From ALB@immedia.ca Sat Jun 21 08:53:00 1994 Received: from Clouso.CRIM.CA by dkuug.dk with SMTP id AA07985 (5.65c8/IDA-1.4.4j for ); Tue, 21 Jun 1994 15:48:27 +0200 Received: from immedia.ca by clouso.crim.ca (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA29443; Tue, 21 Jun 94 09:48:07 EDT Return-Path: Received: by immedia.ca (3.2/2.D) id AA22329; 21 Jun 94 13:54:14 -0500 Date: 21 Jun 94 13:53:00 -0500 From: ALB@immedia.ca Message-Id: <199406211354.AA22329@immedia.ca> To: bealle@torolab6.vnet.ibm.com, cpwg-mail@revcan.ca, paref@vm1.ulaval.ca, umavs@torolab6.vnet.ibm.com Cc: i18n@dkuug.dk, sc22wg20@dkuug.dk, tc304@dkuug.dk Subject: Decimal delimiter: a new interesting idea X-Charset: ASCII X-Char-Esc: 29 ---------- To : RNET (MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS OF LIST ISO10646 ) ALB Subject : Re: Decimal delimiter on numeric keypad should not depend on From : RNET (RZOTTO@NYX.UNI-KONSTANZ.DE) Date : 06/21/94 Time : 10:53 On Sun, 19 Jun 1994 14:13:09 +0200 Martin J Duerst said: > My idea was that this [i.e. "./,"] should be used in those areas where > both "," and "." may be used as a decimal delimiter, e.g. on the > Canadian keyboard. A US keyboard would still just have ".", and a > French or German just only "," Most users are forced to use ".", at times, in spite of their national preferences. E.g. most programming languages (except COBOL) accept only the dot as a decimal delimiter, both in source programs and in run-time data input. Hence, the dot should be readily available in all countries (even in France :-). I strongly second Alain's notion of a function key (located on the numeric keypad) in place of the current dot, or comma, key; on this key, a dot and the locally used decimal delimiter should be engraved. It should be possible to use this key for decimal delimiters in bulk entry of numeric data. In the sequel, I'll use the name "dd" to designate this proposed function key. I think, no special character will be needed to implement this; a new character is not even desirable. All we need is a very simple way to switch between the various characters possibly assigned to the dd key. On PC keyboards, the key combination Ctrl-dd is a good candidate: it could cyclically offer all meanings for dd available in the locale. Another possibility would be Ctrl-, to switch to French/German number entry, Ctrl-. to switch to American data entry, and so forth. Alt-dd should access the meaning currently not assigned to the dd key, e.g. on a German keyboard, Ctrl-dd should input a comma while dd inputs a dot, and vice versa. While we are at bulk numeric data entry: by the same token, we also need an exponent delimiter key! What about cutting the over-sized + key into two parts to make room for a new ed function key? Bottom line: this is a keyboard, and keyboard driver, design issue. I do not think that a new character is appropriate. Best wishes, Otto Stolz