[Info-vax] 8-bit characters

[Phillip Helbig undress to reply]

Having to write some Icelanding words in a DECterm (as one does), I 
notice that COMPOSE-T-H and COMPOSE-t-h create upper and lower case 
thorn (Þ þ if those characters get through).  If entered by c
both create the character, unless it is at the beginning of a line, in 
which case one sees <XDE> or <XFE> (one character, displayed as 
several).  ASCII values are 222 and 254.  Refreshing the screen also 
causes the mnenonics to appear.  Also, they are not displayed via
HELP FORTRAN CHAR DEC. 

Any deeper reason or just flaky instrumentation?

I also notice that × (COMPOSE-x-x) works fine in a DECterm but not on a 
real VT220 (where most or all other composed characters work).  Again, 
deeper meaning or just flaky?