Hello, I've got a concern about entering customized (vulgar) fractions in plain text, using a sequence of superscript and subscript digits separated by U+2044 FRACTION SLASH. I submitted it in PRI#297. As I need to clear up this point for future keyboard layout usage recommendations, I would like to submit this to the attention of the Unicode Mailing List for advice and discussion.
A demo file opening in a word processor, typeset in Arial Unicode MS typeface, is available at http://bit.ly/1DNPtf0 To view it in PDF, there is another file at http://bit.ly/1JutBGK The following is based on http://www.unicode.org/review/pri297/feedback.html Date/Time: Mon Apr 13 10:07:49 CDT 2015 There is some additional information about U+2044 FRACTION SLASH I would suggest adding at the “Fraction Slash” paragraphs in the “Other Punctuation” subsection of §6.2, page 273 of the Standard, as well as in the Code Charts’ Fractions subheader before U+2150. U+2044 FRACTION SLASH working together with superscripts and subscripts is so obvious no discussion is needed. [Note: This proved to be wrong. I'm sorry not to have e-mailed this to the List.] On the other hand, as fraction formatting needs at least desktop publishing software, it is usually not a part of office automation. It seems therefore useful to show the plain text entering method for (so-called vulgar) fractions. The "Number Forms" block’s "Fractions" subhead may therefore be followed by a NOTICE_LINE like this one: ‘@+’ [TAB] [TAB] ‘Fractions may be composed in plain text on a [superscripts] 2044 [subscripts] pattern.’ On the other hand, the Fraction Slash notice in the Standard might contain the informations below (including those already provided in the Standard). ___________________________ Fraction Slash. U+2044 FRACTION SLASH is used between digits to form numeric fractions. It is kerning for use with superscripts and subscripts to compose plain text fractions such as ²⁄₃ and ³⁄₉.The pattern of a plain text fraction built using the fraction slash is defined as follows: any sequence of one or more superscript digits (U+00B9, U+00B2, U+00B3, U+2074 - U+2079, U+2070), followed by the fraction slash, followed by any sequence of one or more subscript digits (U+2080 - U+2089). U+2044 FRACTION SLASH may also act as a formatting command for use with decimal digits, and it may be used instead of U+002F SOLIDUS prior to applying fraction formatting. The standard form of a fraction designed for formatting is defined as follows: any sequence of one or more decimal digits (General Category = Nd), followed by the fraction slash, followed by any sequence of one or more decimal digits. If the fraction is to be separated from a previous number, then a space can be used, choosing the appropriate width (normal, thin, zero width, and so on). For example, 1 + thin space + 3 + fraction slash + 4 can be displayed as 1¾. Whether they are plain text or formatted, fractions should be displayed as a unit, such as ¾ or {unavailable glyph}. The precise choice of display can depend on additional formatting information. If the displaying software is incapable of mapping the fraction to a unit, then it can also be displayed as a simple linear sequence as a fallback (for example, 3/4). For fallback display, U+002F SOLIDUS is preferred, because the fraction slash kerns. ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ Date/Time: Wed Apr 22 11:26:44 CDT 2015 Opt Subject: PRI #297 Fraction slash 2044 FRACTION SLASH Additionally to a previous feedback, I would suggest adding the hint about how to compose arbitrary fractions in plain text, in another place as well. This could be the entry of the fraction slash U+2044 and, more precisely, the end of the existing COMMENT_LINE, after a comma: 2044 FRACTION SLASH = solidus (in typography) * for composing arbitrary fractions, in plain text with superscripts and subscripts. Thank you for feedback. Best regards, Marcel
