1 / 31

Windows XP Language Interface Packs (LIPs) - Localized OSs for the Masses

Windows XP Language Interface Packs (LIPs) - Localized OSs for the Masses. Russ Rolfe Program Manager. Agenda. XP international support in general Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Language Interface Packs (LIPs) Resources Questions. Windows XP International Support.

MikeCarlo
Download Presentation

Windows XP Language Interface Packs (LIPs) - Localized OSs for the Masses

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Windows XPLanguage Interface Packs (LIPs) - Localized OSs for the Masses Russ Rolfe Program Manager

  2. Agenda • XP international support in general • Multilingual User Interface (MUI) • Language Interface Packs (LIPs) • Resources • Questions

  3. Windows XP International Support • 25 fully localized versions of the Operating System • All versions of Windows XP are built from a single, Unicode-based, worldwide source… • …and share the exact same out-of-the-box multilingual functionality: • Input, edit, display in hundreds of languages • Support for 120+ locales • Text Services Framework (Windows XP) • Advanced text input methods for speech, handwriting, etc

  4. Demo!

  5. Quiz Which version of Windows 2000/XP can be used to type Japanese in notepad? • The Japanese localized version of the OS • Any version of Win2000/XP • Only The Multilanguage UI (MUI) version

  6. More International Support Requested • Allow users to choose the language in which they work. • Allow IT administrators to support such users independent of location • Language is just a setting

  7. MUI (Multilingual User Interface) – What it was originally • Introduced in Windows 2000 • Package of resources that allows other UI languages to be installed on US English • Allows multiple UI languages to be use on the same machine • Created from localized versions of the OS • Windows XP offers 33 MUI languages, includes English

  8. Big burden to deploy and maintain: English OS Arabic OS Japanese OS NOW Windows XP MUI Version MUI Version Scenario PAST Needed to deploy: To support: English users Arabic users Japanese users 3 different versions of the operating system 3 different service packs 3 different release schedules Need to deploy: Deploy & maintain: To support: English users Arabic users Japanese users • 1 Version • 1 Service pack • 1 Release schedule

  9. MUI -- Meets User Request • Allows user to switch UI language on single machine • Changes system messages, dialogs, menus, help files, etc. display language. • Allows different language users to share same machine (bi-lingual, multilingual) • Allows users to roam to different machine

  10. MUI – Meets Administrators Requests • Testing, deploying, and supporting one OS worldwide • Deploying same SP/hot-fix, 0 delta • Provide tech support in a preferred language

  11. Localized Versions vs. MUI • The User Interface resources are fully localized. • MUI does not localize: • INF files • UI strings stored in the registry • Code-page based components such as Hyperterminal • Windows 2000 (90%) – Windows XP (97%) • Windows Setup information customized for the specific language/country. • Items such as: • User locale, • Keyboard layout, • System locale etc • This is a policy setting with the MUI

  12. Localized Versions vs. MUI • Additional country specific device drivers added in the East Asian versions only. • Since MUI is English-OS based, localized specific device drivers not available. • Support for upgrades • Localized Versions -> Localized Windows XP • Windows 9X • Windows 2000 • MUI only supports upgrades from English versions. • MUI only supported in XP Professional & .NET Server (alsoWindows 2000 Pro & Server)

  13. Demo!

  14. Quiz Which is not true about MUI versions of Windows XP? • Help files localized • Based on English version Windows • Translations are different than localized versions • Not required for multilingual input

  15. Application Compatibility • Generally, any well-behaved localized application will run on Windows XP • World-ready applications (Unicode enabled, etc) will ‘just work’ on any language version of Windows XP • Code-page based applications (non-Unicode) require the ‘Language for non-Unicode programs’ setting to match the appropriate language

  16. Language for non-Unicode Programs (or System Locale)

  17. Language for non-Unicode Programs (or System Locale) • Required by code-page based applications • Per system (not per user), requires reboot to change • Limited to one language at a time • Cannot easily run a Japanese code-page based order-tracking application along with a Russian code-page database application • Not easy for users of different non-Unicode language version applications to share computers

  18. MUI Aware Applications • Office XP • Internet Explorer 6.0 • Develop your own • A set of NLS APIs let applications query installed UI languages and current UI language

  19. Demo!

  20. Quiz APIs exists to allow developers to create MUI aware applications. • True • False

  21. MUI meets Users and Administrators requirements • Allow users to choose the language in which they work. • Allow administrators to support such users independent of location • Language is just a setting

  22. New International Requirement • Localized versions for emerging markets • Roadblock • Revenues not large enough to cover cost of localization • Solution • Partial MUI implementations that provide a low cost, reasonable quality Windows localization • Language Interface Packs (LIPs)

  23. Language Interface Packs (LIP) • How much to localize? • 20-80 rule • Which 20% of the UI is used 80% of the time? • Desktop Features • Start Menu & Submenus Taskbar & Properties • Windows Explorer Control Panel • Components • Internet Explorer Outlook Express • Windows Media Player Windows Address Book • Other Features • Program Manager Task Manager • Update Driver Wizard Remote Desktop • Screensavers Games • Help & Support Center content • Main content remains unlocalized.

  24. LIP Pros and Cons • Pros • Less to Localize means: • Quicker to market • Lower costs • Less disk space • Cons • Not everything localized

  25. Demo!

  26. Quiz Which component is not localized in a Language Interface Pack? • Games • Network Connections • Address Book • Remote Desktop

  27. Availability • Current Languages Covered • Bulgarian Croatian Estonian • Latvian Lithuanian Romanian • Slovak Slovenian Thai • Newly Released • Catalan • LIP • Acquired through regional OEMs • On 5th CD of MUI package • MUI • Sold via Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP), Select, and Enterprise Agreement • OEMs • Available to developers through MSDN subscription

  28. Localized OSes for the Masses • LIP • Workable solution for emerging markets • MUI • Manageable Multilingual UI for users and international organizations • Ultimate Goal • English is just another language UI

  29. Resources • GlobalDev, portal to internationa lization • http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev • Developing International Software • Chapter on MUI and MUI aware applications • E-mail us: • Dr. International (drintl@microsoft.com)

  30. Questions?

More Related