Yet another Unicode Question

Lee Jenkins

Delphi Developer

Yet another Unicode Question

2008-05-24 05:03:30 AM
delphi231
Hi all,
I've read up a bit on Unicode so this question isn't gear towards the mechanics
of Unicode, but rather towards developers in other countries. If Delphi hasn't
had Unicode support as of yet, what are others doing to internationalize their
apps now for languages that contain accented characters and such?
Lee

Allen Drennan

Delphi Developer

2008-05-24 09:01:06 AM

Re:Yet another Unicode Question

Lee Jenkins writes:

Quote

what are others doing to
internationalize their apps now for languages that contain accented
characters and such?
We used components like TnT Unicode controls, built many of our own UI

controls and modified the source code of DevExpress ExpressBars (for
example) to deliver the right character sets.

Pieter Zijlstra

Delphi Developer

2008-05-24 09:01:07 AM

Re:Yet another Unicode Question

Lee Jenkins writes:

Quote

Pieter Zijlstra writes:
>Lee Jenkins writes:
>
>>I've read up a bit on Unicode so this question isn't gear towards
>>the mechanics of Unicode, but rather towards developers in other
>>countries. If Delphi hasn't had Unicode support as of yet, what
>>are others doing to internationalize their apps now for languages
>>that contain accented characters and such?
>
>Before (on NT) we used different character sets for the fonts
>(mainly Arial). For things like Chinese, we just installed Chinese
>(BTW that is fun if you can not read it :)
>The file containing the different strings for each language is a
>mess when viewed on a "normal ANSI" system.
>Lately with XP we use multi language packs. First setup everything
>in English and when finished, install for example Chinese "over"
>it. For
>other languages we just change the local (Regional settings ->
Advanced
>tab).

Thanks Pieter.
Maybe I should have mentioned that we're "lucky" that we deliver

pre-installed "turn-key" systems. IOW no shrink-wrap kind of software.
--
Pieter

Loren Pechtel

Delphi Developer

2008-05-25 09:09:18 AM

Re:Yet another Unicode Question

On Fri, 23 May 2008 23:22:07 +0200, "Pieter Zijlstra"
<XXXX@XXXXX.COM>writes:

Quote

Lee Jenkins writes:

>I've read up a bit on Unicode so this question isn't gear towards the
>mechanics of Unicode, but rather towards developers in other
>countries. If Delphi hasn't had Unicode support as of yet, what are
>others doing to internationalize their apps now for languages that
>contain accented characters and such?

Before (on NT) we used different character sets for the fonts (mainly
Arial). For things like Chinese, we just installed Chinese (BTW that's
fun if you can not read it :)
Yeah, I have relatives over there. When I am there I use internet cafe

computers--they're in Chinese. Puzzling at times.
What takes the cake, though, was the time I was trying to download an
attachment and ran into problems with cookies--apparently they were
being blocked. This was on a relative's computer, back then the cafe
computers didn't have exposed USB ports nor would they have helped as
they were 98SE. I was pretty sure there was a cookie blocker but I
couldn't communicate the problem. The niece's dictionary only came up
with the things you eat.
I thought I had a bright idea, I set hotmail into Chinese mode (this
was before everybody offered web interfaces, you needed something like
hotmail to get your e-mail everywhere.) and very carefully picked my
way to the error. ARGH!!!! A page of bird tracks with the word
"cookies" in the middle!

Quote

Lately with XP we use multi language packs. First setup everything in
English and when finished, install for example Chinese "over" it. For
other languages we just change the local (Regional settings ->Advanced
tab).
??? Why not just install the Chinese fonts and input editor?

Pieter Zijlstra

Delphi Developer

2008-05-25 06:40:01 PM

Re:Yet another Unicode Question

Loren Pechtel writes:

Quote

>Lately with XP we use multi language packs. First setup everything
>in English and when finished, install for example Chinese "over"
>it. For
>other languages we just change the local (Regional settings ->
Advanced
>tab).

??? Why not just install the Chinese fonts and input editor?
It was in the contract that the OS had to be in Chinese too.

If we can get away with it we prefer to install English(*) versions of
the OS and just our applications are localised.
(*) other "mainstream" European languages (German, French, Spanish
Italian, oh and Dutch of course ;-) is also no problem.
--
Pieter