Installation guide

4-1

Bull S.A. May 25th, 1999

PART 4. The Euro Character

1. Generalities & Standards

1.1 What is the Euro character?

The Euro character is a new symbol representing the Euro currency, the new single

currency of the European Community.

The Euro currency is in application since 1/1/1999.

The introduction of a new currency symbol has far-reaching consequences. Software

applications in all areas of finance and accounting are deeply affected.

The underlying operating systems must enable basic functions like typing, displaying,

printing and exchanging, to support the new symbol.

1.2 Is it the only symbol for Euro currency?

No, there is also the acronym cent (.01 of Euro).

The cent will not be used as a symbol for editing.

1.3 What are the codifications of the Euro Character?

Different codifications exist for the Euro character:

• The ”Currency” ISO 4217 codification, which codes Euro in a chain of 3 characters

(EUR).

• The IBM–1252 codification which codes Euro on 8 bits (hex 80). (This is the codification

implemented in Windows/NT systems).

• The ISO 8859–15 codification which codes Euro on 8 bits (hex a4).

• The Unicode codification which codes Euro on 16 bits (hex 20ac).

• The UTF–8 codification which codes Euro on 24 bits (hex e282ac). This codification can

be mixed up amidst other 8–bit codifications. Estrella 200 and 300 do not support the

UTF-8 codification.

• The PC Code Page 858 codification which codes Euro on 8 bits (hex d5).

1.4 What is the ISO 4217 codification?

ISO 4217 Currency Codes:

This is a list of global currencies and their three–character ISO 4217 currency code. The

ISO 4217 currency code is usually composed of the country’s two–character ISO 3166

country code, plus a one–character currency designator. For example, the code for Belgian

Franc is simply Belgian’s two–character ISO 3166 code (BE) plus a one–character currency

designator (F).

BEF Belgian Franc

DEM Deutsche Mark

DKK Danish Crone

ESP Spanish Peseta

FRF French Franc

GBP British Pound

ITL Italian Lira

LUF Luxembourg Franc

NLG Dutch Guilder