Data display for word processor system - has display control to use standard symbols and characters or characters formed by combining standard elements

A visual display system for word processing includes a facility for formation of additional characters and symbols by combining standard symbols, e.g. diameter symbols, unequal symbols, accent symbols for French characters. The system utilises a general data bus (1) that has a RAM with regions for storage of standard (2) and variable (3) data. A programme memory (6) and a direct memory access circuit (7) are tied to the bus along with the microprocessor control unit (5). Data from the text memory is transferred over a data time (8) to a character generator (9), with the output amplified (10) and used to drive the visual display (12). A display screen control unit (14) provides for either direct character display or mixing of symbols.