Numbering convention?

[riscbroker]

I can't find an approprate spot so I'll have to post this here.

What is the convention used to differentiate between the number 5 and the letter S when writing ie a serial number that consists of alpha and numeric characters?

I believe a strikethrough is used on the number 0 to differentiate from the letter O.

 

[Wyzak]

The one has a round top and the other a square top? Isn't that sufficient?

 

[MickeyD]

underline the letters

 

[riscbroker]

The one has a round top and the other a square top? Isn't that sufficient?

Easy enough to see when the characters are typed. Very difficult in a handwritten alphanumeric string when you don't have both the S and the 5 for comparison purposes.

 

[Wyzak]

Easy enough to see when the characters are typed. Very difficult in a handwritten alphanumeric string when you don't have both the S and the 5 for comparison purposes.

Bad handwriting is inexcusable imo when writing down sensitive strings.

 

[Skywalker42]

And there is also

1 - l
2 - Z

 

[spiderz]

Use roman numerals
i
ii
iii
iiiv
v
vi
x

 

[bubbatentoe]

When using printed serial numbers almost everyone today uses bar codes.
PM me if you want, I have a number of bar code fonts you can use.

 

[biometrics]

For serial numbers you generate use all the numbers but drop the letters like I, O, S etc.

 

[graviti]

As bio mentions, the common workaround with serial numbers is to not use the alphabet letters which clash with numbers, such as I, l, s, z, o

Sent from my new robot. Viva the Droid.

 

[K T]

At VZAP we used a stroke on each end of the S like this

 

[riscbroker]

At VZAP we used a stroke on each end of the S like this

That's the one I was looking for. I just wasn't sure whether you applied the 'strokes' to the S or the 5.

What's VZAP anyway?

 

[K T]

Van Zyl & Pritchard, a programming school

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=vzap

 

[Lounger]

And there is also

1 - l
2 - Z

The Z has a strike-through as has the 7.

 

[jdkh]

There is no convention. Like others said just don't use anything that can be confusing. If there is doubt just use a clear font. Some have a slash through the 0 and the O is usually a bit fatter. If there's a problem with the 5 and S then either get glasses, a better font, or better handwriting skills, whichever applies.

 

[Jabberwocky]

5eriously... if your`e 5 as an S in a 53nt3n53 y0u mu5t b3 an 1d107.

 

[jdkh]

... or dylsexic