"Jonathan Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> > This site seems to confirm it tho:
> >
> > <http://www.saqqara.demon.co.uk/datefmt.htm>
> >
>
> Hmmm, 11 reasons to use this format:
>
> 5 of these reasons are "Because it makes it easier for me to write software
> if you do" which don't carry much weight IMNSHO
>
> However, in the spirit of standardisation, I'd like to suggest:
>
> 1. Please can we stop this silly 'firstname lastname' format. The most
> significant string (family name) should come first, with a standard
> delimiter (comma) before the first name (which should come last). This is
> what bibliographies and libraries have used for years, so should everyone
> else. Please use:
> LASTNAME, [FIRSTNAME|FIRST INITIAL]
>
> 2. The address format is a real mess, being least significant string first,
> and no clear guide as to whether comma or newline or both are the acceptable
> delimiters. Also, the location of the postcode string is arbitrary, and in
> any case the postcode repeats information and is often redundant. However,
> since postcodes can be easily fed into computer programs, and are language
> independant, they should replace all that other stuff.
> Please use:
> ISO planet code, ISO country code, POSTCODE, Building Number[, apartment
> number][, business name]
>
> Note also that country code is compulsory. In the past post offices assumed
> that addresses without a country code were local and assumed the 'current'
> country as the one required for delivery. This sort of assumption landed us
> in the Y2K mess where people foolishly assumed that a year was in the
> 'current' century, for some silly reason.
Can I commend ISO 11180 to you?
--
Piers
