8-bit characters

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Thomas A. Baker (tombaker@bumetb.bu.edu)
Tue, 8 Mar 94 13:02:40 -0500

We got from: Lutz Prechelt <prechelt@ira.uka.de>
> I think using the highest available standard is sensible, provided that
> it does not cause too much problems.
> In this case, using ISO Latin 1 seems not to be too much of a problem and
> thus is the option to chose, IMHO.
>
> For those who cannot print it, one could put a short one-line Perl
> script into the FAQ, which can convert it to 'oe' etc. notation.
> Of course, then people will need to have Perl installed...
>
> Lutz

I agree with this trade-off, and would like to add some more
hand-holding ... after all, some faqs are not intended for the
technically inclined.

So I suggest a one line or one paragraph blurb explaining "Can you
read the following characters? Here's what to do if you can't." Step
one is "Upgrade to Mime compatibility, here's the address of the Mime
Faq." Step Two is "If you have to stick with your present software,
here's where you might get some work-arounds, like that Perl script."
Step three is "If you get the stuff with the hi-bit stripped already,
here, at least, are the seven bit equivalents of the letters we use".

This is all a trade-off, using the Latin-1 standard against supporting
folks with Ascii only readers. Those of us who _have_ to post
eight-bit character FAQs should do what they can for the folks left
behind.

Tom Baker
C/Unix Consultant

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