> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lhv.com/home/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lhv.com/home/connect/fundamentals/encoding-and-languages.md).

# Encoding and Languages

Several core services internally use the Windows-1257 code page, which primarily supports Baltic languages along with a selection of other European languages. Further details about the supported character set can be found on <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows-1257>. In contrast, ISO 20022 standard messages are technically encoded in UTF-8.

In practice, this means that while UTF-8 characters are accepted, any characters not supported by Windows-1257 are replaced with a ? symbol. This behaviour applies to all API services unless explicitly stated otherwise.

For example unstructured payment description submitted in the payment file:

```
//Submitted by customer
Payment description - описание платежа.

//Sent to the payment scheme
Payment description - ???????? ???????.
```

In addition to the code page limitations, Connect applies a set of predefined character replacements before applying the Windows-1257 restrictions. These replacements ensure consistency and compatibility across all payment types.

Character replacements for all payments:

| Character(s)          | Replacement for all receiver BIC countries |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| \\                    | /                                          |
| ] }                   | )                                          |
| \[                    | (                                          |
| \_ \~                 | -                                          |
| \` ’                  | '                                          |
| Ę Ē É Ė               | E                                          |
| ę ē é ė               | e                                          |
| Ć Č                   | C                                          |
| ć č                   | c                                          |
| Ģ                     | G                                          |
| ģ                     | g                                          |
| Į Ī                   | I                                          |
| į ī                   | i                                          |
| Ķ                     | K                                          |
| ķ                     | k                                          |
| Ļ Ł                   | L                                          |
| ļ ł                   | l                                          |
| Ń Ņ                   | N                                          |
| ń ņ                   | n                                          |
| \[character code 160] | space                                      |
| €                     | E                                          |
| Ą Ā Å                 | A                                          |
| æ ą ā å               | a                                          |
| Ó Ō Ø                 | O                                          |
| ó ō ø                 | o                                          |
| Ū Ų                   | U                                          |
| ū ų                   | u                                          |
| Ś                     | S                                          |
| ś ß                   | s                                          |
| Ź Ż                   | Z                                          |
| ź ż                   | z                                          |

Additional replacements based on receiver bank BIC country:

* ISO - all countries except for EE and GB
* EE - Estonia
* GB - Great Britain

| Original Character(s) | Replacement | Applies to |
| --------------------- | ----------- | ---------- |
| {                     | (           | ISO, EE    |
| ;                     | č           | ISO, EE    |
| Ä                     | A           | ISO, GB    |
| ä                     | a           | ISO, GB    |
| Õ Ö                   | O           | ISO, GB    |
| õ ö                   | o           | ISO, GB    |
| Ü                     | U           | ISO, GB    |
| ü                     | u           | ISO, GB    |
| Š                     | S           | ISO, GB    |
| š                     | s           | ISO, GB    |
| Ž                     | Z           | ISO, GB    |
| ž                     | z           | ISO, GB    |


---

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