Questions, answers,
and tips
on hardware and software usage
compiled by the editors
Decompressing .LZH files
Q: It seems that almost all of the software available for
downloading on Nifty-Serve uses an unusual compression method called LHA.
(Or is it LZH?) I've looked both on Nifty-Serve and searched some anonymous
ftp sites, but have not yet been able to find a program that decompresses
these files. Where can I get it, and is there a Windows version.?
A: LHA is a method of compressing and archiving files that was developed
in Japan; it is used widely on Japanese BBSes and online services such as
Nifty-Serve, and surpasses the better known PKZIP in popularity here (in
part because it often produces a slightly "tighter" compressed
file, and because it is distributed as freeware). The LHA program produces
files with the .LZH extension.
You definitely need a copy of the LHA compression/decompression program
if you wish to try out the software offerings on Nifty-Serve, which are
almost invariably uploaded as .LZH files. When I first started using Nifty-Serve,
I spent a good deal of time hunting for the Windows version of the LHA codec,
only to discover that it too was stored as an .LZH file.
The LHA program is available on many English-based BBSes, such as the TPC
BBS (including a version with English documentation and help screen). If
you're looking for it on Nifty-Serve, though, the first step is to obtain
the DOS version of LHA, which is stored as LHA213.EXE under FQLD2 LIB-2
#78. (Type GO FQLD2, then choose the data library option.) Running this
program at the DOS prompt will produce the executable LHA.EXE file and documentation
files.
Using this, you can then decompress the Windows version, which is found
under FQLD1 LIB-3 #76 as LHASA002
.LZH. Use the command
C:\>LHA LHASA002.LZH
which will, in turn, produce the Windows version of LHA, which is LHASA.EXE.
If you don't particularly feel like taking the extra time to get the Windows
version, however, be assured that the DOS-based LHA.EXE program should work
perfectly fine for any .LZH file you come across.
UNIX kanji tutorials
Q: Are there any free or inexpensive Japanese kanji tutorial
programs you can recommend for UNIX X-Windows that would be good for intermediate
students? I've used programs that quiz the user over 200 or so of the basic
kanji, but I am looking for something that goes a bit beyond that. Also,
do you know of any anonymous ftp sites that carry a variety of Japanese
fonts for X-Windows?
A: Try a freeware program called kdrill 4.0; this will work with
any subset of the 6,000-plus kanji handled by Jim Breen's kanjidic.
The program can also search by the English meaning of individual characters,
or by the JIS code (but it can't handle searches on the Japanese reading).
Kanjidic.gz and kdrill4.0.tar.gz are both available via anonymous ftp at
ftp://ftp.cc.monash
.edu.au/pub/nihongo. You'll need to be running at least X11R5 and have both
kanji24 and kanji16 fonts.
Regarding your question about Japanese fonts for X-Windows, by far the best
selection that I've seen to date can be found at ftp://crl.nmsu.edu/pub/
japanese/fonts. Be sure to read the README file first to help find your
way around this directory.
Japanese-capable UNIX Netscape?
Q: I've heard that the latest version of Netscape for Windows
has Japanese-handling capability built-in. Is this also true of the UNIX
version, Netscape 1.1N? I am looking for something that runs on the Sparc
SunOS 4.1.3.
A: Unfortunately, the current version of Netscape for UNIX, 1.1N,
does not support Japanese. The company will not yet confirm whether or not
they have a Japanese-capable UNIX version in the works.
Power(Book) problem
Q: My PowerBook will no longer run off battery power. I
tried replacing the battery, but the new one doesn't work either.
A: The problem may not be the battery itself, but the power cord.
Mac PowerBooks have an annoying design flaw: the power adapter plug that
goes into your computer consists of concentric terminals with a plastic
insulator between them. If the insulator breaks, this can short out the
battery. A new power cord costs about ¥7,000 in Akihabara, but they
are in chronically short supply.
Helpful tips
T: Fans of the popular but often-overloaded ftp CD-ROM demo site at
ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/demos will be glad to hear that there is now a mirror
site in Japan at ftp://ftp.cs.titech.ac.jp/
pub/wwfs/MegaDemo.
T: Anyone within the US interested in obtaining Japanese applications
and Japanese-capable software should check out the following company:
Qualitas Trading Company
2029 Durant Ave.
Berkeley, CA94704
Phone +1-510-848-8080
Fax +1-510-848-8009
AppleLink D2437
72400.3100@compuserve.com
http://www.holonet.net/qualitas
Qualitas' WWW page features an extensive catalog of Japanese-learning, translation,
and font packages, as well as all of the best selling Japanese software.
The packages are very reasonably priced and easy to order.ç
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