ietf-822
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Re: What is a charset?

1993-03-08 00:48:21
Keld> I would much prefer the ISO term "coded character set" which maps
Keld> "characters" to bits in a stream. We should then define also
Keld> the concept of "character" - and this should allow unified
Keld> CJKT characters, although some japanese and others do not like them.

According to your understanding of ISO's definition:

        "coded character set" which maps "characters" to bits

there is no problem in encoding.

But, it say nothing about

        mapping from bits to "characters"

So, while Unified CJKT can be encoded with ISO "coded character set",
it does not necessaliry mean that it is decodable.

OK?

Now, while ISO might not mind even if characters are invisible,
for MIME, text is a basic visible media.

Thus, the following requirement for the reverse mapping:

    The Working Group specified the definition of a character set
    for the purposes of quad-x to be a unique mapping of a byte
    stream to glyphs, a mapping which does not require external
    profiling information.

is must.

                                                Masataka Ohta

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