Abstract: Each sortable key within National Language Support (NLS) data processing system is assigned an alphabetic key value, a diacritic key value, a case key value and a special character key value. The various values assigned for the alphabetic key, the diacritic key, the case key and the special character key are ordered in a culturally predictable manner such that subsequent sorts of the keys within the data processing system based upon the alphabetic key value, the diacritic key value, the case key value, and the special character key value will result in a culturally predictable order. For example, if a particular national language implementation requires the character "" to follow "Z," an appropriate selection of alphabetic key values for these characters will result in this ordering. Special situations, such as ligatures or other idiosyncratic keys, are handled by locating each instance thereof and temporarily substituting a selected replacement key therefore.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for place value assignment for sortable keys in a National Language Support (NLS) data processing system. Each sortable key within the data processing system is assigned an alphabetic key value, a diacritic key value, a case key value and a special character key value. After building these key values for each key within the system, a place value may be assigned to each unique character which is based upon these four values. In one embodiment of the present invention, each character or key has a fixed length place value data frame associated therewith, with selected subsets of that data frame associated with each key value. This embodiment may require selected key values to be "padded" to fully occupy the designated subset within the fixed length place value data frame; however, the increased memory requirement which this approach requires will be offset by the ease of diagnosis and manipulation which this approach permits.

Abstract: The method of the present invention may be utilized with a National Language Support (NLS) data processing system which includes a plurality of sortable keys. Each sortable key within the data processing system is assigned an alphabetic key value, a diacritic key value, a case key value and a special character key value. After building these key values for each character or key within the system, a place value may be assigned to each unique character which is based upon these four values. Thereafter, when specifying criteria for a search through the data processing system all four key values may be specified, thus permitting a search to focus exactly upon a desired alphabetic value, diacritic character value, case value and special character value for the desired alphabetic string.

Abstract: The method of the present invention may be utilized with a National Language Support (NLS) data processing system which includes a plurality of sortable keys. Each sortable key within the data processing system is assigned an alphabetic key value, a diacritic key value, a case key value and a special charcter key value. After building these key values for each character or key within the system, a place value may be assigned to each unique character which is based upon these four values. Thereafter, when specifying criteria for a search through the data processing system all four key values may be specified, thus permitting a search to focus exactly upon a desired alphabetic value, diacritic character value, case value and special character value for the desired alphabetic string.

Abstract: Each sortable key within National Language Support (NLS) data processing system is assigned an alphabetic key value, a diacritic key value, a case key value and a special character key value. The various values assigned for the alphabetic key, the diacritic key, the case key and the special character key are ordered in a culturally predictable manner such that subsequent sorts of the keys within the data processing system based upon the alphabetic key value, the diacritic key value, the case key value, and the special character key value will result in a culturally predictable order. For example, if a particular national language implementation requires the character "" to follow "Z," an appropriate selection of alphabetic key values for these characters will result in this ordering. Special situations, such as ligatures or other idiosyncratic keys, are handled by locating each instance thereof and temporarily substituting a selected replacement key therefore.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for place value assignment for sortable keys in a National Language Support (NLS) data processing system. Each sortable key within the data processing system is assigned an alphabetic key value, a diacritic key value, a case key value and a special character key value. After building these key values for each key within the system, a place value may be assigned to each unique character which is based upon these four values. In one embodiment of the present invention, each character or key has a fixed length place value data frame associated therewith, with selected subsets of that data frame associated with each key value. This embodiment may require selected key values to be "padded" to fully occupy the designated subset within the fixed length place value data frame; however, the increased memory requirement which this approach requires will be offset by the ease of diagnosis and manipulation which this approach permits.