japanese language input

[dtren]

I would like to be able to write email and word documents in japanese, using hiragana, katakana and chinese characters.

Can i change anything within windows to be able to do this or do i need to get some sort of add on for word in order to produce japanese text.

Thanks

[-pops-]

Pat Willener is based in Japan and is one of the experts on Asian languages for computing.

He usually comes along later in the day so hang on :)

[Seshomaru Samma]

go to Control panel>regional and language options (this is if your control panel is set to the classic view)

and choose the "languages" tab

look in the middle of the tab and see if there is a check mark near where it says " Install files for East Asian Languages"

*If there is no check mark:

check it yourself and it will ask you to insert the XP install disk , you will an XP disk - any CD will do , home, pro ,English , French anything )as long as it's XP)

after it install East Asian support it will probably reboot

then:

*if there is a check mark:

look up where it says "Text services and input languages"

click "details'

then click on 'add' where it says "Installed services"

then choose "japanese" as input language

click ok

and thats it!

Good Luck

[~Root~]

wont benifit a thing if hes just trying to send emails to people, wouldnt it be just easier to install the east asian support pack and just a translator like google translator with hiragana, katakana and chinese character support?.

also do you plan on permanent support, or are you just trying to type emails to specific people and your comon language is the default installed?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Seshomaru Samma is correct: the Asian Language pack is part of Windows XP, but does not install by default.

Once the Japanese IME is installed (following Seshomaru Samma's instructions), use IME Help to find out how to use it. If you have any difficulties with the IME, ask again and we will give you instructions.

Some basic information on IME usage:

• The IME sits left of the system tray (on the task bar)
  
• Use Alt-Shift to toggle between input lanugages (EN, JP)
  
• Click on the IME icon to activate the Language Bar (e.g. on your email editor)
  
• Switch between Hiragana, Katakana and direct input (ASCII)
  
• Use your English keyboard to type Japanese syllables, e.g. 'a', 'i', 'u', 'e', 'o' for　あ、い、う、え、お
  
• Use the space bar to translate/select kanji from hiragana input
  
• Use Enter to confirm kanji selection
  

P.S. You will need your XP disk to install the IME as part of Windows. However, the IME is also delivered as part of Office, so you can also install it from the Office disk.