Re: Braille scores

[Aaron Hill]

On 2018-10-17 11:35 am, Jacques Menu wrote:
> Last questions : in a programming language a C or Python, what should
> one write as character strings to obtain the code for example Example
> 1.8.1-1, and what font or tool should one use to get it displayed as
> shown in the PDF doc?

Braille can be easily represented as a 6-bit or 8-bit value, depending 
on whether you need the fourth row.  Unicode supports Braille and has 
allocated code points 2800-28FF for this purpose.  This follows the 
scheme where each dot corresponds to a particular bit in the byte, where 
dot "1" (upper-left) is the least significant, and dot "8" (lower-right) 
the most significant.  This means the basic three-row Braille are mapped 
to 2800-283F.

Ideally, a font will support the Unicode standard so the code points 
will render appropriately, but some fonts may have been created before 
the code points were allocated.  In these cases, there can be some 
variation in the mapping scheme.  Braille symbols may be mapped to 
numerals and digits in a natural fashion rather than in the Unicode 
binary scheme.  This may be easier for end-users, but it presents a 
challenge for computers.  You are best off using a look-up table in that 
case.

Most fonts that I have found online only show a visual indicator for the 
raised dots.  However, you can find a few fonts that include outlines as 
well.  But Braille should be easy enough to render manually without 
needing a font.  Just make sure to do the research on the correct sizing 
and spacing.

-- Aaron Hill