a swedish text) å,ä,ö are converted to ,Ã¥ ,ä ,ö when using default encoding (which I assume is Unicode in java).

I figured there might be some problem with the encoding so after I had read the file I tried re-coding the text with different encodings, at first UTF-encoding and then Cp1252 as that was the string returned by get.Encoding(), however the problem persists.

Currently I am at loss as to why my brilliant program (irony) isn't working as it should. Do I have to choose an encoding when reading the file or is it so that xml uses a special encoding? ( I have found no encoding declaration at the beginning of the document...)

All help will be greatly appreciated, a nod in the right direction would be more than enough for you to earn my gratitude.

[CJSLMAN]

This might help;
Converting Non-Unicode Text (The Java™ Tutorials > Internationalization > Working with Text)

Luck,
CJSL

[Fubarable]

How do you know that the data is converted? Are you outputting your text to the console? to a file? to a Swing JTextArea? What font are you using, and does it support your character set?

[GJ!]

This might help;
Too low a post-count for quoting links...

Luck,
CJSL

I think I have checked that page but I'll check it again in case I have misunterstood something.

How do you know that the data is converted? Are you outputting your text to the console? to a file? to a Swing JTextArea? What font are you using, and does it support your character set?

I am simply using Filewriter to write it to a file and where there is an å,ä or ö in the original file there is a Ã¥ ,ä or ö in the created file. I have however also tried outputting it directly to the console, however the problem is still there.

[Fubarable]

Rather than using a FileReader and/or FileWriter, try using an InputStreamReader constructed on a FileInputStream. The InputStreamReader should be constructed with the correct Charset. Same for FileOutputStream and OutputStreamWriter.

Have a look here: Java Programming - String charset encoding decoding
and here: Java Programming - I'm having some problems understanding FileReader class

another great reference:

The Absolute Minimum Every Software Developer Absolutely, Positively Must Know About Unicode and Character Sets (No Excuses!)

[GJ!]

I love you people, it works now. I also must say that the last link was a both amusing and enlightening read.

[nshettys]

Hi GJ,
I have the exact same issue that you have faced.I am reading swedish characters from a db and getting the same issues that you have posted.Do you remember which charset encoding you have used to solve this issue. I am using OutputStreamWriter and FileOutputStream classes to write to the output file.

Thanks,
N