SAP MaxDB uses MapChar sets to map language-specific characters to alternative representations, such as ü to ue. The characters to be converted and the Mapchar set must use the same character set. If, for example, a MapChar set has been defined in Unicode, this MapChar set can only be used for Unicode values.

When a database is created, the database system creates the default MapChar set DEFAULTMAP. You can change the DEFAULTMAP MapChar set and define additional MapChar sets.

MapChar sets are only valid for internal system functions.

The MAPCHAR(x,n,i) function uses MapChar sets to sort fields that contain umlaut characters.