The correct sorting of digits depends on context, as Alain LaBont/e'/
pointed out. To give just one example, there are three major library
classification classification schemes in use: the Dewey Decimal
Classification (DDC), the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and
the Universal Decimal Classification (UDC). Each has a notation which
strictly defines a sorting order -- it has to, since the notation is
intended to prescribe the exact location of books on library shelves.
But the sorting order is different! With DDC and UDC, digits are
intended to be read as decimal fractions (the method that Markus G.
Kuhn wants to avoid), while with LCC digits are generally intended to be
read as integers (the method that Markus G. Kuhn wants to use). So in a
library using UDC, Q5 would file after Q42, and in a library using LCC
Q42 would file after Q5. (DDC makes the filing sequence less ambiguous
by always using at least 3 digits -- a DDC library would have Q420 and
Q500).
So if filing sequence differs in such closely related applications, how
are you going to cover filing in all kinds of applications in an
international standard?
Giles
#### ## Giles Martin
####### #### Quality Control Section
################# University of Newcastle Libraries
#################### New South Wales, Australia
###################* E-mail: ulgsm@dewey.newcastle.edu.au
##### ## ### Phone: +61 49 215 828 (International)
Fax: +61 49 215 833 (International)
##
The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together
-- All's Well That Ends Well, IV.iii.98-99
On Mon, 16 Sep 1996 Alain LaBont/e'/ <alb@sct.gouv.qc.ca> wrote:
> At 15:22 16/09/1996 -0500, Markus G. Kuhn wrote:
> >A trivial question about the International String Ordering:
> >
> >Will it sort
> >
> > label1
> > label2
> > label10
> > label20
> >
> >(which I hope), or will it sort
> >
> > label1
> > label10
> > label2
> > label20
...
> [Alain]:
>
> There is provision for pre-handling so that your list be presented as
> follows to the comparison process (without touching the original):
>
> label01
> label02
> label10
> label20
>
> And that would produce the result you expect.
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