Be sure to use a proper jdbc-url parameters, and create database with
default UTF-8 charset (or per table/column).

Current FlameRobin UI client support utf8 texts as well, all you have
to do is select an unicode-aware font on query editor and table editor
panels. I use MS Arial Unicode font and all texts is displayed properly.

url:
jdbc:firebirdsql:localhost/3050:c:/db/mydb.fdb?encoding=UTF8&user=sysdba&password=masterkey


driver for standalone applications:
org.firebirdsql.jdbc.FBDriver

See here screenshots and examples.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/akini/fb/
http://koti.mbnet.fi/akini/fb/flamerobin.html

Create new database through isql.exe:
* Run "{fb}\bin\isql.exe" commandline util to create a database
SQL> CREATE DATABASE 'c:\db\mydb.fdb'
user 'sysdba' password 'masterkey' DEFAULT CHARACTER UTF8;
SQL> SELECT * FROM rdb$database;
SQL> QUIT;

Or use FlameRobin UI Database/Create new Database command.

If you want to make sure whats db default charset, use "SELECT * FROM
rdb$database" query to see value.

--- In Firebird-Java@yahoogroups.com, "Steffen Heil" <lists@...> wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> Now, that firebird 2 is finally available (great work btw), I want
to switch
> from WIN1252/ISO8859_1 to UTF8 as soon as possible.
> Is there anything I need to check first? Any hitches or gotchas?
>
> My client software will be Java1.5/1.6 using JayBird 2.1 and
Firebird 2.0.
>
> Regards,
> Steffen