Re: [iri] #118: What term to use for the kind of text that the Unicode Bidi Algorithm was designed for

Since the question is related to Unicode (the kind of text that the 
Unicode Bidi Algorithm was designed for), maybe we should check the 
Unicode definition for "plain text". In the Unicode glossary (
http://unicode.org/glossary/#P), we find:
Plain Text. Computer-encoded text that consists only of a sequence of code 
points from a given standard, with no other formatting or structural 
information. Plain text interchange is commonly used between computer 
systems that do not share higher-level protocols. (See also rich text.) 


Personally, I find this definition appropriate for "the kind of text that 
the Unicode Bidi Algorithm was designed for", and I prefer "plain text" 
over "running text". It is also my experience that "plain text" is much 
more in use in Unicode circles than "running text".

Shalom (Regards),  Mati
       Bidi Architect
       Globalization Center Of Competency - Bidirectional Scripts
       IBM Israel
       Mobile: +972 52 2554160




From:   "iri issue tracker" <trac+iri@trac.tools.ietf.org>
To:     draft-ietf-iri-3987bis@tools.ietf.org, duerst@it.aoyama.ac.jp
Cc:     public-iri@w3.org
Date:   11/03/2012 14:03
Subject:        [iri] #118: What term to use for the kind of text that the 
Unicode  Bidi Algorithm was designed for



#118: What term to use for the kind of text that the Unicode Bidi 
Algorithm was
designed for

 What term should we use for the kind of text that the Unicode Bidi
 Algorithm was designed for. RFC 3987 and 3987bis use "running text". 
bidi-
 guidelines (-01) changed to "plain text".

 We have a definition for running text at
 http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-iri-3987bis-10#section-1.3:

     running text:  Human text (paragraphs, sentences, phrases) with
        syntax according to orthographic conventions of a natural
        language, as opposed to syntax defined for ease of processing by
        machines (e.g., markup, programming languages).

 In RFC 3987, there are two uses:

 The Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm is designed mainly for running text.

 [UNIXML] is written in the context of running text rather than in that of
 identifiers.

 The first use moved to bidi-guidelines, but the second use is still in
 3987bis. In both cases, the term "plain text" isn't appropriate, because
 the main use of "plain text" is to distinguish from "fancy text", i.e.
 text with styling,... But in both usages above, the distinction between
 "plain text" and "fancy text" is irrelevant. See also
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_text.


-- 
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 Reporter:  duerst@…  |      Owner:  draft-ietf-iri-3987bis@…
     Type:  defect    |     Status:  new
 Priority:  major     |  Milestone:
Component:  3987bis   |    Version:
 Severity:  -         |   Keywords:
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Ticket URL: <http://trac.tools.ietf.org/wg/iri/trac/ticket/118>
iri <http://tools.ietf.org/wg/iri/>