Re: [tlug] Newbie: Kubuntu Configuration

[CL <az.4tlug@example.com>]

Jonathan Byrne wrote:
> On 10/16/2007, "Darren Cook" <darren@example.com> wrote:
>
>
> > Try opening a shell, then type
> >  export LANG=ja_JP.UTF8;oocalc
> >
> > This opens OO Calc with Japanese menus. Change oocalc to the name of
> > your app. If that works then you can make a Custom Application Launcher
> > (or the KDE equivalent) with the above as the command.
>
> Cool trick :)
>
> My curiosity is now piqued WRT his original problem; what
> GNOME/KDE/window manager of your choice/console apps are there which
> have only Japanese menus? And are they things that would be useful to a
> non-Japanese-reading audience if they had English translations?

Well, now that I've stepped in it, I should scrape it off my shoes 
publicly.  The quick answer is "there are a few, but they're not all LIN 
as at this date."

This is where I write a lot of stuff and everyone sort of says "Dude! 
You're, like, the only one with the issue!  Good luck on your project!"

I asked off-the-record if there were any experimental LIN versions at a 
bunch of Japanese software houses whose products I use and was offered 
unofficial Debian copies of two Japanese-only programs that have been 
WIN / MAC only until now (and, officially, still are).  Both companies 
say they are slowly working on porting the programs to Red Hat and 
Debian as spare-time projects.  Both of these unmarked DVDs were gifts 
from the product development staff and there is a tiny little bijoux 
problemette with the fact that neither officially exists ... yet ... and 
neither is in the public domain.

That means that mojibake _may_ be the least of my problems.

The programs are:

Sourcenext's デジタル全国地図

VAL Corporation's 駅すぱあと

This is the one thing that keeps me from being completely weaned away 
from WIN -- I need/use directories, reverse directories, business 
directories, mapping and scheduling programs in my regular work and that 
requires a number of different domestic-market-only programs in addition 
to the train program above.

Online stuff like Google Earth doesn't closely enough fill my need for 
aerial photos and there are a couple of domestic programs and providers 
that do Japan better.  Some map programs, like MapFan and the online 
reverse directories (Nippon Soft) I use when I have access to WiFi, 
Willcom, or a hotel LAN, have CD/DVD versions I end up having to use 
when I am out of range or changing my schedule from the seat of a train 
or bus.  Times like those, I need on-disk programming or a CD/DVD to 
work off of.  None of these have English versions / equivalents ... and, 
right now, most don't have a LIN version.

The latest Xorg and Wine in Kubuntu 7.10 are light years ahead of 7.04 
in their ability to display kanji / kana, but that just means we're now 
halfway to the next galaxy instead of assuming orbit.  But even a little 
progress IS STILL progress and should be noted for the positive move it 
represents.  I have not yet tried either of the WIN versions in Wine, 
which is supposed to have much improved CJK support.  If that fixes the 
mojibake problem, then that is the version I will use until the 
manufacturers sort out their priorities.

--
CL