Table digits

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Table digits (top) as opposed to proportionally set digits (bottom)

Table numbers are characterized by a uniform thickness  - usually a half-square  - (or the possibility of designing them with the same thickness ) and uniform front and rear width ( meat ). They are therefore equivalent ( equidistant ) numeric representations. This makes them more suitable for tables in which numbers should be right-aligned below one another. The number  1 is particularly problematic here , as it takes up significantly less space, but also uses the same width as the remaining numbers. The English name is Tabular Figures .

Tabular numbers can be both old style and uppercase numbers , although the latter is much more common today.

Half-fourth digits

Half-square digits have a spatial extension of half a square in width (if the font size is 10 pt, the digit has a thickness of 5 pt). Due to the fixed width of each character ( non-proportional font ) and thus better clarity, they are mainly used for setting columns of numbers or tables with rows of numbers.

Implementation in computer systems

typewriter

The easiest and most robust way is to choose a font of the same thickness; this is regularly a typewriter font . Can reach this by selecting an appropriate font, such as Courier New , or in HTML by

  • <span style="font-family:monospace">0123456789</span> or simply
  • <tt>0123456789</tt>.

The digits have simple ASCII coding (U + 0030 – U + 0039).

Unicode

The property "table number" is referred to in Unicode with the expression MATHEMATICAL MONOSPACE DIGIT. In the Unicode block mathematical alphanumeric symbols are defined at the positions 1D7F6- 1D7FFthe digits 0–9.

If you want to copy and paste this data into a calculation formula (for example for a spreadsheet ), it usually cannot be interpreted - ASCII codes are expected.

In the unicode block half-width and full-width forms there is another variety. Here, among other things, western numerals are offered in half and full width - however, this is used to embed Asian characters and takes their style and width. Fonts with these encodings are not to be expected on European computers; their use is not to be expected.

Fonts

According to the English tabular figures , suitable fonts are usually identified by the abbreviation TF, corresponding OpenType fonts contain the various digit forms. It is important to distinguish between fonts that the ASCII positions 30- 39contain correspondingly shaped figures, and those in which they are at the points 1D7F6- 1D7FFare located, while at 30- 39the usual proportional figures are.

compatibility

Use on your own system is unproblematic. However, if a document is to be displayed somewhere else, it must be assumed that fonts and encodings are not defined there, so that the numbers cannot be read.

  • The fonts are to be embedded in PDF documents.
  • The typographical table number is unsuitable for websites; the codes 1D7F6-1D7FF will regularly be illegible to the unknown reader. Typewriter font should be used here.

Digit-wide line

The figure dash , U + 2012, belongs in the context of the table numbers . In German-language typography, it is only permitted in the context of the same-headed number representation described here; in the Anglo-American area it is also used for the notation of telephone numbers.

There is also a wide digits space , U + 2007 ( figure space ) of the protected space belongs.

In this way, in the context of tables, the numbers can be arranged with the same thickness; However, full stop and comma are missing.

literature

Web links