> Combined with, for example, a UTF-8 enabled Super-NANSI to
> make the step from strings to their display, of course. The
> problem would be loss of "ASCII" art block graphics in apps
> which are not using Unicode.

But that happens for some code pages anyway. (For example, CPs 858 and 850  
drop some of the CP 437 block graphics. CPs that need more characters  
probably drop all of them.)

> A possible workaround would be
> dosver-style, to make a per-app decision who uses Unicode.
>
> [...]
>
> Some old apps will only use ASCII anyway which is the same
> for real ASCII and for UTF8 but some others will assume a
> codepage (often 437) to be active. The block graphics and
> other chars from the non-ASCII half of any codepage differ
> in encoding from UTF8 so, as said, any display or similar
> driver would need some way to switch between "classic code
> page mode" and "UTF8 rendering mode". It could switch on
> UTF8 based on explicit request from a modern app or based
> on app name for old but known compatible apps... It would
> switch off UTF8 when any app exits (int 21.4c / 21.31...).

I don't like such an approach. You would have to keep the current status  
in a PSP field. And even then, pop-up TSRs might *interrupt* the currently  
running process (without switching the PSP or saving/restoring other  
fields). One of the TSRs I'm regularly using displays its pop-up using  
block graphics.

I'd propose to use a new interface instead - this new interface then  
always uses UTF-8, the normal one will use code pages (or reject  
CP-dependent characters). (Of course using only ASCII it doesn't matter  
which interface you use.)

> If yes, I do
> assume that the LFN API already is explicit about whether
> UTF8 or rather codepage style encoding should be used?

The DOS LFN API works with code page encoded strings.

Regards,
Christian

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