Re: Translation issues with strftime

[Keld Jørn Simonsen <keld dkuug dk>]

On Sat, Dec 06, 2003 at 12:06:30PM +0100, Ole Laursen wrote:
> Danilo Segan <danilo@gnome.org> writes:
> 
> > Ole Laursen <olau@hardworking.dk> writes:
> >>
> >> Unfortunately, %e is a bad solution. I don't need an extra space:
> >>
> >>   tir 02. dec
> >>   tir  2. dec
> >>
> >> I just want "tir 2. dec".
> >
> > I think that provided formats use space padding because of alignment:
> > dates and times have previously been used in table listings (like 'ls
> > -l') where it is very important that all the dates align the same.
> 
> Yeah, that is clearly the case. The facilities in strftime are
> inadequate to deal with the situation today. We've known that for some
> time. I've complained about it to Keld Simonsen who is part of the ISO
> group responsible for the standard, but I don't know whether things
> will ever change.

Well, a revision can be undertaken. I do agree with the need for
a day number without a leading space. How should it be done?
Well, you can actually do it to day with

alt_digits "0;1;2;3;4;5;6;7;8;9;10;11;12;13;14;15;16;17;18;19;20;21;22;23;24;25;26;27;28;29;30;31"

And then using the %Od format specifier.

> Another related problem is that it is not possible to get the date
> capitalised in a specific way. I've heard of a problem with KMail (I
> think) that the standard email introduction
> 
>   Monday, November 13, Zorglub wrote:
> 
> is impossible to get right because the Danish dates spell the weekday
> uncapitalised:
> 
>   mandag, 13. november skrev Zorglub:

I would rather like:

   mandag den 13. november skrev Zorglub:

But both formats should be possible.
> 
> There's no way to tell strftime that the weekday should be
> capitalised.

That should also be possible, to say "use capitalization on the first
letter". Any suggestions on how it could be done?
This should apply to both month names and weekday names, and both
abbreviated and long forms. So maybe a general "make it uppercase"
flag could be used ("+" maybe?).

Best regards
keld