9 Using Internationalization Features

This chapter provides information on using internationalization features. Migrating to the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) affects those who used internationalization features in the DECwindows Motif environment. Differences exist in the following:

Selecting language types

Specifying a keyboard type, loading keymaps, and selecting input methods

Using the terminal emulator

Using mail

The following sections explain these differences and provide information on how to accomplish the same tasks using CDE:

9.1 Selecting a Language Type

In the CDE environment, you change the language type at any time using the Option menu. The default language is set by your system administrator; however, you can select a language at the start of a session or set resources in CDE's Xconfig file. The language that you select cannot be modified during the session. Information on setting a language from the login screen is documented in Section 2.3.1.

Note

CDE ignores any xnlLanguage settings in your .Xdefaults file. CDE ignores this to prevent overriding any language that you select in the Options menu from the login screen.

To set the default session by editing the Xconfig resource file:

Create the directory /etc/dt/config if it does not exist. You must have root privileges to create this directory.

Copy the file /usr/dt/config/Xconfig to the directory you created in Step 1.

Edit the file /etc/dt/config/Xconfig and add the language you want to use as your default. For example, if you want to use Japanese, add the following line:
```
defaultLanguage: ja_JP.eucJP
 
```

If you do not want to use this language during each session, you can override it by selecting another from the CDE Login Screen Options menu.

No matter which method you use to select a language, each application you start after logging into the system is displayed in the language selected.

9.2 Specifying a Keyboard Type, Keyboard Attributes and Input Methods

When using CDE, you must use the Keycaps, Keyboard Options, and Input Methods applications to change these characteristics.

The Keyboard Options application is used to select a localized keymap and to set the lock key state. From this application, you can also start the Keycaps application, which is used to change keycaps mappings. See Section 5.3.5 for information on using this application.

The Keycaps application is used to select a keyboard type, simulate key events, and to display and edit keyboard mappings. To use the Keycaps application, see Section 5.3.6.

The Input Methods application is used to change how keystroke characters are interpreted by the system. For example, Asian (multibyte) characters such as Japanese Kanji or Chinese Hanzi characters can be entered from the keyboard using this application. See Section 5.3.4 for more information on this application.

Note

For Asian Languages, the CDE Session Manager automatically starts the appropriate input method server when you log into the system. To disable this feature, edit your .dtprofile file and set DTSTARTIMS to False.

9.3 Using the Terminal Emulator

The default terminal emulator in the CDE interface is dtterm. The dtterm terminal emulator does not have the following features:

Bidirectional support (needed for Hebrew language support)

Zero-width character support (needed for Thai language support)

Ruled-line support (needed for Japanese language support)

Because these features are not supported, using the DECwindows Motif terminal emulator, dxterm, is recommended where such support is needed. You can access dxterm from the Application Manager. In certain locales, dxterm is available from the Text Editor Personal Applications subpanel. You can also start the dxterm terminal emulator from a dtterm terminal emulator window or add it to the Front Panel or a subpanel as described in Section 7.2.1.

See the Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide for instructions on using the dxterm terminal emulator.

9.4 Using Mail

When using the CDE mail application, dtmail, you do not have to turn on codeset conversion support. It is turned on automatically through the /usr/dt/config/svc/OSF1.lcx configuration file, which contains the needed information.