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This article describes Apple Computer's support of the euro glyph, including answers to the following questions:
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1. How do I type the euro symbol?
2. What character does it replace in the character set?
3. Which fonts have the euro glyph?
4. How do I print the euro glyph?
5. How is it encoded?
6. Where can I find more detailed, in-depth information?
DISCUSSION
- Apple Chancery
- Capitals
- Charcoal
- Chicago
- Courier
- Gadget
- Geneva
- Helvetica
- Hoefler Text
- Monaco
- New York
- Palatino
- Sand
- Skia
- Symbol
- Techno
- Textile
- Times
Figure 1 The euro symbol (glyph)
On 1 January 1999 eleven member nations of the European Union replaced their national currencies with a single European currency called the "euro." As the official currency of these nations, the euro is used for most non-cash financial transactions. (Bills and coins denominated in national currencies will continue to circulate as non-decimal divisions of the euro until new bills and coins are introduced in 2001).
The European Commission, the EU's primary executive body, has created a symbol for the new currency. It is used to designate the euro in the same way as dollar, pound, and yen symbols are used. Because the euro symbol (or glyph) is not a part of the character sets used by computers and printers around the world, equipment manufacturers must revise or update their products to accommodate the new symbol's use.
Apple introduced support for the euro glyph in Mac OS 8.5. This, and future versions of the OS, including localizations for nations that are not part of the euro zone, will support the euro glyph as well as any existing currency characters.
Question 1: How do I type the euro symbol?
Answer: Use the following key combinations to print the euro symbol:
Keyboard Type:
US: Type Option-Shift-2 on your keyboard. (Hold down both the Option key and the Shift key. While holding them down, type the 2).
British: Type Option-Shift-2 on your keyboard. (Hold down both the Option key and the Shift key. While holding them down, type the 2).
French: Type Option-Shift-R on your keyboard. (Hold down both the Option key and the Shift key. While holding them down, type the R).
German: Type Option-Shift-D on your keyboard. (Hold down both the Option key and the Shift key. While holding them down, type the D).
Italian: Type Option-I on your keyboard. (Hold down the Option key, type the I).
Question 2: What character does it replace in the character set?
Answer: The international currency symbol. (See Figure 2 below.)
Figure 2: The international currency symbol.
Question 3: Which fonts have the euro glyph?
Answer: Under Mac OS 8.5:
Question 4: How do I print the euro glyph?
Answer: When an application prints using the euro glyph in a given font, LaserWriter 8.6 switches to the Symbol font and prints the glyph in that font. PostScript Level 3 printers have the euro glyph in the Symbol font, and therefore present no special problems.
Printers having interpreters prior to Level 3 do not contain the euro glyph and to compensate, LaserWriter 8.6 downloads a euro glyph
character and maps it into the resident Symbol font.
In either case, LaserWriter driver 8.6 (part of Mac OS 8.5) is required to print the euro glyph.
Question 5: How is it encoded?
Answer: The euro character is encoded in the Unicode Standard as U+20AC EURO SIGN, MacRoman Encoding decimal 219, hex 0xDB. For Symbol, the glyph has been added at Option-t (MacRoman Encoding decimal 160, hex 0xA0, previously unused).
Question 6: Where can I find more detailed, in-depth information?
Answer: For detailed and in-depth information about Apple's support for the euro, see Tech Notes 1140 and 1143. The following Knowledge Base article can help you find the Tech Notes mentioned here:
Article 24493: " Apple Tech Notes: What They Are, Where To Find Them "
For more information about the euro, consult the European Union's web site at: http://europa.eu.int/euro/ .