You remember from STEP 6 how important is the concept of "unit" to divide a character into blocks to which codes are assigned. A “unit” can be made of one Sign only or of a group of Signs linked to each other by crossing or joining strokes while separated from the other parts of the character by an interval, we said in STEP 6.  This was the case of all the examples so far presented as illustrations or in the exercises: these examples show "really" "united" units!

However, in more complex characters, in order to reduce the "unit" number to a maximum of three, signs or blocks of signs are, in certain cases, deemed to be integrated and to form one unit, even though some of its forming strokes are  not linked and some intervals separate them. They are then considered to be "virtually integrated".

The recourse to this "virtual integration-trick" is limited to well defined configurations of character patterns that we are now going to present. The purpose is to keep the number of units to a maximum of three, even for very complex characters.

The configurations apply differently to "Single Unit" or "Multi-Unit": 

I. Case of Single unit characters:

Even if single unit characters contain intervals in their midst, they are still considered a “virtually integrated” and form one single unit as long as they present “an  overall  aspect of unity ”.

Examples:

DOO	MGRR	MLBY	YCBR	HAYF	UKHU	IJE

All the above characters, even though they contain intervals, they look like a "group", a single unit, and therefore they are assimilated to a one unit character for the application of the code selection as ordinary "united" single units: maximum 4 codes: for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & last sign.

Action: You should now download a zipped PDF file for Exercises on single unit characters (some with really integrated units and some with "virtually integrated ones"). This will start you getting familiarized with this concept of "virtually united" units.

II. Case of multi-unit characters: there are 3 different configurations:

1) First configuration: signs or group of signs vertically aligned:

When signs or block of signs  are vertically aligned and occupy the position of first unit (or of second unit in a three unit characters), they "virtually"  integrate to make a unit, even though they are separated by intervals- as long as there are other signs on their right side.

　

(see link for specific exercises just below).

2) Second configuration: signs or group of signs horizontally aligned:

When signs or block of signs are horizontally aligned and occupy the position of first unit (or of second unit in a three unit character), they "virtually" integrate to make a unit, even though they are separated by intervals, as long as there are other signs under them.

Two Unit character	Three Unit character	Three Unit character
DU P	QJ SM P	SJ VI T
2 horizontally aligned signs virtually integrate to form the First Unit.	2 horizontally aligned blocks of signs virtually integrate to  form the First Unit.	2 horizontally aligned block of signs virtually integrate to form the First Unit Second Unit.

(see link for specific exercises just below).

3) Third configuration: "Group positioned" signs:

When signs or block of signs are located in a manner that gives them  "group appearance" and occupy the position of first unit (or of second unit of a three unit character), they integrate to make a unit, even though they are separated by intervals, as long as there are other signs either on their right side, or under them.

Two Unit character	Three Unit character	Three Unit character
IM P	SR N O	P IR P
Grouped signs on top virtually integrate to form the First Unit	Grouped signs on the left side virtually integrate to form the First Unit	Grouped signs virtually integrate to form the Second Unit

You should download files for Exercises on characters containing "virtual units" as described in each of the configurations above presented. EXERCISES (several pdf. files zip). I cannot recommend enough to do these exercises. Practicing is the best way to learn!

Remember : the rules of sign selection apply in the same way to "really united units" and "virtually united units".

　

Step 7: Summary:  The units, whether "real blocks of interlinked strokes" or  "virtually regrouped strokes" are, in the great majority of cases, pretty obvious to make out. Then, it is easy to apply to them the rules determining the number and position of the signs to be selected to form the code, while leaving aside those to be skipped.

Action: We will advise to divide this Step 7 in two smaller steps: (a) first learn and practice sign selection with characters made of the simple virtual units; (b) then  practice with the exercises for multi unit characters containing "virtual" units.

 Next Step 8:

We will now present the 4 exceptions to the sign selection rules.