Finally solved a long-standing problem getting Icelandic characters to work properly in files being downloaded onto Windows machines for use as SPSS syntax. Turns out the solution is to explicitly set the download charset to UTF-8, and to prepend an unnecessary BOM (yuk) to the beginning of the file as so (context: Django view):

import codecs

def export_spss(request):
    response = HttpResponse(export_spss(), status=200, mimetype="application/x-spss; charset=utf-8")
    response['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment; filename=syntax.sps'
    response.content = codecs.BOM_UTF8 + response.content
    return response

Why is a BOM, which should be completely unnecessary in a UTF-8 file (it has no variable byte order after all) apparently required by some Windows software in order to tell it that the file is UTF-8 encoded, despite Unicode mode being on? Sigh.

“Why does Windows think my keyboard is a toaster?”, or “the case for generic code samples: expect users to copy, paste and ship”

Prepping an old machine for demoing crypto tech at the cryptoparty tonight, windows being a complete pain. I have a feeling I’m going to be spending most of the evening apologising for other people’s bad UI decisions.

When using #django to send content-disposition: attachment responses, you MUST explicitly set the response encoding (charset) otherwise windows will assume the response is in whatever-weird-encoding-windows-uses, rather than UTF-8 (you are using UTF-8, aren’t you?).

CSV example code:

response = HttpResponse(utf_8_encoded_csv_text, status=200, mimetype="text/csv; charset=utf-8")
response['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment; filename=data.csv'

It seems that some weird old applications like SPSS need a BOM in there as well, even though UTF-8 doesn’t have a BOM. Add that like this

response.content = '\xef\xbb\xbf' + response.content

before sending the response

return response

Testing websites on old windows mobile devices is an… experience.

Connecting to WiFi gave me the option of connecting to “The Internet” or “Work” (?).

On form submit using the software keyboard, I get a dialog warning me about the certificate, with the options “yes” and “no” but no question. Turns out the software keyboard was hiding “Do you want to proceed?”

Now I’m finally in the site, there’s no support for label, so those nice big touch targets I made are mostly useless. Also, there’s no text wrapping.