Mathematics and internationalization

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craigugoretz@gmail.com - 16 Sep 2006 03:31 GMT

Hello,

I would like to make a Java application unicode mathematics
enabled. How does internationalization support this endeavor? If it
does not, what features of the JDK would make it possible?

Sincerely,

Craig Ugoretz

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hiwa - 16 Sep 2006 05:09 GMT

craigugoretz@gmail.com のメッセージ:

> unicode mathematics

What is it?

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Tor Iver Wilhelmsen - 16 Sep 2006 08:40 GMT

> What is it?

I think he means Unicoe math symbols.

To the OP: You will probably need to use the \uxxxx syntax to get the
glyphs into your source code. You cannot expect the user's keyboard to
be able to produce them for input purposes, though.

I18n in Java is generally tied to Locales and things that vary between
regions, like number- and date formats. Mathematical symbols do not,
and in general terms everyone can use Arabic numerals even if many
languages have their own symbols for the numbers 0 to 9.

Did you want to also support e.g. the Japanese symbols for ichi, ni,
san etc?

As an aside, it's interesting to note how the Sanskrit names for the
numbers look almost exactly like the names they got in the Latin
language sphere:

http://sanskrit.farfromreal.com/index.php?x=writ_numb

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craigugoretz@gmail.com - 16 Sep 2006 14:19 GMT

Dear Tor:

Thank you for your timely response to my inquiry. What I meant
was indeed unicode math symbols. I have an idea for input: use aspect
oriented programming to intercept all references to GUI components in
my sources code, create controls that allow input of unicode (in
particular mathematics) and render unicode output, and then link the
new controls into the application. Are there any steps that I am
missing on the "object oriented side of things"? In particular, I
think I briefly read about some "java properties" that would be need to
be set to support UTF-16 (correct term?).

Sincerely,
Craig

> > What is it?
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> http://sanskrit.farfromreal.com/index.php?x=writ_numb

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Oliver Wong - 19 Sep 2006 22:07 GMT

> What I meant
> was indeed unicode math symbols. I have an idea for input: use aspect
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> new controls into the application. Are there any steps that I am
> missing on the "object oriented side of things"?

How about defining a new class which subclasses your input control
(JTextArea?) which just adds buttons that the user can click on to insert
certain symbols into the JTextArea?

> In particular, I
> think I briefly read about some "java properties" that would be need to
> be set to support UTF-16 (correct term?).

There is nothing special you need to do to enable unicode support in
Java. It's hardcoded into the design of Java to be enabled all the time.
However, the host OS may need some tweaking (e.g. installing fonts which
contain the glyphs you wish to display to the user).

- Oliver

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Mathematics and internationalization

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