Japanese language features not availble in non-English versions?

[elmimmo]

The webpage linked to below, by Microsoft, talks about how to activate Japanese language features for Office applications.

I have the Spanish version, but it did not install the utility "Microsoft Language Register", purportedly necessary to access said features. Is there any way I can acquire said utility? Does it only come with the English version? In which case, why?

I would think that English speaking persons are not particularly more prone to needing to use Japanese language features than, say, Spanish speaking or whatever other non-Japanese language they use.

<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.m...-US&usid=2f11c95e-ce81-47d2-9158-e38a11c70691>

 

[John McGhie]

That feature is available only in the Japanese and Multi-Lingual versions of
Office.

Unless you have a version that contains the Japanese input method editors,
there is nothing to switch on, so the tool is not included.

You need to buy a version that contains Japanese to be able to type
Japanese.

You can, of course, type Japanese characters one-by-one in any version of
Word. But translating Romaji or Kana into Kanzi requires the Japanese Input
Method Editor, and that you have to buy.

Hope this helps

The webpage linked to below, by Microsoft, talks about how to activate
Japanese language features for Office applications.

I have the Spanish version, but it did not install the utility "Microsoft
Language Register", purportedly necessary to access said features. Is there
any way I can acquire said utility? Does it only come with the English
version? In which case, why?

I would think that English speaking persons are not particularly more prone to
needing to use Japanese language features than, say, Spanish speaking or
whatever other non-Japanese language they use.

<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?target=7a715c3c-70ca-4508-9cbd-2f8b0f9
bd5631033&clr=99-4-0&ep=8&rtype=2&pos=1&quid=74f1e8de-d825-4503-86bc-1bf9fdade
26e&CTT=Search&MODE=ct&locale=en-US&usid=2f11c95e-ce81-47d2-9158-e38a11c70691>

--
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John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[elmimmo]

Dear Mr. John McGhie,

Let me start off by saying I appreciate the intent.

By your answer I understand that I cannot enable that functionally in my version of Office.

However, let me just point out that you have it wrong when you state

You need to buy a version that contains Japanese to be able to type Japanese […]
translating Romaji or Kana into Kanzi requires the Japanese Input Method Editor

For a start, please note that the "Microsoft Language Register" commented in the article, refers to an *English* version of Microsoft Office. Japanese versions of Microsoft Office already have the functionality I am seeking enabled, without need to use such. So let me state again: it is used to enable Japanese language features in non-Japanese versions of the software.

Now, regarding input methods:

It is the operating system, not Microsoft Office, that provides input method to all applications. I type Japanese as part of my work on a daily basis in all sort of applications using "Kotoeri", the Japanese input method that comes with Mac OS X, as well as "Atok 2006" (&lt;http://www.atok.com&gt <http://www.atok.com>)> a third party Japanese input method (sold separately). Both are, to my knowledge the most widely used Japanese input methods for Mac OS X by my Japanese colleagues as well.

As for as I know, too, Microsoft Office does not provide any additional input method, and it makes use of whatever the operating system is providing (the default one -Kotoeri-, or one installed by the user -such as Atok-).

The functionality described in said article has little to do with input methods (i.e. "being able to translate Kana into Kanji"), which like I said is provided by the very operating system to all applications (including Office). That I can do already, like any other Japanese user does.

What I am trying to do is to add phonetical guides to those Kanji, sometimes called furigana or rubi, and that is what the article talks about, and how to enable it on a non-Japanese version. It has little to do with input methods, I am afraid

May I add, though, that I appreciate the gesture even though the misinformation.

Note: I do know for a fact that the Windows version of Microsoft Word, which does not install any Japanese Input Method either (since Windows comes with an excellent one already that, just like in Mac OS X, provides its services to all applications, whether Office is installed or not), has phonetical guides/furigana/rubi features in the Spanish version too.

Best regards

 

[John McGhie]

Well, I am sorry if I misinformed you!

I am struggling a bit here, because I have a multilingual version of the
application that includes the Language Register, right where the web page
says it should be.

But *I* thought that the application was NOT included in the standard retail
distribution, in any language including English. You will understand, I am
sure, that I don't get a lot of information on the Japanese features of the
product coming my way

If I am wrong, then I am sorry.

Cheers

However, let me just point out that you have it wrong when you state

You need to buy a version that contains Japanese to be able to type Japanese
[…]
translating Romaji or Kana into Kanzi requires the Japanese Input Method
Editor

For a start, please note that the "Microsoft Language Register" commented in
the article, refers to an *English* version of Microsoft Office. Japanese
versions of Microsoft Office already have the functionality I am seeking
enabled, without need to use such. So let me state again: it is used to enable
Japanese language features in non-Japanese versions of the software.

Now, regarding input methods:

It is the operating system, not Microsoft Office, that provides input method
to all applications. I type Japanese as part of my work on a daily basis in
all sort of applications using "Kotoeri", the Japanese input method that comes
with Mac OS X, as well as "Atok 2006" (&lt;http://www.atok.com&gt
<http://www.atok.com>)> a third party Japanese input method (sold separately).
Both are, to my knowledge the most widely used Japanese input methods for Mac
OS X by my Japanese colleagues as well.

As for as I know, too, Microsoft Office does not provide any additional input
method, and it makes use of whatever the operating system is providing (the
default one -Kotoeri-, or one installed by the user -such as Atok-).

The functionality described in said article has little to do with input
methods (i.e. "being able to translate Kana into Kanji"), which like I said is
provided by the very operating system to all applications (including Office).
That I can do already, like any other Japanese user does.

What I am trying to do is to add phonetical guides to those Kanji, sometimes
called furigana or rubi, and that is what the article talks about, and how to
enable it on a non-Japanese version. It has little to do with input methods, I
am afraid

May I add, though, that I appreciate the gesture even though the
misinformation.

Note: I do know for a fact that the Windows version of Microsoft Word, which
does not install any Japanese Input Method either (since Windows comes with an
excellent one already that, just like in Mac OS X, provides its services to
all applications, whether Office is installed or not), has phonetical
guides/furigana/rubi features in the Spanish version too.

Best regards

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[elmimmo]

No prob. Like I said, I appreciate your interest.

I have one question, though, if you don't mind. You said:

I have a multilingual version of the application

Can you please explain what you mean by that? Do you have a version you can change the language of the interface or something like that?

I thought only one separate version per language existed (that is, the Spanish version only has a Spanish GUI, the Japanese one, only Japanese GUI, the English one, only an English GUI, etc.)

Note that all versions, no matter what market they are aimed for, do have proofing tools for several languages.

 

[John McGhie]

No, some of us were on the beta. Those of us who upgraded from the beta
have a version that is not quite the same as the retail version.

The development versions contained components that were not intended to be
shipped with particular versions packaged for market.

So when it comes to discussing things like the Language Register, I can't be
quite positive that just because I have it, someone who did a clean install
in Spanish also should have it.

I do have a Multi-Language User Interface version of Office 2007 also. That
one WILL switch user interface languages. They are building the foundations
for a similar function in Mac Office, but it's not here yet.

Sorry to confuse...

No prob. Like I said, I appreciate your interest.

I have one question, though, if you don't mind. You said:

Can you please explain what you mean by that? Do you have a version you can
change the language of the interface or something like that?

I thought only one separate version per language existed (that is, the Spanish
version only has a Spanish GUI, the Japanese one, only Japanese GUI, the
English one, only an English GUI, etc.)

Note that all versions, no matter what market they are aimed for, do have
proofing tools for several languages.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

That feature is available only in the Japanese and Multi-Lingual versions of
Office.

Well it's in the Japanese and English version of Office.
There is no multi-lingual version of Office 2008 and it's simply not
there in the other localized versions of Office.
(and the problem was the same with Office X and 2004)


Corentin

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

I do have a Multi-Language User Interface version of Office 2007 also. That
one WILL switch user interface languages. They are building the foundations
for a similar function in Mac Office, but it's not here yet.

There has never been a multi-lingual version of Office 2008 for Mac (at
least I have never seen or even heard of one ;-) ).
You can build it combining resources from the English and the ones from
other localizations, but I'm not even sure it would properly work (the
pref files appear to be different).

Are you sure you are not mistaking with the Win version John??
Or are you referring to English+Language register as beeing the
multilingual??
I sure haven't seen English+French for instance.

Corentin

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Corentin:

I was talking about PC Office 2007.

They are building the same structure into the 2008 code so that they can
change to MUI eventually. But it's not ready yet. And probably not next
version either, before anyone gets too excited

As you have noticed, pieces of it are there already.

But I got confused, by something you will understand that we should not talk
about here

Cheers

There has never been a multi-lingual version of Office 2008 for Mac (at
least I have never seen or even heard of one ;-) ).
You can build it combining resources from the English and the ones from
other localizations, but I'm not even sure it would properly work (the
pref files appear to be different).

Are you sure you are not mistaking with the Win version John??
Or are you referring to English+Language register as beeing the
multilingual??
I sure haven't seen English+French for instance.

Corentin

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Hi Corentin:

Hi John,

I was talking about PC Office 2007.

Indeed, Sorry about the confusion,

They are building the same structure into the 2008 code so that they can
change to MUI eventually. But it's not ready yet. And probably not next
version either, before anyone gets too excited

The question came up during MacWorld and the problem is that adding all
the localized resources for all languages in Office 2008 adds a LOT of
"weight". The app would be quite big and it didn't sound like it was the
path they wanted to take.

As you have noticed, pieces of it are there already.

It's *all* there already. The structure is ready for the UI. Localized
versions simply ship with one language at the time only.
It's quite different than it ever was in Office 2004.
It's not multilingual by choice: It's not a limitation.

I even built a multilingual version myself using iLocalize. (don't do
that folks: it screws up the preferences badly as localized versions use
different preference files. It screws up the preferences badly).

But I got confused, by something you will understand that we should not talk
about here

I'm not sure about what you are referring to as everything I mentioned
so far is either public, or available for everyone to see if you look
inside the apps.

Corentin


PS: FYI, localizations are a topic very close to my heart not because I
speak more than one language. I localized quite a few apps myself, so I
am quite aware of the requirements for localizing MacOS X apps.

http://www.cortig.net/localisations/

 

[elmimmo]

&gt; As you have noticed, pieces of it are there already.
It's *all* there already.

Well, everything but the dammed Japanese features for non-English versions… I do not care so much (as in, not one bit) about having the app multilingual, actually.

(unless the Jap thing is there, too, but since no Language Register crap comes with the Spanish version I cannot know; it did not work trying it with the Spanish version of 2004, though).

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Well, everything but the dammed Japanese features for non-English
versions∑ I do not care so much (as in, not one bit) about having the
app multilingual, actually.

Well that's a different issue. That's unrelated to the app being
multilingual or not.
(and I have no clue why they never integrated the Language Register with
the other localizations of Office).

Corentin