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Storing unicode text into varchar column in SQL Server

Submitted by: @import:stackexchange-dba··
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columnsqlintotextvarcharunicodeserverstoring

Problem

I have mistakenly stored unicode text into a varchar column in a table and now it is shown as question marks (???).

Is it possible to get our main information back from the column instead of question marks???

Solution

The '?' character replaced the original value because there was no equivalent character in the collation code page and is physically stored in the column instead of the original value.

Sorry to say but the original value is lost.

Context

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#236846, answer score: 9

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