Method for handling different code pages in text

Abstract

A method and word processing system for handling text pasted into a document that uses a foreign character set or code page. The code page used by text pasted into a document is preserved when that is displayed and edited. The word processing system keeps track of the appropriate code page for each run of text in the document using a piece table and a data block for the file(s) in which each piece of text is stored. Each document that is created has a piece table that includes an array of character positions and a corresponding array of data records. Each piece referenced in the array of character positions includes adjacent characters of text that are stored in a common file. When a file is opened to paste text into the document, the word processing system creates a file control block for that file, which includes a default code page identifier. The array of data records for each piece includes a pointer to the file control block. For any run of text that uses a code page different than the default for the file, an exception block is created. By referencing the default code page and any exception block, the word processing system determines the appropriate code page to be applied when text is displayed and edited. Foreign code page characters are translated into the native code page characters in the display buffer, but references to the foreign code pages are preserved when the document is stored, so that the characters encoded using the foreign code page are not lost or changed in the document.