Hi Wirt The current convention in Europe seems to be to just use the three character Currency Codes for any international communication, or cross border invoicing etc. And thus dropping pound signs and dollar signs completely. You can find the most common list at http://publications.eu.int/code/en/en-5000700.htm or a full list at (watch the wrap) http://www.bsi-global.com/Portfolio+of+Products+and+Services/Books+Guides /Consumer/th42090.xalter Using three character codes is great for formatting, and you don't have to worry about localised character sets. If you actually prefix the amount with a currency code there is an intervening space character. The Currency Code should always prefix the amount. CR & DR are normally trailing ie. EUR nnnnnn.nn CR with a space between the last numeral and CR Punctuation, as there were many conventions of where commas were used to break up amounts into millions and thousands, the current standard is to drop all punctuation apart from the decimal point and to insert spaces. Although if you want to get messy there is an EU agreement to use the comma as a decimal point. parentheses for negative amounts go around the numbers not around the Currency Code, its the amount that's negative not the currency. Although these days :-) Signs, now you've got me, I cant find a trace of any official position leading or trailing, both seem acceptable, although leading seems to be the most common use. If it is leading it seems to be used justified up to the amount, if trailing always seems to have a space before it. So a negative 2 million US Dollars could be USD -2 000 000.00 USD 2 000 000.00 - USD (2 000 000.00) USD 2 000 000.00 DR Alan In article <[log in to unmask]>, Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]> writes >Tracy writes: > >> here's a start, but no euros... >> http://www.intuitive.com/globalsoftware/gs-chap4.html > >Yes, it's a start. As the author of the page says, "With differences in >language, notational conventions, word ordering, color cues, and even >variation in >icons, the amount of knowledge required is substantial." > >But I still am shy of what I need. > >Wirt Atmar > >* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * >* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html * > -- Alan Yeo [log in to unmask] Just because you're paranoid Phone +44 1684 291710 it doesn't mean someone isn't!. Fax +44 1684 291712 * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, * * etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *