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From: dan@sics.se (Dan Sahlin)
Newsgroups: comp.std.internat
Subject: Please use the standards! (if there are any)
Message-ID: <1498@sics.se>
Date: Mon, 7-Sep-87 19:10:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: sics.1498
Posted: Mon Sep  7 19:10:45 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Sep-87 06:30:21 EDT
Reply-To: dan@sics.se (Dan Sahlin)
Organization: SICS, Swedish Inst. of Computer Science
Lines: 26

Being a member of a working group for character standardisation, I would
like to point out that there is almost always already a standard for most
needs. There is not much of a need to invent more (even if we are working
that too!).

Most of all, there is a standardised way of switching between coding
standards called ISO 2022. The European Computer Manufacturers Association
(ECMA) has registered about 100 character sets according to ISO 2022 and
the standard for registering new standards (!) ISO 2373.
Since among these, we find the various 8859 versions, there is a
standardised way to switch between them.  You will also find the Arabic,
Hebrew and Cyrillic character sets in the ECMA register.
Best of all, at least in Europe, you will get the full set of registered
characters for free if you write to Registration Authority for ISO 2375,
ECMA, Rue du Rhone 114, CH-1204 GENEVA, Switzerland. Ask for the
current full set pages of the "International Register". You may also become
an "owner of the international register" which means that you get a copy
of all newly registered character sets.

Please note that the character sets based on 6937 are not registered by
ECMA (as far as I know).

Personally I vote for 8859 immediately, 6937 thereafter and finally multi-
octet coding!

	Dan Sahlin      (dan@sics.uucp)