3. Character Representation and Code Identification

The standard 7-bit character representation, with b7 the high-order bit and b1 the low-order bit, is shown below:

EXAMPLE: The bit representation for the character "K," positioned in column 4, row 11, is

   b7 b6 b5 b4 b3 b2 b1
   1  0  0  1  0  1  1

The code table position for the character "K" may also be represented by the notation "column 4, row 11" or alternatively as "4/11." The decimal equivalent of the binary number formed by bits b7, b6, and b5, collectively, forms the column number, and the decimal equivalent of the binary number formed by bits b4, b3, b2, and b1, collectively, forms the row number.

The standard code may be identified by the use of the notation ASCII or USASCII.

The notation ASCII (pronounced as'-key) or USASCII (pronounced you-sas'-key) should ordinarily be taken to mean the code prescribed by the latest issue of the standard. To explicitly designate a particular (perhaps prior) issue, the last two digits of the year of issue may be appended, as, "ASCII 63" or "USASCII 63".