DIN 2137

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Logo of the German Institute for Standardization DIN 2137
Area Data processing , office technology
title Keyboards for data and text entry
Latest edition December 2018
ISO -

The DIN standard DIN 2137 of the German Institute for Standardization defines German keyboard layouts . The current version (as of September 2019) was published in December 2018.

Current version

The standard consists of the following parts:

  • Part 1, title: "German keyboard layout " (DIN 2137-1: 2018-12)
  • Part 2, title: "Additional requirements" (DIN 2137-2: 2018-12)

The standard refers to the international series of standards ISO / IEC 9995 “Information technology - Keyboard layouts for text and office systems” and only standardizes the details that are specific to the German keyboard layout (in Part 1) or for which the standardization is based on ISO -Level is still outstanding or is being sought). It differs in a few details from the currently (as of September 2019) valid version of the international series of standards mentioned; this is exactly done in each case, and the aim is to expand specifications in this series of standards so that the German standard will be fully compatible with a future version of this series of standards.

The current version defines the following three keyboard layouts:

  • Keyboard assignment T1: adopted unchanged from older versions of the standard published since 1995. The number of German computer keyboards available when the current version of the standard was published largely corresponds to this assignment in its labeling.
German keyboard layout T1 according to DIN 2137-01--2018-12.png
German keyboard layout E1 according to DIN 2137-01-2018-12.png
  • Keyboard layout E2: Variant of the assignment E1 for keyboards with number of keys and key arrangement like the keyboards currently used in the USA and other countries (without the "<" key at the bottom left, and with the option of a different arrangement of the "#" key due to a different shape the enter key , which can then contradict the GS approval mark).
On the one hand, this enables users of a hardware “US keyboard” to use a standard-compliant German keyboard layout (e.g. in Internet cafés ). On the other hand, it allows manufacturers of special keyboards in small series (e.g. for users with physical disabilities ) to produce a standard-compliant variant without deviating hardware key configuration.
The keyboard layout E2 places the characters “<”, “>” and “|” in other positions and dispenses with the direct input option of the characters “²”, “³”, “≤”, “≥” and “±”, the (just like with keyboard assignment E1) can be entered with dead key combinations. The vertical line “|” on the keyboard layout E1 in the Alt-Gr position of the “<” key displaces the multiplication symbol “×” to the E1 position of the “±” character.
German keyboard layout E2 according to DIN 2137-01--2018-12.png

history

The first edition of DIN 2137 was published in 1976.

The standard replaced by the new version in 2012 was entitled "Office and Data Technology - Keyboards" and consisted of the following parts:

  • Part 1: German keyboard for typewriters (November 1995 edition)
  • Part 2: German keyboard for data and word processing; Key arrangement and assignment with characters (September 2003 edition)
  • Part 3: Alphanumeric keyboards, international keyboards for file input assignment with characters (withdrawn)
  • Part 6: German keyboard for data and word processing as well as for typewriters; Key arrangement and assignment of functions (edition September 2003 with correction December 2003)
  • Part 10: German keyboard for data and word processing as well as for typewriters; Arrangement of key positions and dimensions (September 2003 edition)
  • Part 11: German keyboard for data and word processing as well as for typewriters; Principles for the assignment of keys and their labeling (September 2003 edition)
  • Part 12: German keyboard for data and word processing; Key arrangement and assignment for portable computers (March 2004 edition)

New version 2012

In 2010/2011 the standard was completely revised and has since been called “Keyboards for data and text input” . Since then it has comprised the following parts, which together replace all parts of the previous versions:

  • Part 1, title: "German keyboard layout " (DIN 2137-1: 2012-06)
  • Part 2, title: "Additional requirements" (DIN 2137-2: 2012-06)

For the first time, this version no longer differentiated between typewriters and data processing devices.

The aim of the new version was to offer a keyboard layout with the following properties:

  • All proper names can be entered correctly (i.e. with all special letters and diacritical marks) regardless of the origin of the name bearer (as long as Latin script is used).
  • All minority languages spoken in Germany and Austria (e.g. Sorbian ) as well as all foreign languages ​​taught here can be entered correctly.
  • “Write as printed”: All characters used in printing in normal text can also be entered. The limitations and compromises in typeface that stem from the era of the mechanical typewriter have been overcome.
  • The assignment is upwardly compatible with the standard keyboard currently in use at the time.
  • The assignment requires as few new operating concepts as possible.
  • The occupancy can be easily communicated (especially in class).

The 2012 version defines three keyboard layouts that build on each other (whereby layout T2 has been newly standardized in accordance with the requirements listed above):

  • T1 (keyboard assignment 1): This corresponds to the German keyboard for data and word processing in the previous version DIN 2137-2: 2003. The inventory of German computer keyboards available when the standard version was published (and also the current (as of September 2019) inventory) largely corresponds to this allocation.
  • T2 (keyboard layout 2, referred to as European keyboard in press releases and commercial product descriptions ): Extension with all letters and diacritical marks that are used worldwide in primary official languages as well as in German and Austrian minority languages, provided they use Latin script. It also allows you to enter all punctuation marks that are regularly used in Europe and some special characters. It also took into account the large for the first time .
There was only one manufacturer who had been offering a T2 keyboard on the market since 2012. This was removed from the product range on the manufacturer's website after the introduction of the new version of the standard in 2018, with residual stocks still being offered by various dealers (as of August 2019).
German-Keyboard-Layout-T2-Version2-large.png
  • T3(Keyboard assignment 3, "Expert keyboard"): This also contains all characters listed in the international standard ISO / IEC 9995-3 : 2010. It also enables the writing of numerous minority languages ​​(e.g. Sami ) and transliterations for Russian , Hebrew , Arabic and Sanskrit , but it is less clear compared to assignment T2. Common Linux distributions contain drivers for the T3 layout . So far (as of August 2019) no keyboards with T3 layout lettering have been produced.
German-Keyboard-Layout-T3-Version1-large.png

New version 2018

DIN 2137 was last published in December 2018, in two parts corresponding to the previous version from 2012:

  • DIN 2137-1: 2018-12 Keyboards for data and text input - Part 1: German keyboard layout; Text in German and English;
  • DIN 2137-2: 2018-12 Keyboards for data and text input - Part 2: Additional requirements; Text in German and English.

The aim of the new version was to offer a keyboard layout with the following additional properties in addition to the properties already mentioned for the new version:

  • Compared to the commonly used basic keyboard assignment T1, only an "extended" keyboard assignment (E1) is to be defined as the successor to assignment T2, with a variant (E2) only for different hardware. A further assignment like the assignment T3 should no longer exist, as experience has shown that such a keyboard is not produced anyway.
  • The characters that can be entered using the group switchover (now “extra selection button”) should be arranged intuitively, with no compatibility with the ISO / IEC 9995-3 standard, which is more oriented towards Canadian requirements. On the one hand, this is intended to make teaching easier and, on the other hand, to increase acceptance compared to the standard assignment T2 in the previous version.
  • The "mediopoint" of the easy language ( center point ) should be arranged in a preferred place ( Alt Gr+ Punkt).
  • All characters mentioned in the main text of the version of DIN 5008 planned at the time (and now published in 2020) should be placed in preferred places that can be easily communicated in class and easily entered. (This specifically results in the arrangement of the non-breaking narrow space on Alt Gr+ so Cthat it can be visibly identified and entered in the same way as the non-breaking space on Alt Gr+ Leerzeichen.)
  • Common transliterations for widespread writing systems should be supported (similar to assignment T3 of the previous version) so that personal names from the relevant cultural groups can also be clearly written (as required in scientific and religious contexts and also in Wikipedia).
  • All minority languages ​​(e.g. Sami ) spoken in Europe (not only in Germany and Austria ) can be entered correctly. Support for North American minority languages ​​(as before with assignment T3) is not required.
  • The assignment must be implemented on the software side on common operating systems, especially Microsoft Windows , without special tricks and deviations.

The main changes compared to the previous version from 2012 are:

  • The keyboard layout T2 has been revised in accordance with the requirements mentioned. Since the result is not compatible with the old T2 assignment (among other things, Alt-Gr key assignments were changed), the assignment was given the new name "E1".
  • In addition, a variant E2 that is compatible with the hardware key arrangement common in the USA and other countries has been defined.
  • The keyboard assignment T3 is omitted.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Information page on DIN 2137-1: 2018-12, introductory article. Beuth Verlag , December 2018, accessed on September 13, 2019 : “ This standard follows the current orientation of the international keyboard standard. The basic properties of the keyboards are specified in the ISO / IEC 9995 series of standards . The national peculiarities should as far as possible be limited to aspects that are determined by the language of the country and should be specified in national standards. "
  2. ↑ DIN 2937-01: 2018: 12 Section 5 "Alphanumeric range", Note 3 "... Applications are, for example, special keyboards manufactured in small series for people with restricted mobility, for which the German version only has to differ in the key labeling, but not in the key arrangement "
  3. ^ A b Karl Pentzlin: German PC keyboard extended for international correspondence . In: DIN-Mitteilungen 2/2011, p. 31 ff.
  4. ↑ German computer scientist plans new characters for the keyboard . T-Online; Retrieved September 17, 2011
  5. ↑ T2: New characters for the PC keyboard . Computer picture ; Retrieved September 17, 2011
  6. ↑ Press release - Cherry Stream XT T2. (PDF) ZF Electronics , September 19, 2012, accessed on September 6, 2019 .
  7. ^ Karl Pentzlin: Proposal to expand the German standard PC keyboard . (PDF; 1.2 MB), October 23, 2010; Retrieved September 18, 2011
  8. ↑ DIN 2137-T2 layout tried out: The keyboard with the large ß. Retrieved June 2, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Install Ubuntu Server as Hyper-V guest system and set it up optimally »DecaTec . In: DecaTec . August 26, 2015 ( decatec.de [accessed September 17, 2018]).
  10. ↑ Install Ubuntu (Mate) using "Something else" method. Retrieved September 17, 2018 .
  11. ↑ Compile the Raspberry Pi Kernel. Retrieved September 17, 2018 .
  12. ↑ DIN 2137-2: 2018-12, Appendix D "Explanations for the keyboard layout E1"
  13. ^ Karl Pentzlin: Information about the Revision of ISO / IEC 9995-3. October 23, 2010, accessed September 13, 2019 .