Multilingual proofing

[kolbeer]

I was just wondering if there had been any developements in the area of
proofing tools for just ONE alternate language (namely German) rather than
having to BUY a whole pack of languagues I don't need an will never use!?
From other posts I gather the subject has been discussed before, but I
submit that it's not only Microsoft's megolithic hegemony but also American
ethnocentrism; an arrogance that only corporations (not individuals with
overseas family) have a use for these tools.
Why does the 'English' version of Office have only French & Spanish options?
Is the 'English' version really just a North American version?

 

[garfield-n-odie]

You're geographically challenged if you think France and Spain
are in North America.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Yes, the question does get asked

Prior to Office 2000 individual langauge packs were
available from 3rd parties and the price for a single
one was about what the current Office Proofing Tools entire
package goes for. You may still find 3rd party
language tools available in software stores online.

English, French and Spanish are the 3 most common
North American languages but those languages are
also widely used in other parts of the world.
These additional packs were not included in the
English language editions prior to Office 2000
and were generally also additional purchases.

Where 'overseas' is depends a bit on which
side of the shore you happen to be standing on
at the moment.

You can choose to purchase the German language edition
of Microsoft Office 2003 and you'll get these
four proofing tools German, English, French and Italian.

For a bit more background on the language tools you
may want to also post your question on this topic
in the Word International Features newsgroup (links below).

For companies/customers (including a family)
who setup a Microsoft Volume License agreement
(5 or more Microsoft product (not
5 Office copies) the Microsoft Office Multilanguage
Edition is available for purchase that includes all of the languages
in the proofing tools plus the ability to change the
Office menus into other languages as well.

For College/University students you may find that
the academic licensed editions of MS products, including
the proofing tools kit are available through the school.

========
I was just wondering if there had been any developements in the area of
proofing tools for just ONE alternate language (namely German) rather than
having to BUY a whole pack of languagues I don't need an will never use!?
From other posts I gather the subject has been discussed before, but I
submit that it's not only Microsoft's megolithic hegemony but also American
ethnocentrism; an arrogance that only corporations (not individuals with
overseas family) have a use for these tools.

Why does the 'English' version of Office have only French & Spanish options?
Is the 'English' version really just a North American version? >>

--
MS Office System Products MVP
*courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends8

A. Specific newsgroup/discussion group mentioned in this message:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.word.international.features
or via browser:
http://microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/?dg=microsoft.public.word.international.features

B. MS Office Community discussion/newsgroups via Web Browser
http://microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx
or
Microsoft hosted newsgroups via Outlook Express/newsreader
news://msnews.microsoft.com

 

[kolbeer]

In case you hadn't heard, Mexio (where they speak Spanish) and Canada (where
about half of them speak French) are BOTH parts of North America... ever
heard of NAFTA?

btw: just to test your own geographic acutity, can tell me whether Kangaroos
would be counted among the indigenous fauna of Austria? What language do
they speak there?

 

[kolbeer]

you mention "prior to Office 2000" a couple of times in your last post... I
HAVE Office 2000, why don't I have those multi-language functions then? Did
I misunderstand?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

The French and Spanish Language tools in the
English Language Office editions are optional
installation features through the Microsoft Office
choice in Add/Remove Programs in the Windows control panel

Prior to Office 2000 MS didn't sell individual language
packs. It was pretty much through 3rd parties, one language
at a time. Starting with Office 2000 MS introduced the
Office Proofing Tool Kits with multiple languages in one CD set
and the Office Corporate (non retail) Edition Multlanguage Pack editions.
This Office 2000 page describes both the proofing tools in
the Kit and the proofing tools for each of the Office 2000
localized (language) editions.
http://microsoft.com/office/previous/2000/worldwide/proofing.asp

The Proofing Tool Kits are sold only by Microsoft in the
U.S. and by software vendors but not Microsoft outside of the
U.S.

While the Proofing Tools Kits (and they're Office version
specific as far as installation) started with the 2000 series,
unfortunately, Microsoft didn't start including the 3 language
proofing tools kit in the English language base Office editions
until Office XP (2002 series).

======
you mention "prior to Office 2000" a couple of times in your last post... I
HAVE Office 2000, why don't I have those multi-language functions then? Did
I misunderstand? >>
--
Let us know if this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

For Everyday MS Office tips to "use right away" -
http://microsoft.com/events/series/administrativetipsandtricks.mspx