kaspencer (2/22/2010)
Good question. And it also raises a further point in my mind ...Is there a need to standardise numerical representation across every locale ?
I ask this because, in some locales, the number expressed as
700,000
could represent
700 [decimal point] 000
that is, 700 expressed to three decimal places.
In other locales, it would be
700 [thousands separator] 000
I have noticed a mixture of decimal point indicators on invoices these days, and it certainly isn't unusual to get one using the comma [,] as a decimal point rather than the more logical full-stop [.].
Kenneth Spencer
You are right, in German the comma separates integral and decimal part, and the point separates the thousands.
Makes both formatting and scanning numbers real fun. At least Windows helps, as it covers the problem in its Regional and Language Settings in the Control Panel, and most libraries take these settings into account.
Currency signs, first day of the week, the sequence of day month and year in a standard date and other often neglected differences may become a pain in the ... as well. :rolleyes:
Best regards,
Dietmar Weickert.