diff -Naur nanodbc-2.12.4/CMakeLists.txt nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/CMakeLists.txt
--- nanodbc-2.12.4/CMakeLists.txt	2016-03-22 00:55:36.000000000 +0300
+++ nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/CMakeLists.txt	2018-05-15 08:31:25.024541100 +0300
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.7)
 project(nanodbc)
 
-option(NANODBC_USE_UNICODE "build with unicode support turned on" OFF)
 option(NANODBC_USE_BOOST_CONVERT "build using Boost.Locale for string convert" OFF)
 option(NANODBC_HANDLE_NODATA_BUG "enable special handling for SQL_NO_DATA (required for vertica)" OFF)
-option(NANODBC_STATIC "build static instead of shared library" OFF)
 option(NANODBC_EXAMPLES "build examples" ON)
 option(NANODBC_TEST "build tests" ON)
-option(NANODBC_INSTALL "generate install target" ON)
 option(NANODBC_ENABLE_LIBCXX "Use libc++ if available." ON)
 
 if(APPLE)
@@ -106,9 +103,6 @@
 			set(CMAKE_FLAGS "${CMAKE_FLAGS} ${ODBC_CFLAGS}")
 			execute_process(COMMAND ${ODBC_CONFIG} --libs
 				OUTPUT_VARIABLE ODBC_LINK_FLAGS OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE)
-			if(NANODBC_USE_UNICODE)
-				add_definitions(-DNANODBC_USE_IODBC_WIDE_STRINGS)
-			endif()
 		endif()
 	endif()
 
@@ -130,17 +124,6 @@
 	add_definitions(-DNANODBC_ODBC_VERSION=${NANODBC_ODBC_VERSION})
 endif()
 
-if(NANODBC_USE_UNICODE)
-	message(STATUS "Unicode support: Turned on")
-	add_definitions(-DNANODBC_USE_UNICODE)
-	if(MSVC)
-		# Sets "Use Unicode Character Set" property in Visual Studio projects
-		add_definitions(-DUNICODE -D_UNICODE)
-	endif()
-else()
-	message(STATUS "Unicode support: Turned off")
-endif()
-
 if(NANODBC_USE_BOOST_CONVERT)
 	message(STATUS "Boost string convert: Turned on")
 	add_definitions(-DNANODBC_USE_BOOST_CONVERT)
@@ -178,38 +161,109 @@
 	set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS} ${ODBC_LINK_FLAGS}")
 elseif(MSVC)
 	set(ODBC_LIBRARIES odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib Ws2_32.lib)
+elseif(MINGW)
+	set(ODBC_LIBRARIES odbc32 odbccp32)
 endif()
 
 ########################################
-## nanodbc library target
+## nanodbc static library target - non unicode
 ########################################
-if(NANODBC_STATIC)
-	add_library(nanodbc STATIC src/nanodbc.cpp src/nanodbc.h)
-		message(STATUS "Build target: STATIC")
-else()
-	add_library(nanodbc SHARED src/nanodbc.cpp src/nanodbc.h)
-	target_link_libraries(nanodbc ${Boost_LIBRARIES} ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
-	message(STATUS "Build target: SHARED")
+add_library(nanodbc_static STATIC src/nanodbc.cpp src/nanodbc.h)
+set_target_properties(nanodbc_static PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME nanodbc)
+target_link_libraries(nanodbc_static PUBLIC ${Boost_LIBRARIES} ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
+
+if(UNIX)
+	set_target_properties(nanodbc_static PROPERTIES
+		COMPILE_FLAGS "${ODBC_CFLAGS}"
+        LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "lib")
 endif()
 
+install(
+    TARGETS nanodbc_static
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib
+    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib)
+
+########################################
+## nanodbc shared library target - non unicode
+########################################
+add_library(nanodbc_shared SHARED src/nanodbc.cpp src/nanodbc.h)
+set_target_properties(nanodbc_shared PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME nanodbc)
+target_link_libraries(nanodbc_shared PUBLIC ${Boost_LIBRARIES} ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
+
 if(UNIX)
-	set_target_properties(nanodbc PROPERTIES
+	set_target_properties(nanodbc_shared PROPERTIES
 		COMPILE_FLAGS "${ODBC_CFLAGS}"
 		LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "lib")
 endif()
 
-if(NANODBC_INSTALL)
-	install(FILES src/nanodbc.h DESTINATION include)
-	if(NANODBC_STATIC)
-		install(TARGETS nanodbc ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib)
-	else()
-		install(TARGETS nanodbc LIBRARY DESTINATION lib)
-	endif()
-	message(STATUS "Target install: Turned on")
-else()
-	message(STATUS "Target install: Turned off")
+install(
+    TARGETS nanodbc_shared
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib
+    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib)
+
+########################################
+## nanodbc static library target - unicode
+########################################
+add_library(nanodbc_unicode_static STATIC src/nanodbc.cpp src/nanodbc.h)
+set_target_properties(nanodbc_unicode_static PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME nanodbc_unicode)
+target_link_libraries(nanodbc_unicode_static PUBLIC ${Boost_LIBRARIES} ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
+target_compile_definitions(nanodbc_unicode_static PUBLIC -DNANODBC_USE_UNICODE)
+
+if(WIN32)
+    # Sets "Use Unicode Character Set" property in Visual Studio projects
+    target_compile_definitions(nanodbc_unicode_static PUBLIC -DUNICODE -D_UNICODE)
 endif()
 
+if(ODBC_CONFIG)
+    target_compile_definitions(nanodbc_unicode_static PUBLIC -DNANODBC_USE_IODBC_WIDE_STRINGS)
+endif()
+
+if(UNIX)
+	set_target_properties(nanodbc_unicode_static PROPERTIES
+		COMPILE_FLAGS "${ODBC_CFLAGS}"
+		LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "lib")
+endif()
+
+install(
+    TARGETS nanodbc_unicode_static
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib
+    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib)
+
+########################################
+## nanodbc shared library target - unicode
+########################################
+add_library(nanodbc_unicode_shared SHARED src/nanodbc.cpp src/nanodbc.h)
+set_target_properties(nanodbc_unicode_shared PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME nanodbc_unicode)
+target_link_libraries(nanodbc_unicode_shared PUBLIC ${Boost_LIBRARIES} ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
+target_compile_definitions(nanodbc_unicode_shared PUBLIC -DNANODBC_USE_UNICODE)
+
+if(WIN32)
+    # Sets "Use Unicode Character Set" property in Visual Studio projects
+    target_compile_definitions(nanodbc_unicode_shared PUBLIC -DUNICODE -D_UNICODE)
+endif()
+
+if(ODBC_CONFIG)
+    target_compile_definitions(nanodbc_unicode_shared PUBLIC -DNANODBC_USE_IODBC_WIDE_STRINGS)
+endif()
+
+if(UNIX)
+	set_target_properties(nanodbc_unicode_shared PROPERTIES
+		COMPILE_FLAGS "${ODBC_CFLAGS}"
+		LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "lib")
+endif()
+
+install(
+    TARGETS nanodbc_unicode_shared
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION lib
+    ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib)
+
+########################################
+## headers
+########################################
+install(FILES src/nanodbc.h DESTINATION include)
+
 ########################################
 ## examples
 ########################################
diff -Naur nanodbc-2.12.4/examples/CMakeLists.txt nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/examples/CMakeLists.txt
--- nanodbc-2.12.4/examples/CMakeLists.txt	2016-03-22 00:55:36.000000000 +0300
+++ nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/examples/CMakeLists.txt	2018-05-15 08:31:25.040141200 +0300
@@ -4,12 +4,10 @@
 include_directories(${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR} ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/src ${ODBC_INCLUDE_DIR})
 link_directories(${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/lib)
 
-foreach(example ${examples})
-	add_executable(example_${example} ${example}.cpp)
-	if (NANODBC_STATIC)
-		target_link_libraries(example_${example} nanodbc ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
-	else()
-		target_link_libraries(example_${example} nanodbc "${ODBC_LINK_FLAGS}")
-	endif()
-	add_dependencies(examples example_${example})
+foreach(config "" "_unicode")
+    foreach(example ${examples})
+        add_executable(example_${example}${config} ${example}.cpp)
+        target_link_libraries(example_${example}${config} nanodbc${config}_shared)
+        add_dependencies(examples example_${example}${config})
+    endforeach()
 endforeach()
diff -Naur nanodbc-2.12.4/examples/table_schema.cpp nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/examples/table_schema.cpp
--- nanodbc-2.12.4/examples/table_schema.cpp	2016-03-22 00:55:36.000000000 +0300
+++ nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/examples/table_schema.cpp	2018-05-15 08:31:25.040141200 +0300
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
-#define NOMINMAX
+//#define NOMINMAX
 #include <windows.h> // SQLLEN, SQLULEN, SQLHWND
 #endif
 #include <sql.h>
diff -Naur nanodbc-2.12.4/src/nanodbc.cpp nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/src/nanodbc.cpp
--- nanodbc-2.12.4/src/nanodbc.cpp	2016-03-22 00:55:36.000000000 +0300
+++ nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/src/nanodbc.cpp	2018-05-15 08:31:25.040141200 +0300
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
     // needs to be included above sql.h for windows
-    #define NOMINMAX
+    //#define NOMINMAX
     #include <windows.h>
 #endif
 
diff -Naur nanodbc-2.12.4/test/base_test_fixture.h nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/test/base_test_fixture.h
--- nanodbc-2.12.4/test/base_test_fixture.h	2016-03-22 00:55:36.000000000 +0300
+++ nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/test/base_test_fixture.h	2018-05-15 08:31:25.040141200 +0300
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 // needs to be included above sql.h for windows
-#define NOMINMAX
+//#define NOMINMAX
 #include <windows.h>
 #endif
 #include <sql.h>
@@ -39,6 +39,17 @@
 
 struct base_test_fixture
 {
+    // Database vendor
+    enum DBVendor
+    {
+        unknown,
+        Oracle,
+        SQLite,
+        PostgreSQL,
+        MySQL,
+        SQLServer
+    };
+
     // To invoke a unit test over all integral types, use:
     //
     typedef std::tuple<
@@ -71,9 +82,87 @@
 
     nanodbc::string_type connection_string_;
 
+    DBVendor vendor_;
+
+    DBVendor get_vendor(const nanodbc::string_type &dbms)
+    {
+        REQUIRE(!dbms.empty());
+        if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("Oracle")))
+            return Oracle;
+        else if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("SQLite")))
+            return Oracle;
+        else if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("PostgreSQL")))
+            return PostgreSQL;
+        else if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("MySQL")))
+            return MySQL;
+        else if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("SQLServer")))
+            return SQLServer;
+        else
+            return unknown;
+    }
+
+    nanodbc::string_type get_binary_type_name()
+    {
+        switch (vendor_)
+        {
+        case SQLite:
+            return NANODBC_TEXT("blob");
+        case PostgreSQL:
+            return NANODBC_TEXT("bytea");
+        case MySQL:
+            return NANODBC_TEXT("varbinary(10)");
+        default:
+            return NANODBC_TEXT("varbinary");   // Oracle, SQL Server,...standard type?
+        }
+    }
+
+    nanodbc::string_type get_primary_key_name(const nanodbc::string_type &assumed)
+    {
+        switch (vendor_)
+        {
+        case MySQL:
+            return NANODBC_TEXT("PRIMARY");
+        default:
+            return assumed;
+        }
+    }
+
+    short get_data_type(const nanodbc::string_type &name)
+    {
+        if (name == NANODBC_TEXT("float"))
+            return (vendor_ == MySQL) ? SQL_REAL : SQL_FLOAT;
+        else
+            return 0;
+    }
+
+    int get_data_type_size(const nanodbc::string_type &name, short radix = -1)
+    {
+        if (name == NANODBC_TEXT("float"))
+        {
+            if (radix == 10)
+                return 17;  // total number of digits allowed
+            else if (radix != 2)
+                WARN("numeric radix different than 2 or 10: was " + std::to_string(radix));
+
+            if (vendor_ == MySQL)
+                return 7;   // total number of bytes allowed
+            else
+                return 53;  // total number of bits allowed
+        }
+        else if (name == NANODBC_TEXT("text"))
+        {
+            static const int get_data_type_size_text[] = {-1, 4000, 8190, 1073741824, 65535, 65535};
+            return get_data_type_size_text[vendor_];
+        }
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     nanodbc::connection connect()
     {
-        return nanodbc::connection(connection_string_);
+        nanodbc::connection connection(connection_string_);
+        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
+        vendor_ = get_vendor(connection.dbms_name());
+        return connection;
     }
 
     static void check_rows_equal(nanodbc::result results, int rows)
@@ -169,7 +258,6 @@
     void catalog_columns_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
         nanodbc::catalog catalog(connection);
 
         // Successfully tested against SQL Server and PostgreSQL (9.x) only.
@@ -193,23 +281,7 @@
             // Determine DBMS-specific features, properties and values
             // NOTE: If handling DBMS-specific features become overly complicated,
             //       we may decided to remove such features from the tests.
-            nanodbc::string_type binary_type_name;
-            {
-                nanodbc::string_type const dbms = connection.dbms_name();
-                REQUIRE(!dbms.empty());
-                if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("SQLite")))
-                {
-                    binary_type_name = NANODBC_TEXT("blob");
-                }
-                else if (contains_string(dbms, NANODBC_TEXT("PostgreSQL")))
-                {
-                    binary_type_name = NANODBC_TEXT("bytea");
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    binary_type_name = NANODBC_TEXT("varbinary"); // Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server,...standard type?
-                }
-            }
+            nanodbc::string_type binary_type_name = get_binary_type_name();
             REQUIRE(!binary_type_name.empty());
 
             nanodbc::string_type const table_name(NANODBC_TEXT("catalog_columns_test"));
@@ -252,11 +324,9 @@
 
             REQUIRE(columns.next());
             REQUIRE(columns.column_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("c2"));
-            REQUIRE(columns.sql_data_type() == SQL_FLOAT);
-            if (columns.numeric_precision_radix() == 10)
-                REQUIRE(columns.column_size() ==  17); // total number of digits allowed
-            else
-                REQUIRE(columns.column_size() ==  53); // total number of bits allowed
+            REQUIRE(columns.sql_data_type() == get_data_type(NANODBC_TEXT("float")));
+            REQUIRE(columns.column_size() ==
+                    get_data_type_size(NANODBC_TEXT("float"), columns.numeric_precision_radix()));
             REQUIRE(columns.nullable() == SQL_NULLABLE);
             if (!columns.is_nullable().empty()) // nullability determined
                 REQUIRE(columns.is_nullable() == NANODBC_TEXT("YES"));
@@ -290,7 +360,7 @@
             REQUIRE(columns.column_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("c7"));
             REQUIRE((columns.sql_data_type() == SQL_LONGVARCHAR || columns.sql_data_type() == SQL_WLONGVARCHAR));
             // PostgreSQL uses MaxLongVarcharSize=8190, which is configurable in odbc.ini
-            REQUIRE((columns.column_size() == 2147483647 || columns.column_size() == 8190)); // TODO: confirm "text" max length
+            REQUIRE(columns.column_size() == get_data_type_size(NANODBC_TEXT("text")));
 
             REQUIRE(columns.next());
             REQUIRE(columns.column_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("c8"));
@@ -308,7 +378,6 @@
     void catalog_primary_keys_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
         nanodbc::catalog catalog(connection);
 
         // Successfully tested against SQL Server and PostgreSQL (9.x) only.
@@ -321,12 +390,12 @@
             execute(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("create table ") + table_name
                 + NANODBC_TEXT("(i int NOT NULL, CONSTRAINT pk_simple_test PRIMARY KEY (i));"));
 
-            nanodbc::catalog::primary_keys keys =  catalog.find_primary_keys(table_name);
+            nanodbc::catalog::primary_keys keys = catalog.find_primary_keys(table_name);
             REQUIRE(keys.next());
             REQUIRE(keys.table_name() == table_name);
             REQUIRE(keys.column_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("i"));
             REQUIRE(keys.column_number() == 1);
-            REQUIRE(keys.primary_key_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("pk_simple_test"));
+            REQUIRE(keys.primary_key_name() == get_primary_key_name(NANODBC_TEXT("pk_simple_test")));
             // expect no more records
             REQUIRE(!keys.next());
         }
@@ -338,18 +407,18 @@
             execute(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("create table ") + table_name
                 + NANODBC_TEXT("(a int, b smallint, CONSTRAINT pk_composite_test PRIMARY KEY(a, b));"));
 
-            nanodbc::catalog::primary_keys keys =  catalog.find_primary_keys(table_name);
+            nanodbc::catalog::primary_keys keys = catalog.find_primary_keys(table_name);
             REQUIRE(keys.next());
             REQUIRE(keys.table_name() == table_name);
             REQUIRE(keys.column_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("a"));
             REQUIRE(keys.column_number() == 1);
-            REQUIRE(keys.primary_key_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("pk_composite_test"));
+            REQUIRE(keys.primary_key_name() == get_primary_key_name(NANODBC_TEXT("pk_composite_test")));
 
             REQUIRE(keys.next());
             REQUIRE(keys.table_name() == table_name);
             REQUIRE(keys.column_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("b"));
             REQUIRE(keys.column_number() == 2);
-            REQUIRE(keys.primary_key_name() == NANODBC_TEXT("pk_composite_test"));
+            REQUIRE(keys.primary_key_name() == get_primary_key_name(NANODBC_TEXT("pk_composite_test")));
 
             // expect no more records
             REQUIRE(!keys.next());
@@ -359,7 +428,6 @@
     void catalog_tables_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
         nanodbc::catalog catalog(connection);
 
         // Successfully tested against SQL Server and PostgreSQL (9.x) only.
@@ -672,7 +740,6 @@
     void null_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
 
         drop_table(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("null_test"));
         execute(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("create table null_test (a int, b varchar(10));"));
@@ -709,7 +776,6 @@
     void simple_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
         REQUIRE(connection.native_dbc_handle());
         REQUIRE(connection.native_env_handle());
         REQUIRE(connection.transactions() == std::size_t(0));
@@ -822,7 +888,6 @@
     void string_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
         REQUIRE(connection.native_dbc_handle());
         REQUIRE(connection.native_env_handle());
         REQUIRE(connection.transactions() == std::size_t(0));
@@ -849,10 +914,12 @@
     void transaction_test()
     {
         nanodbc::connection connection = connect();
-        REQUIRE(connection.connected());
 
         drop_table(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("transaction_test"));
-        execute(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("create table transaction_test (i int);"));
+        if (vendor_ == MySQL)
+            execute(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("create table transaction_test (i int) ENGINE = INNODB;"));
+        else
+            execute(connection, NANODBC_TEXT("create table transaction_test (i int);"));
 
         nanodbc::statement statement(connection);
         prepare(statement, NANODBC_TEXT("insert into transaction_test (i) values (?);"));
diff -Naur nanodbc-2.12.4/test/CMakeLists.txt nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/test/CMakeLists.txt
--- nanodbc-2.12.4/test/CMakeLists.txt	2016-03-22 00:55:36.000000000 +0300
+++ nanodbc-2.12.4-patched/test/CMakeLists.txt	2018-05-15 08:31:25.040141200 +0300
@@ -23,20 +23,18 @@
 file(GLOB headers *.h *.hpp)
 add_custom_target(tests DEPENDS tests catch)
 set(test_list mysql odbc sqlite)
-foreach(test_item ${test_list})
-	set(test_name ${test_item}_tests)
-	add_executable(${test_name} ${test_item}_test.cpp ${headers})
-	add_dependencies(${test_name} catch)
-	if (NANODBC_STATIC)
-		target_link_libraries(${test_name} nanodbc ${ODBC_LIBRARIES})
-	else()
-		target_link_libraries(${test_name} nanodbc "${ODBC_LINK_FLAGS}")
-	endif()
-	add_test(NAME ${test_name} COMMAND ${test_name})
-	add_custom_target(${test_item}_test
-		COMMAND ${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND} --force-new-ctest-process --output-on-failure -R ${test_name})
-	add_custom_target(${test_item}_check
-		COMMAND ${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND} --force-new-ctest-process --output-on-failure -R ${test_name}
-		DEPENDS ${test_name})
-	add_dependencies(tests ${test_name})
+foreach(config "" "_unicode")
+    foreach(test_item ${test_list})
+        set(test_name ${test_item}${config}_tests)
+        add_executable(${test_name} ${test_item}_test.cpp ${headers})
+        add_dependencies(${test_name} catch)
+        target_link_libraries(${test_name} nanodbc${config}_shared)
+        add_test(NAME ${test_name} COMMAND ${test_name})
+        add_custom_target(${test_item}${config}_test
+            COMMAND ${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND} --force-new-ctest-process --output-on-failure -R ${test_name})
+        add_custom_target(${test_item}${config}_check
+            COMMAND ${CMAKE_CTEST_COMMAND} --force-new-ctest-process --output-on-failure -R ${test_name}
+            DEPENDS ${test_name})
+        add_dependencies(tests ${test_name})
+    endforeach()
 endforeach()