7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of translating includes the step of mapping characters in the text using a code page that is different than the native code page to a display buffer, said step of mapping comprising the step of applying a best possible match of characters using the native code page, to the characters using the code page that is different.
1. A method for handling text that uses a code page different than a native code page, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a piece table that includes an array of character positions, and an array of data records, said array of character positions being divided into a plurality of pieces, each data record corresponding to a piece of the array of character positions, each piece referencing adjacent characters of the text that have common format properties; (b) based upon data in the array of data records, identifying files in which the text referenced by the plurality of pieces is stored; (c) writing data blocks to each file, said data blocks recording a default code page for the text stored in each file; (d) if any text stored in a file uses a code page different than the default code page recorded for said file, writing exception data to the data block that identify an exception code page for said text; and (e) if the code page for any text to be displayed differs from the native code page, displaying said text by translating between the code page used by the text and the native code page, the code page for the text to be displayed remaining unchanged in the file in which said text is stored, so that any characters in the text that do not use the native code page are retained in said file.