The Macintosh Operating System (MacOS) is capable of displaying text in different languages at the same time, like English, Chinese and Japanese. Each language that the Macintosh supports has been separated into categories, called scripts. For example, the Japanese Script contains information about how Japanese text is displayed, how Japanese dates are displayed and used, and how Japanese text is input with the keyboard.
Primary Scripts
The MacOS displays menu and dialog text in a single script at a time, called the "Primary Script." The Primary Script of the MacOS is the same script as that of the language for which it is localized; e.g. a Japanese MacOS's Primary Script is Japanese, and a U.S. MacOS's Primary Script is the Roman script. With System 7.1 or later and the Language Kits, it is possible for there to be several "Primary" scripts at the same time, enabling the user to launch applications localized into different languages, switch between them, and display each application's menus and dialogs in the correct language. For example, with the Japanese Language Kit installed, the user can run both U.S. and Japanese applications at the same time, and when the Japanese application is active, the menus and dialogs of that application are displayed in Japanese. (See Figure 1.) When the user switches to a U.S. application, the menus are displayed in the normal System font of the U.S. System (Chicago font).
The Language Kit package
The Japanese and Chinese Language Kits are packages that add double-byte script capabilities to any System 7.1 Macintosh System. The core of the package is fonts, an input method, script resources, and Apple WorldScript II. Some extensions and a utility add additional functionality. An installer script and user documentation complete the package.
Functionality is not changed
The Japanese Language Kit does not change the functionality of any application. It simply allows the menus and dialogs of a Japanese application to be displayed in Japanese, not as "garbage characters" in Chicago font. (See Figure 1.) U.S. applications continue to have the same functionality as before, and they are not suddenly able to handle Japanese text. For true Japanese functionality, we recommend purchasing the Japanese-localized versions of the software you need to use in Japanese.
How does a Language Kit work?
Let's examine a typical case of a U.S. System being used with the Japanese Language Kit. When you launch a Japanese localized application on such a System, the Primary Script changes from Roman to Japanese on the fly; the menus and dialogs that appear while that application is the front-most application display in Osaka font, the Japanese System font. If you were to switch back to the Finder at this point, all of its menus and dialogs would display in Chicago, because the real Primary Script is Roman for the System and Finder. The effect is like having two different Primary Scripts, each activated depending on the frontmost application currently running.
There are some limitations to what the Language Kit can do to prevent "garbage" characters from appearing, and you may notice some even with everyday use of such a system. For example, the Application menu (at the rightmost part of the menu bar) is controlled by the Finder, and thus will always display items in Chicago font on a U.S. System. The names of Japanese applications will not display correctly in this menu. Problems like this are usually no more than an annoyance, and should not cause alarm.
The Chinese Language Kit is different from the Japanese Language Kit in that it contains two different kits, one for Traditional (Taiwan and Hong Kong) Chinese and one for Simplified (Mainland China) Chinese. All the Language Kits work in much the same way. Also, more than one Language Kit may be installed at a time.
WorldScript and Claris Products
Claris applications not localized for Japan run on the Japanese Language Kit, but do not gain any Japanese functionality. They are able to handle only single-byte Roman characters, just as if they were running on a normal system with no Language Kit installed. An exception to this rule are the ClarisImpact and ClarisDraw applications, which have nominal Japanese character compatibility, but cannot perform all of the required line-breaking and formatting features normally included in a Japanese localized version. For complete Japanese text functionality, you must use the localized Japanese version of the products. Claris produces several products for Japan (see list, below), many of which have enhanced features found only in the Japanese version. For example, the Table Creation feature in MacWrite II-J was developed to satisfy the requirements of Japanese business users. They typically create documents needing flexible, easy-to-use Keisen lines to organize and emphasize the contents.
Chinese and Japanese FileMaker
Japanese FileMaker Pro 2.1 is a fully Japanese-savvy version of the popular database program. The Chinese localization of FileMaker Pro is based on version 1.0. Both the Chinese and Japanese versions include changes to the file format for extra index settings. Files created with those versions of FileMaker Pro are therefore not compatible with FileMaker Pro U.S. files. However, FileMaker Pro U.S. files can be imported directly into Japanese or Chinese FileMaker Pro and irreversibly converted. However, Chinese or Japanese FileMaker Pro files cannot be read directly by other versions. To use data in both the U.S. and the Japanese versions simultaneously, it is necessary to exchange the data in an intermediary format, such as text format. Such importing and exporting of data between different language versions can be automated with scripts.
List of localized products
Note: The list of localized products is continuously updated. For a complete listing, please contact your Claris software dealer, or AsiaSoft (formerly SystemSoft) at (800) 882-8856.
Japanese
ClarisWorks-J 1.1 Win
ClarisWorks-J 2.0v2 Mac/PPC
FileMaker Pro-J 2.1 v2 Mac
FileMaker Pro-J 2.1 PPC
MacDraw II-J 1.1v2
MacDraw Pro-J 1.5v2
MacPaint-J 2.0
MacProject II-J 2.1v3
MacWrite II-J 1.5v2
Traditional Chinese
FileMaker Pro-TA 1.0v1 Mac
ClarisWorks-TA 1.0v1 Mac
Simplified Chinese
ClarisWorks-CH 1.0v1 Mac
Korean (Currently not available through retail channels)
ClarisWorks-KH 2.0v2
Thai
ClarisWorks-TH 2.0v1