[tex-live] Re: UTF-8 support
Petr Olsak
olsak@math.feld.cvut.cz
Wed, 22 Jan 2003 09:21:52 +0100 (CET)
On 22 Jan 2003, Vladimir Volovich wrote:
> "PO" == Petr Olsak writes:
>
> >> A support for UTF-8 is already provided by ucs.sty available from
> >> CTAN. I think it should be included on the next CD.
>
> PO> NO!!
>
> PO> The UTF-8 support cannot be 100% perfect, if you realise it only
> PO> at macro level. I have made my own macros for UTF-8 support
> PO> before my second version of encTeX and I know very deep all
> PO> problems connected with thist task.
>
> PO> Please, don't assume that all UTF-8 codes on input side and on
> PO> the output to \write files can be implemented by macros.
> if we are talking about LaTeX, then properly done writes to files
I am not talking about LaTeX. My encTeX is a solution for all macros, not
only LaTeX.
> (AUX, etc) - those using standard LaTeX commands to do writes - will
> save the characters properly in LaTeX internal character
> representation (LICR) form, even when you are using UTF-8 input
> encoding, e.g. if Á (in UTF-8 encoded document) will be written to a
> file, it will be represented in the encoding-independent form: \'A
The \write files are commonly processed by another programs than TeX. If
these programs understand UTF-8 then you need to be able to output this
encoding by \write command.
> these "dirty tricks" are not permitted in LaTeX (even for
> macro-package writers) - catcodes of letters (when using inputenc) and
> uc/lccodes are fixed.
But these "dirty tricks" are commonly used outside LaTeX. My encTex is
suggested not only for LaTeX users.
> if one uses proper interfaces (e.g. protected writes in LaTeX) then
The LaTeX is not "proper interface" for many peoples including me.
Petr Olsak