Attached is the updated bidirectional proposal. The main changes are: 1. Removal of bidi properties associated with syntax (initiator, terminator, separator). Bidirectional strings can be specified for initiator, etc but these are not transformed when the string is converted to the instance code page. That is, order of the characters in the initiator must match the order expected in the instance data. 2. Removed bidi properties from the infoset. Stings in the infoset are in unicode which requires logical LTR. On parsing characters are converted to unicode code points without transformation. 3. Kept textBiDiTextShape to cover the case when parsing from a code page that does not have separate code points for each shape and unparsing to a codepage that does have separate code points. Alan Powell MP 211, IBM UK Labs, Hursley, Winchester, SO21 2JN, England Notes Id: Alan Powell/UK/IBM email: alan_powell@uk.ibm.com Tel: +44 (0)1962 815073 Fax: +44 (0)1962 816898 Unless stated otherwise above: IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with number 741598. Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU