--- Forwarded Message from Kazumi Hatasa <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 00:50:21 +0800
>To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>From: Kazumi Hatasa <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Japanese handling capability of MS-Office

Dear all,

I was asked about how the English version of Microsoft Office
  handles Japanese at ACTFL last weekend.
I recently had a chance to look at different versions of Microsoft
Office on Windows and Mac.  It was a pleasant surprise for me
to find out how well English versions of Office handle Japanese.
Here is a brief report.  Please feel free to correct me if there
are any errors or feel free to add any other information.

Windows

While Windows 98 was a transitional product as far as Japanese
handling capabilities are concerned, Windows 2000 (and the most
recent Windows XP) comes with a built-in functionality in
Asian languages.  (i.e. Regional Setting in Control Panel)

MS-Word in Office 2000 (English version) can accept Japanese, but
editing capability is limited compared to the Japanese version of the same
product.  MS-Excel cannot sort Japanese entries in the correct gojuon order.

MS-Word in Office XP (English version) appears to have a full support in
Japanese editing, including rubi (phonetic guide), kinsokusyori (punctuation
mark handling), vertical text editing and more.  This version is essentially
identical to the localized Japanese version except the language used in
menu and other parts of interface.  MS-Excel in Office XP is capable of
sorting according to the gojuon order.  Files created in the English version
can be read by the Japanese version.  This version does not require
Windows XP.

Macintosh

Mac OS9 incorporated Japanese Language Kit.  It handles Japanese without
any problem.  The latest OS X continues to support Japanese the same way, but
there is not much software available for OS X yet.

Office for Mac has been updated to Office 2001:mac from Office 98.
While MS-Word 98 has some Japanese editing capability, MS-Word in
Office 2001:mac includes a full support very much like MS-Word in Office XP
for Windows. (rubi, text direction, kinsokuryori, etc.) Excel can perform
sorting according to the gojuon order.

In short, it is my conclusion that we no longer have to purchase
the native Japanese version of Office to work on Japanese text or data.

Cheers,

Kazumi Hatasa


******************************************************
* Kazumi Hatasa                              phone: (765) 494-3846
* Professor of Japanese                             (765) 496-1700 (fax)

*
* Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
* Stanley Coulter Hall
* Purdue University
* West Lafayette, IN 47907-1359
*
* e-mail:  [log in to unmask]    (Japanese ready)
******************************************************