Compared to earlier versions of the Windows operating system (OS), the new Windows XP OS is much more foreign-language friendly. Microsoft has included many new multilingual features in XP Professional (but fewer in the XP Home edition) that will help English-speaking users when they want to use German or other languages. Microsoft Office and Word also have much better multilingual support included, mostly because German proofing tools are now a standard option for English editions (US, UK, etc.) of the world's most common word processor. There are also 24 different localized versions of Windows XP Pro in various languages, including German.
Multilingual Support in Windows XP
There are several levels of multilingual support in Windows XP. Some are for the typical user, while others are aimed more at network administrators. You also have a choice of using a localized version (e.g., German in Germany) or an English version with foreign-language options.
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Configuring Windows XP for Multiple Languages
You can add, enable, and configure support for multiple languages using the Regional Settings tool in the Control Panel.
To change the default language:
1. Click Start and then Control Panel.
2. Double-click Regional and Language Options.
3. Click the Languages tab.
4. Click Details, then Add.
5. Under Input Language, add the language you want.
6. Under Keyboard Layout/IME, click the keyboard layout you want to use.
7. Click OK.
The Language Bar
To switch languages in Windows XP, instead of the old control panels of Windows 95/98/ME you use the new “Language” bar. But first, you have to add multiple languages or multiple keyboard layouts using the Regional and Language Options in the Control Panel (see above). The Language bar is also used with handwriting recognition, speech recognition, or an Input Method Editor (IME). It also functions in various programs, such as Word. The Language bar is a floating tool bar that can be moved to different locations on the monitor screen.
Besides languages, you can also change date, currency, and time formatting (24-hour time, European date formats). Using the Language bar, users' language settings are stored in their user profile. Even on a network, your language profile setting travels with you if you change computers. Here's how the Language bar works:
To switch languages or keyboards:
1. On the Language bar, click the button representing language [EN, DE, etc.] or keyboards.
2. On the menu, click a language or keyboard layout.
Language settings can also be changed using the Language button in the task bar when the Language bar has been minimized.
The Multilingual User Interface Pack
From Microsoft's Win XP site: “Allows users to easily create, read, and edit documents in many languages with the English version of Windows XP Professional. The Multilingual User Interface Pack, an add-on pack to the English version of Windows XP Professional, lets you change the user interface language for each user. - IT administrators will no longer need to deploy multiple localized versions of the operating system. This will speed deployments, reduce operating system images, and lower cost of ownership.”
For the average user, the Windows XP Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUIP, available in 33 languages) means more control over the language of the keyboard. Although you can switch the language for the entire on-screen user interface (i.e., dialog boxes and menus in German instead of English), most people won't want to do that.
The MUIP runs on top of the English version of Windows XP Pro and is an improved version of the MUIP that came with Windows 2000. The Multilingual User Interface Pack is only available together with Windows XP Pro, and must installed separately after the Windows XP operating system installation.
Office/Word XP (Mac and Windows)
Thanks to the German dictionary, thesaurus and grammar checker now included on the Word XP CD-ROM, you now can check a document in German or mixed English-and-German for grammar and spelling. But because Microsoft doesn't really automate the process very well, we have a how-to guide on Proofing German in Word.
If you have an older version of Office, you can download updates and tools for Office 2000 or 2002. See the Web links below.
Sahabat Kang Rohman (3) : Dedi Pramono
15 years ago
