Name: rl43681 Date: 10/24/2003


FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.4.2"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2-b28)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2-b28, mixed mode)


FULL OS VERSION :
Linux xldb06 2.4.7-10smp #1 SMP Thu Sep 6 17:09:31 EDT 2001 i686 unknown


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When the $LANG variable is not defined, special characters are replaced by '?'

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Clean the LANG variable.
Write a String using any special character to a file or print it to the stdout.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The String.
ACTUAL -
Every special character is replaced by ?.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
Clean the LANG environment variable, write this simple program and run it:

/**
 * @author dcgomes
 *
 * To change the template for this generated type comment go to
 * Window>Preferences>Java>Code Generation>Code and Comments
 */
public class LangVariableTest {

public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("�����");

}
}

In this case everything is OK:
[dcgomes@xldb06 DAN2]$ export LANG=en_US
[dcgomes@xldb06 DAN2]$ echo $LANG
en_US
[dcgomes@xldb06 DAN2]$ java tester/LangVariableTest
�����

But when we clean LANG:

[dcgomes@xldb06 DAN2]$ export LANG=
[dcgomes@xldb06 DAN2]$ echo $LANG

[dcgomes@xldb06 DAN2]$ java tester/LangVariableTest
?????

I didn't find any jdk documentation that imposes that the LANG variable must be set.




---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Always set the LANG variable.
(Incident Review ID: 217559)
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###@###.### 2003-10-29