FIX: Arabic language characters appear reversed when you use the OLE DB Provider for DB2 in Host Integration Server 2004

Arabic language characters appear reversed. For example, a data string appears left to right instead of the correct right-to-left orientation. You may experience these symptoms when the following conditions are true:

• You use the Microsoft OLE DB Provider for DB2 that is included with Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004.
• You configure the OLE DB Provider for DB2 to use languages that are aligned right to left. For example, you configure the OLE DB Provider for DB2 to use the Arabic language or the Hebrew language by using one of the Arabic 20240 EBCDIC code pages.

This problem occurs if the mainframe program reverses the string value before the mainframe program stores the value in the DB2 database. For example, the mainframe program may use code page 20420 to reverse the string value.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

This hotfix enables the CP420PhysicalStorage registry value. You can use this registry value to define how the OLE DB Provider for DB2 treats the string data according to the physical storage. By default, after you apply this hotfix, Host Integration Server 2004 reverses the string data that is sent to the mainframe or received from the mainframe. However, for some mainframe programs, you may not want Host Integration Server 2004 to reverse the string data.

To force Host Integration Server 2004 to process the string data without reversing the data, add the CP420PhysicalStorage registry value to the Host Integration Server 2004-based computer. To create the registry value, follow these steps:

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Host Integration Server
3. Right-click Host Integration Server, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. Type CP420PhysicalStorage as the name of the registry value, and then press ENTER.
5. Double-click CP420PhysicalStorage, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.

To return Host Integration Server to the default value and reverse the string data, set the CP420PhysicalStorage registry value to 0.

For more information about standard terminology that is used to describe software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: