Conversion of umlauts to utf8 - PHP

I have a PHP script that inserts/updates records in a mysql database. The german umlauts need to be converted to UTF8 - this needs to be fixed in script. The script reads data from web sites, creates one xml file per web site and one xml file for each record that comes from this web site. Then the script inserts/updates the database by using the data from xml files. The problem is, that the german umlauts in xml files are not utf8 encoded. This needs to be fixed in the script. ## Deliverables 1) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows (depending on the nature of the deliverables): a) For web sites or other server-side deliverables intended to only ever exist in one place in the Buyer's environment--Deliverables must be installed by the Seller in ready-to-run condition in the Buyer's environment. b) For all others including desktop software or software the buyer intends to distribute: A software installation package that will install the software in ready-to-run condition on the platform(s) specified in this bid request. 3) All deliverables will be considered "work made for hire" under U.S. Copyright law. Buyer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work purchased. (No GPL, GNU, 3rd party components, etc. unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the buyer on the site per the coder's Seller Legal Agreement). ## Platform linux mysql php xml