Handle data in globalized applications

There are ways in which the operating system enables you to handle data in a globalized environment. These topics describe Unicode and Unicode data, the Chinese standard GB18030, how to use CCSIDs to integrate multiple language environments consistently, and how to use bidirectional data, DBCS data, and locales.

One of the most critical challenges you might encounter as you work with globalized servers and applications is the effective interaction with data. The operating system provides a wide range of options that you can use to ensure that data is viewed and processed seamlessly across national languages.

• Work with Unicode
  Unicode is a standard that precisely defines a character set as well as a small number of encodings for it. It enables you to handle text in any language efficiently. It allows a single application to work for a global audience.
• GB18030: The Chinese standard
  GB 18030-2000 is a Chinese standard that specifies an extended code page for use in the Chinese market.
• Work with CCSIDs
  Using the server implementation of CDRA, you can achieve consistent representation, processing, and interchange of coded characters (data) on i5/OS™ and across IBM^® systems. The primary implementation of CDRA on i5/OS™ is through coded character set identifier (CCSID) support.
• Work with bidirectional data
  Arabic and Hebrew languages use an alphabet written and read from right to left. Numerics and Latin text imbedded in the right-to-left text are written and read from left to right; therefore, these languages are called bidirectional languages.
• Work with DBCS data
  A DBCS file is a file that contains double-byte data or is used to process double-byte data. Other files are called alphanumeric files. You can view DBCS files on display, printer, tape, diskette, and ICF devices.
• Work with locales
  Locales are used primarily in ILE-based application programs. Additionally, the Retrieve Locale Information (OPM, QLGRTVLC; ILE, QlgRetrieveLocaleInformation) API retrieves one or all categories of a locale.