Alter mysql Database collation utf8 to utfmb4

Question

Hello Atlassians,

I need your opinion on this situation. So, i have a well running Jira 7.13, Confluence 3.16 and Bitbucket (need upgrade :P) combination running at the moment. The first two running are using a mysql database with collation utf8.

Now i have problem with the service desk issue creation because of the smiley faces (emojis in sum). i am finding that if i alter to utf8mb4 this problem can be solved.

The question now:

* How do i make it? Is there any correct method that i should follow without destroying everything?
* Should i alter manually the database and then each table (it's a little bit too much work i think or not)? 
* If my search is not correct please feel free to inform me.

Best Regards

CM

P.D. Foerster · Accepted Answer

Hi @Christos Moysiadis,

currently this is only possible as a workaround for Jira > 7.3 in combination with MySQL 5.7.x and later (see Emojis and Special Characters for Jira with MySQL). If you want to have it supported by Atlassian, I recommend waiting for Jira 8.0 since this will be fixed in that version.

For Confluence and Bitbucket I found only these tickets:

* https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-18509
* https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/BSERV-8490

Anyway, I do recommend not altering the database until you exactly know what you're doing :)

My company is affected by this as well and we will wait for an official fix by Atlassian. It is better this way than to have instances which were customized in a way that Atlassian cannot support them. Own manipulations on the application database are changes which aren't in Atlassian support scope.

Regards,
Patrice