Every computer uses a standard or default character set. A
character set is a collection of graphic and control characters.
Each character is normally represented by a unique 7- or 8-bit code.
The standard character set for a particular computer is used throughout
that computer system. Terminals, printers, and communications controllers, as
well as sort utilities, editors, compilers, and command interpreters, must
agree on a standard code.
The standard code for the HP 3000 is the American
Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII). IBM computers
use the Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC).
SNA IMF provides automatic translation between EBCDIC, the
code used over the communications line to the host, and ASCII, the
code used for the terminal screen and printer buffers on the HP 3000
side.SNA IMF uses Native Language Support (NLS) translation
tables to perform the ASCII-to-EBCDIC and EBCDIC-to-ASCII translations. NLS
features allow the application programmer to create local language
applications for end users. These features include architecture
and peripheral support, as well as software facilities within the
operating systems and subsystems. NLS addresses the internal functions
of a program (for example, sorting) as well as the user interface
(for example, message formats).
NLS system utilities are available that allow you to add languages
to your system, or delete them, and to modify local formats. NLS
tables are available for each of the foreign languages supported
by the HP 3000. These NLS tables reside on the system.
For more information about NLS, refer to the Native Language
Support Reference Manual.
