Long Unicode strings entered in user's profile (eg. address1 and address2 fields) are stored truncated and unreadable

[yasserghk]

Steps to reproduce the issue

create/modify user profile and input a string of more than 42 unicode (I tested using persian) characters in text box "address 1" or "address 2".

sample input string: کمسیهبتدرسیهشمسینمکب ثصقضمسبجشیسمه تبیسضصثقفم

Expected result

A string same as inputted one or at least a readable truncated string.

Actual result

A truncated unreadable string of 255 characters.
in this example(including initial double quotation mark):
"\u0634\u0633\u06cc\u0628\u0636\u0635\u062b\u0642\u06a9\u0646\u0645\u062a\u0627\u0644\u0641\u063a\u0639\u0647\u062e\u062d\u0646\u0639\u062e\u0647\u0639\u063a\u0641\u0642\u062b\u0635\u062a\u0636\u0634\u0633\u06cc\u0628\u0644\u0627\u062a\u0646\u0645\u0626\u

System information (as much as possible)

Joomla version: 2.5.27
Browser: Google Chrome Version 38.0.2125.111 m
Web server: Apachie v2.2.27 and 2.2.22
DBMS: mySQL v5.5.24 and 5.5.37-cll
PHP version: 5.3.28 and 5.4.3
Database/tables/fields collation: utf8_general_ci

Additional comments

Same result in Front-end or Back-end
But saving test input string via phpMyAdmin (browse -> edit) did not result in such problem.

It would be admirable if front-end limits the input strings' length to their limited extents.

[infograf768]

Unrelated to language imho

This comment was created with the J!Tracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/4974.

[infograf768]

And I cannot repoduce the issue here:

This comment was created with the J!Tracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/4974.

[infograf768]

Sorry. I confirm the issue on 2.5, not in 3.3.6+

This comment was created with the J!Tracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/4974.

[infograf768]

The issue is in the # of characters in the _user_profile table for the value

`profile_value  varchar(255)`

[yasserghk]

Dear infograf768,
Thanks for your attention. :D
Here is the first place I posted this problem, I guess it will take a long time for an official solution to appear.
Do you think if there is an alternative way/place to search for a quick workaround?
Thanks again.

[Bakual]

Do you think if there is an alternative way/place to search for a quick workaround?

The simplest thing would be to change your database field so it is able to store longer values.

[yasserghk]

Thanks Bakual.
I changed type of the field 'profile_value' in table '_user_profiles', from varchar(255) into 'TEXT' as it is in J3.3.6. and the problem solved for now. 👍
Nonetheless, I'm worried about future updates of Joomla 2.5.x if it will change back data type into varchar(255).
So, I already tested and found this changing back will result in losing my data stored in this field, for sure. :-(
I think it's time for me to migrate all of my 10 Joomla websites to 3.3.x asap.

[Bakual]

Nonetheless, I'm worried about future updates of Joomla 2.5.x if it will change back data type into varchar(255).

Since Joomla 2.5 will be end of life this year, there is only one release left scheduled. I doubt we will change that field back to varchar. If anything we would change it to text lîke in J3 :)

However I strongly support you in upgrading to J3 👍

[infograf768]

@Bakual

Can't we add an update to the db in next 2.5 update?

This comment was created with the J!Tracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/4974.

[Bakual]

I don't see why we can't. If someone writes a PR 😄

[infograf768]

Please test PR here:
#4984