GB1162180A - Means for Controlling Typographic Composing Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,162,180. Strip-perforating machines. LINOTYPE & MACHINERY Ltd. 19 Dec., 1967 [24 Dec., 1966], No. 57870/66. Heading B6W. A method of producing a tape with codes representing characters in cursive script such as Arabic for controlling a typographical composing machine, each character in such script having several forms according as it is independent, initial, medial or final, comprises encoding from a keyboard information as to character identity (or spaces, function &c.) but not character form, and comparing this information with that of the preceding and succeeding codes to produce a coded output unique to the character and its selected form. This output can be used to produce an unjustified tape or submitted to justification calculation means set to a required line length and which a final output to produce a justified tape. One or more keyboards may be used to produce one or more primary tapes which are submitted in succession to the composing means, which produces a secondary tape which can be submitted to the justification calculator, which produces a final tape. Alternatively the various mechanisms can be combined so as to omit the primary or secondary tapes or both. Since hyphenation is not permissible in Arabic, it is possible that the line may be too long to include a further word while still not within the justification range. In this case, Kashidas can be inserted between those characters which allow this. The justification calculator seeks out the character combinations allowing Kashidas and inserts them in succession until the line is justifiable, or inserts Kashidas wherever possible and omits surplus ones from the final tape.