> > 2) Is it possible for firebird to convert accented characters to
> > non-accented ones (where an equivalent exists)? Then for example I
> > could search for "HAT" and find "hát" (where the equivalent -
> > uppercased - was "HAT").

* accent characters can be removed by UDF

* you can use extra field that contains non-accented version of your data
(accents can be removed either by UDF, but also using standard PSQL
inside trigger)

* you can write your own accent insensitive collation driver
(kind of special UDF)

* you can use Firebird 2 where already are some accent-insensitive collations

Ivan
http://www.volny.cz/iprenosil/interbase/