Tao and the Art of the Dual-Natured Mac
Since Apple pioneered the concept of localizable software, it would be natural to assume that installing a bilingual system is extremely easy. Wrong! The path to setting up a bilingual Mac is littered with the system disks of those who have gone before.by Jeremiah Stone
Many Mac users will immediately understand when I say that figuring out the best way to make your Mac system bilingual is akin to finding the answer to a Zen koan. (One of the best known: If a Mac system crashes and no one was there to see it, did it really happen?) While the option of plug-and-play offered by the Mac is usually convenient, experiments with the keystone of your system are suspected to have caused severe cases of nervous breakdown.
The problem of English speakers needing a bilingual system has a long history, and many artifacts have survived. Several different system patches and extensions remain in the Mac world ó bits of program code ranging from GomTalk (a precursor to KanjiTalk that could meld System 7 and System 6J into a fairly robust System 7J) to SystemSwitcher (as the name suggests, if you have English and Japanese systems residing on the same disk, this program switches between them). The trouble, though, is that most users want a convenient system that gives them bilingual capabilities and does not crash at the squeak of a mouse. No single solution can be considered the best for all needs; usually, the deciding factor is how much Japanese you intend to use. Each solution has its benefits and detriments, and configuration set-up can range from simple to complex.
The obligatory disclaimer
First, the inevitable warning. If you chose to embark on the path to duality, back-up your system! This oft-repeated mantra is easy to ignore, but when you fool with the structure of your system folder ó which some of the solutions require ó this simple precaution is essential. The solutions sugested in this article are described for informational purposes only ó they are not step-by-step instructions. If you don't consider yourself a computer guru, then find someone who is to do the work for you. (That way, you'll have someone other than yourself to kick if things go awry.)When backing up, be aware that there are two invisible files associated with the desktop and system that will not be copied in a backup. The only way to back up these is to use ResEdit to make the files visible, copy them, and then make them invisible again after you restore your system. (ResEdit is a resource editor that can be used to change any part of a program, including the system. Resources are the way that the Apple stores program information, and explaining it and requires a book in and of itself ó of which their are several. If you are not familiar with ResEdit, do not use it! You could end up destroying necessary parts of your system. If you end up restoring your system back to the disk you copied it from, the invisible files should still be there, so don't worry.)
The simplicity of a single arrow shaft in flight
The Mac is most happy with simplicity. Witness the startup screen: a happy Mac on a plain field of gray . Plain, that is, until the hordes of INITs start marching across the screen.When it comes down to it, the simplest solution is to have only one system on your Mac. In most cases, this will be KanjiTalk (since the point is to be able to use Japanese). This is the way I have my PowerBook 145 configured, and many other (albeit bilingual) people do the same to minimize system crashes. Almost every English application will run under KanjiTalk, though a bit more slowly due to the Japanese system's extra bulk. The exceptions are those programs that require special non-ASCII characters which either do not exist or are mapped differently under the Mac kanji fonts. An example of this would be a kanji learning program that uses a hat (^) above vowels to indicate long sounds in Japanese (such as the in , which would be represented as kyÙ). If the application does not allow you to set the application font (the best solution), the default, Osaka, is used and the special characters do not appear. (Note: "Ù" is entered as "option-i o".)
Many foreign Mac users in Japan, however, can read only a small fraction of the kanji characters used in the written Japanese language. If you are one of these unfortunates, although you still may have several pressing reasons to split your Mac's personality in two, sometimes the right applications can be found to give your computer all the Japanese ability needed while it is running under System 7. Students of Japanese will find that most kanji-learning programs provide their own fonts and so can be used under System 7, for example.
It would be nice if a bilingual word processor that runs under System 7 were available (like KanjiWORD, which runs under Windows). Except for rumors of a Canadian company, however, no one seems to have produced such a tool. If such a program existed, most English-speaking Mac users could be perfectly happy using System 7.
The primary advantage of using a single system is that it is easy and safe ó no inexplicable type-1 errors, init conflicts, or system crashes. With a single system, the Mac is running configured as Apple intended; any problems will have happened to others and should already have been solved. The main problem is that these two solutions are at the extreme ends of the spectrum. One requires no knowledge of Japanese, but offers little Japanese processing power in return. The other gives native Japanese processing power but assumes a firm grasp of the written language. In effect, the computer mimics the ability of its user. While it is possible for non-Japanese-speaking users who know the Mac system well to operate by feel, important system dialog boxes will be in kanji, as will the system menus. Another drawback is the cost of Japanese ability; KanjiTalk is slower and fatter (by at least 1MB) than System 7.
Cast off your worldly mantle
Another way to expand the mind of your Mac is to bring out its inherent knowledge about the world. Hidden away in the crevices of the System 7.1E folder (and in System 7.5E) is the WorldScript extension, which allows your computer to run the Apple Language Kits (both Chinese and Japanese are offered). The Japanese Language Kit (JLK) is an Apple product that supplies two TrueType Japanese fonts (scaleable outline fonts) and patches that enable the use of Japanese programs.An obvious benefit of this method is that a person without strong ability in Japanese can still use Japanese programs, because the system menus and dialog boxes remain in English. Examples of persons who could benefit from this setup are designers with Japanese clients, businessmen filling in form letters, and anybody who has no choice but to occasionally use a Japanese program. Another not-so-obvious plus is that the system runs English programs faster than KanjiTalk (because it can use the English calls) and gobbles up less of your valuable RAM. Users who can be sure that all the programs they need to run will work under this option would be advised to adopt it for the speed gained when running English applications.
On the down side, some Japanese programs do not follow Apple's WorldScript guidelines. While these programs may work well with KanjiTalk, working with JLK is another matter. One example is QuarkXpress 3.3J which does not run under JLK 1.1. For those users who worry less about QuarkXpress than the sound of one hand clapping, the Japanese Language Kit is a solid solution (though problems with printer drivers and dialog boxes occasionally occur). Designers who need Japanese QuarkXpress, however, will have to migrate to KanjiTalk or contemplate using one of two other (more complicated) methods.
Coexisting in separate realities
Duality is a natural fact of life. We act differently at home, with family members, than in the office as an employee, for example. Unsurprisingly, our computers must sometimes do the same. If several people are using a computer, some Japanese speakers and others English speakers, then the computer must perform differently for each group. Even for a single user, the Mac is sometimes required to act in a certain way depending on the application ó a Japanese program that will only run under the native language system, or an application (like Photoshop) whose speed can be maximized by running under the English system.If installing the JLK is like learning a new language, then partitioning your disk is like developing a split personality. The partitioning method essentially splits your disk by making a new partition (with a hard disk utilities package like NOW or Norton's) and installing a second system onto that partition ó which is equivalent to installing onto an external disk drive. The partition must be large enough to handle the second system and whatever additional programs you want to reside in that partition.
If your Mac is currently running under System 7.1 or 7.5, create the partition and then install KanjiTalk onto that partition (by choosing the partition's name as the location for the installation). If you use the Startup Disk Control Panel for switching systems, you can change systems by choosing the desired partition ó the one with the English system or that with the Japanese.
Unfortunately, the partitioning solution requires a good deal of hard disk space. Not only do you need to install System 7.1 or 7.5, at about 10 to 15 megabytes, but you must also install KanjiTalk, which requires 15 to 25 megabytes of disk space (mainly for the kanji fonts). Partitions are usually fixed amounts of disk space dedicated to use as a separate disk, so they must initially be sized to meet future storage needs. Because partitions cannot be resized later without erasing their contents (and so requiring a painful back-up and restoration process), expanding a partition is a time-consuming task.
Walking a rockier road
For users who cannot afford to make a 50MB partition on their 80MB hard disk, there is a non-recommended method of giving your computer a split personality. (Consider yourself warned.) This method is not recommended by Apple, so make sure to fully back up your system should you be foolhardy enough to attempt it.The process starts with hiding the system folder in the Trash can (but, do not throw away the trash!). Next, use the KanjiTalk installer disks to install the Japanese system. After the installation is finished, move the System 7 folder out of the Trash can and back to its previous location. A little program available in various places online (one of which is the Ringo BBS, 03-3337-9277), called SystemSwitcher, can choose which system the Mac will start up under.
This achieves the same result as the putting the systems in separate partitions, but it can be more unstable. Having two systems on a single disk sometimes causes conflicts (diagnostic programs will flag the twin systems as an error) and can occasionally lead to problems. Before the Japanese Language Kit started to become popular, however, this was the accepted (and sometimes accursed) method of using English and Japanese systems on a single computer.
The oneness of duality
Their are several advantages to configuring your computer as a dual system. For computers used by several people, providing each user with their native system benefits productivity and minimizes catastrophic errors. Being able to run applications in their native environment ensures compatibility and minimizes errors. And, finally, the sheer difficulty of getting the Japanese Language Kit in Japan makes this option inviting.The two major problems with the dual-system solution are disk space and synchronization. Placing the second system in its own partition reduces the first system's disk space permanently by the allocated amount. By placing both systems on the same disk/partition, allocation of space to the second system becomes dynamic. This dynamic solution, however, is more prone to errors and conflicts in system calls. A less obvious problem is synchronization ó keeping application INITs up-to-date in both systems. Usually, this entails installing the program twice, once on the disk and a second time on the partition or external drive, because many applications cannot deal with having INITs in two locations. Thus, maintenance is a major problem for users of this solution.
The many paths less traveled
There are several other ó more dangerous ó ways to achieve duality of your Mac. These include replacing selected bits of the KanjiTalk system with corresponding bits from System 7 (one person I know just replaces the Finder, while another replaces the Finder and System and uses shareware extensions to glue everything together). Such methods, while usually workable, are most definitely not recommended. Those who would like to experiment, though (for scientific research purposes only) can find plenty of advice from members of the Ringo BBS.Overall, the best methods are probably to use KanjiTalk as is (a simple, safe solution) or use the Japanese Language Kit. One of these two solutions will suit 95% of bilingual Mac users. For the remaining adventurous 5%, one of the other three solutions (using only System 7, using both systems in separate partitions, or using them together) should address whatever needs exist.
The author would like to thank members of the Ringo BBS who were especially helpful in giving their opinions and advice on this thorny issue.
Finding JLK
The Japanese Language Kit (JLK) is a hard-to-find piece of software. Calls to several Akihabara stores turned up only one that carries it ó Laox: The Computer Kan. Several systems integrators do carry it, however, and they have indicated a willingness to sell single-package quantities of JLK at prices ranging from ·20,000 to ·25,000. For more information about getting a copy of the Japanese Language Kit, contact: Robert Martens at Catena (03-5400-1405); Robert Hoffman at LINC Computer (03-3445-2601); or Hadi at Gateway Computer (03-3879-5551).JLK 1.1 works with System 7.1, while System 7.5 requires JLK 1.1.1. Since the Japanese Language Kit is produced by Apple, you can be sure that it is compatible with Apple systems.
