ISO 8884:1989

INTER NATIONAL
IS0
STANDARD
8884
First edition
1989-09- 1 5
Information processing - Text and office
systems - Keyboards for multiple Latin-
alphabet languages - Layout and operation
Traitement de l'information - Systèmes bureautiques - Claviers pour des langues
à i'alphabet latin multiples - Disposition et opération
Reference number
IS0 8884 : 1989 (E)

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I IS0 8884 : 1989 (E)
Contents
Page
...
Foreword . III
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Definitions . 2
4 Physical Requirements and Operation . 2
5 Common Secondary (Group 2) Keyboard Layout . 3
6 Conformance . 3
Annexes
A The Latin Supranational Keyboard Layout for International
Organizations (normative) . 6
B List of Alphabetic Characters (informative) . 8
C Labelling of Keys (informative) . 9
Function and Location of Shift Keys (informative) . 10
D
O IS0 1989
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
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International Organization for Standardization
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Printed in Switzerland
ii

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IS0 8884 : IS9 (E)
Foreword
IS0 (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide
federation of national standards bodies (IS0 member bodies). The work of
preparing International Standards is normally carried out through IS0 tech-
nical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a
technical committee has been established has the right to be represented
on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-gov-
ernmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. IS0 collaborates
closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all
of electrotechnical standardization.
matters
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
circulated to the member bodies for approval before their acceptance as
International Standards by the IS0 Council. They are approved in accor-
dance with IS0 procedures requiring at least 75% approval by the member
bodies voting.
International Standard IS0 8884 was prepared by Technical Committee
ISO/TC97 Information processing systems.
Annex A is normative.
Annexes E3 to D are for information only.
iii

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IS0 8884 : 1989 (E)
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
Information processing - Text and office systems -
Keyboards for multiple Latin-alphabet languages - Layout
and operation
the editions indicated were valid. All standards are
1 Scope
subject to revision, and parties to agreements based
on this International Standard are encouraged to
1.1 A keyboard layout for the character repertoire
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent
Of IS0 6937-2
editions of the standards listed below. Members of
This International Standard defines the layout on a
IEC and IS0 maintain registers of currently valid
keyboard of a defined set of graphic characters
International Standards.
which, when used in combination with an existing
national version keyboard layout, allows the input of
the full graphic character repertoire defined in IS0
Information processing - IS0 7-bit
IS0 646: 1983,
6937-2 and its addendum 1, or the 8-bit single-byte
coded character set for information interchange.
coded graphic character sets defined in IS0 8859,
parts 1 to 4.
IS0 1091: 1,977, Typewriters - Layout of printing and
function keys.
NOTE - The full repertoire of IS0 6937-2 and its addendum
1 consists of 333 characters including Space and permits
IS0 3243: 1975, Keyboards for countries whose lan-
the representation of 40 recognised European languages
guages have alphabetic extenders - Guidelines for
(plus Afrikaans) using a Latin-based alphabet.
harmonization
A Latin supranational keyboard layout which may be
IS0 6937-2: 1983, Information processing - Coded
used in a multilingual environment is defined in an
character sets for text communication - Part 2: Latin
annex.
alphabetic and non-alphabetic graphic characters.
This International Standard does not define such fac-
IS0 6937-2lAdd.l: 1989, information processing -
tors as the shape, size or colour of the keys, nor does
Coded character sets for text communication - Part 2:
it define the style in which the symbols are
represented. Latin Alphabetic and non-alphabetic graphic charac-
ters-ADDENDUM 1.
1.2 Intended applications
This International Standard is primarily intended for
IS0 8859-1:1987, Information processing - 8-bit sin-
word-processing and text-processing applications.
gle-byte coded graphic character sets - Part 1: Latin
alphabet No. 1.
The Latin supranational keyboard layout is especially
intended for use by international organizations.
IS0 8859-2:1987, Information processing - &bit sin-
gle-byte coded graphic character sets - Part 2: Latin
alphabet No. 2.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, IS0 8859-3:1988, Information processing - &bit sin-
through reference in this text, constitute provisions of gle-byte coded graphic character sets - Part 3: Latin
this International Standard. At the time of publication, alphabet No. 3.

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IS0 8884 : 1989 (E)
IS0 8859-4:1988, Information processing - 8-bit sin- 3.8 Level 3 Characters: Those graphic characters of
gle-byte coded graphic character sets - Part 4: Latin a character group which can be input from a key-
alphabet No. 4. board by using a Level 3 Shift Key without either of
the normal Shift Keys.
NOTE - Level 3 is used in several countries where
3 Definitions
the national usage renders necessary more graphic
characters in the primary Group 1 Character Set than there
are in IS0 646.
For the purpose of this International Standard the fol-
lowing definitions apply:
3.9 Qualifier key: A key whose operation has no im-
mediate effect, but which, for as long as it is held down,
3.1 Primary (Group 1) Character set: A set of graphic
modifies the effect of other keys. A Qualifier
characters (including Space), which is defined by the
Key made be, for example, a Shift Key or a Control Key.
International Reference Version of IS0 646, or by
another Version of IS0 646, or by a national keyboard
4 Physical requirements and operation
layout standard, or is established by common usage in
a particular country.
4.1 Alphanumeric and shift keys
The keyboard layout specified in this International
Standard is based on the 48-key version of the
3.2 Primary (Group 1) Keyboard Layout: The alloca-
alphanumeric layout and shift keys as specified in
tion of the graphic characters of a Primary (Group 1)
IS0 1091.
Character Set to the keys of a particular keyboard,
whether defined by a national standard or established
by common usage in a particular country or group of The keyboard shall be provided with a Group Shift
facility. The use of this shall cause the keyboard to
count ries.
produce a character from either Group 1 or Group 2.
3.3 National Version Keyboard Layout: The layout on
If there is an allocation of characters to Level 3 of
the keyboard of the graphic characters of the Primary
Group 1 a suitable means of shifting into this level
Set of a particular country, whether defined by a
must be provided. This could be a Level 3 Shift Key.
National Standard or by common usage.
The provisions of IS0 1091 regarding the position of
shift keys shall apply to this keyboard until a new IS0
3.4 Common Secondary (Group 2) Character
standard for the placement and operation of function
Set: The set of graphic characters (listed in this Inter-
keys on alphanumeric keyboards is produced. Provi-
national Standard) which are required by IS0 6937-2
sions for the placement and function of the shift keys
but which do not appear in every national version
are given, for the time being, in annex D.
keyboard layout.
4.2 Group 1 and Group 2
The keyboard layout is divided into two parts. These
3.5 Common Secondary (Group 2) Keyboard Lay-
are the layout for the Primary (Group 1) Character Set
out: The allocation of the graphic characters of the
and the layout for the Common Secondary (Group 2)
Common Secondary (Group 2) Character Set to the
Character Set.
keys of a keyboard, as specified by Figure 1 of this
International Standard.
The characters of Group 1 and the layout of these on
the keyboard are defined by the relevant national key-
board layout standard or established by common
3.6 Level 1 Characters: Those graphic characters
usage in the particular country or are defined by IS0
(including small letters) of a Character Group which
3243 with additions according to annex A. In this
can be input from a keyboard without the use of any
International Standard Group 1 may use up to three
Shift Key within the group.
levels.
The characters of Group 2 and the layout of these on
3.7 Level 2 Characters: Those graphic characters
the keyboard are defined in this International Stan-
(including capital letters) of a Character Group which
dard and are always the same, see clause 5. In this
can be input from a keyboard by using a normal Shift
International Standard Group 2 uses two levels.
Key within the group.
2

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IS0 8884 : 1989 (E)
4.6 Allocation of Currency Symbols
4.3 Key Labelling
It is not mandatory that all the characters of the Com- In level 2 or level 3 of the Primary Character Set
2) Character Set that are (Group 1) the character E or # shall be allocated to
mon Secondary (Group
available on the keyboard should be shown on the key E03, and the character $ or )4 shall be allocated to
keys. key E04.
NOTE - When the characters are shown it is recommended
5 Common secondary (Group 2)
that they should appear as shown in annex C.
keyboard layout
4.4 Operation of Keys with Diacritical Marks
The layout of the characters of the Common Secon-
The diacritical marks in the IS0 6937-2 character set
dary (Group 2) Character Set shall be as shown in
are the accents, cedilla and ogonek as listed in table 1
figure 1 and tabulated in table 1.
(Clause 6). The accents appear above certain letters,
and cedilla and ogonek below certain letters, and all
these are non-spacing characters. Typing of a diacriti- 6 Conformance
cal mark character followed by a letter shall indicate
that the two are intended to be combined. Typing of a The layout of a keyboard conforms to this Interna-
diacritical mark followea by a Space shall indicate that tional Standard if
the diacritical mark is intended to appear free-
standing.
a) the allocation of the graphic characters of the
primary (Group 1) set conforms to one of the
following layouts:
It is recommended that the method used for deletion
of a character should also cancel a partially-con- - an existing national keyboard standard;
structed character, such as a diacritical mark without - an existing national keyboard layout estab-
a following letter or Space. lished by common usage in a particular
country;
- the Latin supranational primary keyboard lay-
4.5 Characters in Addendum 1 of IS0 6937-2
The characters Not Sign and Broken Bar are input by out defined in Annex A;
using keys as shown in figure 1 and tabulated in
table 1.
b) it satisfies all the requirements of clauses 4 and
5 of this International Standard.
No-break Space shall be input by using the Space Bar
and a qualifier key. Any statement of conformance to this International
Standard shall be taken to imply that the complete
Common Secon
...