how to change default encoding?

[tlindvall]

hi,
i'm using python scripts, but it seems there is a problem with character encoding. it seems that the default encoding is currently ascii. i would like to change default encoding to utf-8. how that should be done in xbmc python? is there some sort of locale support (environment variables) or sitecustomize.py or some other site initialization script?

[Nuka1195]

i think settingsmanager does this download at xbmcscripts.com xbmcscripts.com (http://www.xbmcscripts.com/modules/mod_docman/includes_frontend/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=29&itemid=36)

[tlindvall]

according to my understanding this has to be done very early when python environment is initialized with this function:
sys.setdefaultencoding()

i suppose this article describes how this is supposed to be done in python:
http://mail.python.org/pipermail/i18n-sig/2000-june/000335.html

but this might not work in xbmc python?