[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message]

Re: Unicode bi-directional algorithm in XSL

• To: "XML-DEV" <xml-dev@l...>
• Subject: Re: Unicode bi-directional algorithm in XSL
• From: "G. Ken Holman" <gkholman@C...>
• Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 09:51:45 -0500
• In-reply-to: <BBENIBDOJAFBJBANPKGAMEDKGCAA.donalds@i...>

At 2004-03-12 08:38 -0600, Donald Smith wrote:
>Let's say I have some XML with Arabic content and the English abbreviation
>"C.B." inside the Arabic:
>
><example>imagine some Arabic content here C.B. imagine some more Arabic
>content here</example>
>
>Obviously, the Unicode bi-directional algorithm will handle the direction of
>the Arabic text flow as right-to-left, but when rendered by an XSL-FO
>application, the abbreviation comes out ".C.B" (yes, I know bidi-override
>will fix this).

Yes, with unicode-bidi="embed":

    <bidi-override unicode-bidi="embed">C.B.</bidi-override>

>My question is: what's actually happening with the Unicode bi-directional
>algorithm? Is (1) the period between the "C" and the "B" staying put, and
>the period after the "B" moving before the "C"; or (2) are both periods
>moving, so that the period between the "C" and the "B" moves before "C", and
>the period after the "B" moving between them?

"C" and "B" have a strong direction.

Arabic characters have strong direction.

"." has a week direction and is influenced by neighbouring strong-direction 
characters.

So, I believe the "." between the two is influenced to be left-to-right, 
while the "." after the "B" is being influenced by the right-to-left Arabic 
characters.  So I believe the first one you see is the last one and is 
rendered as part of the continuing right-to-left.  But the "C" and the "B" 
keep their direction of left-to-right and influence the "." in between to 
make it left-to-right.

I hope this helps.

........................ Ken


--
US XSL training: Washington,DC March 15; San Francisco,CA March 22
World-wide on-site corporate, government & user group XML training
G. Ken Holman                 mailto:gkholman@C...
Crane Softwrights Ltd.          http://www.CraneSoftwrights.com/x/
Box 266, Kars, Ontario CANADA K0A-2E0    +1(613)489-0999 (F:-0995)
Male Breast Cancer Awareness  http://www.CraneSoftwrights.com/x/bc

• References:
  • Unicode bi-directional algorithm in XSL
    • From: "Donald Smith" <dsmith@i...>

• Prev by Date: RE: Problem designing complexType accepting a specified element and allowing any others.
• Next by Date: RE: Citations (WAS RE: W3C suckered by Micros oft?)
• Previous by thread: Unicode bi-directional algorithm in XSL
• Next by thread: RE: Citations (WAS RE: W3C suckered by Micros oft?)
• Index(es):
  • Date
  • Thread