Defining a New Character Set

You can create a new character set by modifying an existing character set or by defining each characteristic.

NOTE: You cannot modify a Unicode character set.

Modify an existing character set:

1. Click Show Existing Definitions.
2. Highlight a character set name.
3. Click Open.
4. Change the Character Set Name to a unique name. Oracle Corporation recommends naming the new character set according to the following convention:

<Oracle_character_set_name><organization_name>EXT<version>

For example, if Acme Corporation adds user-defined characters to the JA16EUC character set, then Oracle Corporation recommends using the following character set name:

JA16EUCACMEEXT1

5. Change the Character Set ID to a number between 8000 and 8999 or between 10000 and 20000.

   NOTE: Use a number between 8000 and 8999 if you are using Pro*COBOL.

6. Modify the desired characteristics or add new characters. When you modify a character set definition, use the following guidelines:
   • Do not remap existing characters.
   • All character mappings must be unique.

Map new characters into the Unicode private use range: e000 to f4ff. (The Unicode private use range is e000 to f8ff, but Oracle Corporation reserves f500 to f8ff for its use.)

7. Save the new character set definition by choosing File > Save As, choosing the location in which to save the file, and clicking Save.

You can also create a new character set by entering data for each set of characteristics:

• Type specification
• Character data mapping
• Lowercase to uppercase mapping
• Uppercase to lowercase mapping
• Character classification
• Replacement characters
• Display width
• Multibyte equivalents
• Extended character classification
• Shape table
• Ligature table