Process of double-byte characters

 

Due to the large number of double-byte characters, the system needs more information to identify each double-byte character than is needed to identify each alphanumeric character.

There are two types of double-byte characters: basic double-byte characters and extended double-byte characters. These characters are typically processed by the device on which the characters are displayed or printed.

• Basic double-byte characters
  Basic characters are frequently used double-byte characters that reside in the hardware of a DBCS-capable device.

• Extended double-byte characters
  When processing extended characters, the device requires the assistance of the system. The system must tell the device what the character looks like before the device can display or print the character. Extended characters are stored in a DBCS font table, not in the DBCS-capable device.

• What happens when extended double-byte characters are not processed
  This topic describes the result you get when extended double-byte characters are not processed.

 

Parent topic:

Double-byte character set support