Re: lynx-dev character sets

[Leonid Pauzner]

>      * From: Laura Eaves <address@hidden>
>      * Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 16:12:21 -0400 (EDT)
>      * Reply-To: address@hidden
>      * Sender: address@hidden
>      _________________________________________________________________
>
> Could someone familiar with charset issues please clarify the following?
> I've noticed on some websites I get funny graphic characters in foreign words.
> I assume this has to do with my display charset being wrong.  (For example,
> I should see an e with a ` over it, but get a funny graphic instead.)
>
I can clarify the subject.
There are several options items
which are for *very* different purposes:

"display charset" - the font you have available on your local display (!)
                           this is an obligatory parameter.
"assumed document charset" - if the remote document not specify
                           its character set properly - use this value.
"preferred charset" - just a hint for remote server: send the document
                           in this codepage, if possible.

Third parameter may be ommited, the second necessary for broken pages only
(if you have any idea that the charset should be, try...)

And the first is really important: to check it
try looking files from test/ directory of lynx distribution:
unicode.html for example. If you see any graphic characters
instead of accented latin you obviously set a wrong 'display charset' in lynx.
Try 'us-ascii' - it may be more safe until you find a better solution.

Oh, yes, 'Raw 8-bit mode' should be *always* OFF for you.


> So I checked the options page.
> Using the old hard-coded options page there are 2 relevant options:
> "assumed charset" and "display charset".  "assumed is set to ISO-8859-1.
> "display charset" is set to ISO-Latin-1.
> Furthermore, there is no ISO-8859-1 in the choices for display charset.
probably bad naming...

>
> On the new forms-options page there are also 2 options:
> "preferred" charset (with a text entry field instead of a popup menu)
> and "display" charset (same as before).
> The default "preferred" charset is blank.
>
> What I'd like to know is what these various choices mean and
> waht should the settings be to display the characters I want?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> --le