Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!isgate!krafla!einari
From: einari@rhi.hi.is (Einar Indridason)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Snappy Icelanders (this ALED mess)
Keywords: (Not only snappy Icelanders but others as well)
Message-ID: <3289@krafla.rhi.hi.is>
Date: 22 Jun 91 11:26:10 GMT
References: <4472@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU>
Reply-To: einari@rhi.hi.is (Einar Indridason)
Organization: University of Iceland (RHI)
Lines: 52

In article <4472@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU> alanf@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU (Alan Grant Finlay) writes:
>
>Programmers and Software suppliers that do not support adhoc and
>whacky alternative character set systems are not selfish.
>They are not to blame.  There is I believe a new standard being
>drawn up for international character representation
>(16bits/character?).  We should all try and support this standard
>when it arrives.

Adhoc what?  The machine in question, the IBM PC/AT or compatables are
fitted with extended ascii.  The upper half however does differ between
countries, but it is there.  So why not use it, if it is there?
(Without useing tricks like the 'alt-numberic-keypad' trick)

I'm waiting eagerly for the Unicode standard.

>I can understand Icelanders being upset but credit where
>credit is due.  Don't blame programmers for refusing or not
>knowing how to avoid operating system design flaws.

Humm.  Aled used the 8th bit as some sort of an internal marker.  THEREFORE
rendering it Useless for Me and other Icelanders and other Euoropeans....

>Its not the operating system designers fault either,
>there was no international standard apart from ASCII (by default)
>when the IBM-PC was designed.

No, but the extended ascii *was* there.  So why bannish the extended ascii?

>
>Do educate programmers to do simple things like: "leave the 8th bit
>alone";  but don't expect them to learn details of arcane operating
>system fudges.

That should not be necessary for them to learn details of arcane operating
system fudges.

But I do wish that more would leave the 8th bit alone!

>
>N.B. I do however believe that programs should be supplied in
>source code form - this would allow the users of the current
>international code pages etc to modify offending programs.

Agree.  I think that if ALED would have been in source form, I would have
had a try to fix it meself.

--
Internet:    einari@rhi.hi.is        |   "Just give me my command line and drag
UUCP:    ..!mcsun!isgate!rhi!einari  |   the GUIs to the waste basket!!!!"

Surgeon Generals warning:  Masking the 8th bit can seriously damage your brain!!