MySQL Bugs: #112119: Character set 'utf8mb3' is not supported by .Net Framework

Bug #112119	Character set 'utf8mb3' is not supported by .Net Framework
Submitted:	21 Aug 2023 6:25	Modified:	21 Aug 2023 12:39
Reporter:	Baris Samed Halici	Email Updates:
Status:	Duplicate	Impact on me:	None
Category:	Connector / NET	Severity:	S1 (Critical)
Version:	10.6.9-MariaDB	OS:	Any
Assigned to:		CPU Architecture:	Any
Tags:	character set, collation, Connector .NET, Connector .NET ADO.Net, utf8mb3

Description:
I'm going to start an ASP.NET Web Application project that uses the MySql database. I also need to create an ADO.NET Entity Data Model.

I know I need to install "MySql for Visual Studio Tool" and "MySql Connector/NET".

+ I have installed VS2017 Community.
+ I installed MySql Connector/NET 8.0.28 .. 8.0.33
+ I have installed MySql for Visual Studio Tool 1.2.10.

I can share the database connection information that I will connect to via message. I also write the database properties below. I couldn't find which versions would work in harmony. Can you try this on your own machine and let me know after you make sure it works?

MySql Database information:

+ Server: localhost via TCP/IP
+ Server type: MariaDB
+ Server connection: SSL is not being used Documentation
+ Server version: 10.6.9-MariaDB - mariadb.org binary distribution
+ Protocol version: 10
+ Server charset: UTF-8 Unicode (utf8mb4)

The result of the query show variables like '%char%' :

character_set_client: utf8mb4
character_set_connection: utf8mb4
character_set_database: utf8mb4
character_set_filesystem: binary
character_set_results: utf8mb4
character_set_server: utf8mb4
character_set_system: utf8mb3
character_sets_dir: C:\Program Files\MariaDB 10.6\share\charsets\

I created a video recording for you. You can check out my actions here.
https://www.veed.io/view/361a18d3-67f4-4420-8642-a9809d92a937?panel=share

The main cause of the error is the character set.
There was no such problem in version 10.3.X-MariaDB. Such a problem occurred after switching to utf8mb3 character set.
Character set 'utf8mb3' is not supported by .Net Framework.

How to repeat:

Open visual studio and create a project (C#, desktop, WPF).
Open the server explorer
Create a new data connection
Enter the server name "localhost"
Set the user name / password as appropriate
Test connection (should work)
Use the database name dropdown Note error:
> Dialog MySql for visual studio, unable to retrieve the list of databases.
Advanced settings > Character Set = utf8mb3
> Character set 'utf8mb3' is not supported by .Net Framework

Hello,

MySQL for Visual Studio Tool 1.2.10 uses an embedded version of the driver. And old one that does not support that character set it seems.

I don't have a Windows environment to test, but it seems other people are having the same issue: see #107259

It seems that you could replace 3 files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2019\Professional\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblie with those from the latest connector (8.1.0):

- MySql.Data.dll
- MySql.Data.EntityFramework.dll
- MySql.Web.dll

You can find them in the mysql-connector-net-8.1.0.

I am not able test that workaround, but if you do, please comment.

Additionally, I would just like to inform you that there is no extra guarantee that our connector will work anyway with our Database Server. MariaDB is not a drop-in replacement for MySQL anymore. Both projects have diverged and are not compatible.

Regards,

Hello!

Thank you for the bug report.
Imho this is duplicate of Bug #107259, please see Bug #107259.
Also, test the workaround suggested by Frederic Descamps.

Regards,
Ashwini Patil

Hello,

The workaround suggested by Deschamps simply breaks the designer. It closes without error.

Is it that difficult to ship a new version of the .net for Visual Studio?