Thanks to everyone that provided me with info on German and Swiss
sorting standards and conventions.
With respect to the capitalization debate, it seems to me from the
(limited) information presented, that
a) small vs. large first, is insignificant
b) that it cannot be readily determined from studying past practices.
I say this because, as Michael says, one fronts things
to emphasize them, often what is being emphasized is chronology,
frequency
of usage, or other facets of the strings being ordered, and not
case.
This suggests to me that case is simply unimportant,
since some other trait seems to readily take precedence over case.
(Even though case ordering may ultimately be needed for determinacy.)
It also suggests to me, that looking at sorting of existing documents
may not be useful in resolving the debate, since reviewing the case
ordering
does not disclose whether the document was truly ordered based on case
or some
other facet of the text that simply makes it appear that one or the
other
case is primary.
To that end, I have to question whether a standard should declare
what the trend in case ordering is...
However, I am basicly an onlooker in this discussion and make no
claims of expertise on linguistic requirements. I am just trying
to limit the collations I implement to the fewest that do the most
good for my market and trying to get justification for not implementing
the many whims of each of my users...
To that end, it is easy enough to offer users a choice of upper or lower
case first...
tex
Michael Everson wrote:
stuff clipped...
> The only counter argument I've seen is that "smalls are more general" so
> they should come first, which doesn't make sense to me. One fronts things
> to emphasize them.
>
> Michael Everson ** Everson Gunn Teoranta ** http://www.egt.ie
> 15 Port Chaeimhghein Íochtarach; Baile Átha Cliath 2; Éire/Ireland
> Vox +353 1 478 2597 ** Fax +353 1 478 2597 ** Mob +353 86 807 9169
> 27 Páirc an Fhéithlinn; Baile an Bhóthair; Co. Átha Cliath; Éire
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