FAQ FOR SCI.LANG.JAPAN - SOFTWARE FOR JAPANESE INFORMATION PROCESSING FOR WINDOWS

Operating Systems, tools, add-ons, etc.

WINDOWS 3.1/J

There is a version of Windows that can run under DOS/V. You will need a 80386SX or better, 27+ Mb of hard disk, MS-DOS 5.0/V or IBM DOS J5.02/V, at least 4 Mb Ram and VGA display. The Kanji fonts are TrueType. The drivers are only for Japanese made printers, but if you have drivers for non-Japanese printers you can install them and they will print OK. US printers can be installed by replacing CONTROL.INF file in the system directory with the US version. Thus, even old US printers like EPSON FX (9 pin) can print Kanji TrueType fonts. You might want to save a version of the Japanese CONTROL.INF. Non-Japanese versions of programs seem to work OK under Win31J, as long you don't expect to use Japanese on them. Win31J can coexist with English Win31. They should be installed in separate directories, changing the path environment variable changes which version is run. [Rafael's note: I had some weird problems with non-japanese applications which messages that should be in English appears in Japanese, garbaged !]

WIN/V 1.0 FROM C. F. C. COMPUTING

WIN/V is a program which allows you to have Japanese MS-Windows environment on regular English Windows environments. WIN/V was made by Mr. Nishimura who is a legend among Japanese Windows users. Since Japanese Windows application requires Kanji handling, you could not run those programs on regular English MS-Windows environment. But, with WIN/V, you can not only run Japanese Windows application, but also you no longer needed DOS/V. You simply install WIN/V and restart Windows, then you can have true Japanese Windows environment. Moreover, WIN/V supports Kanji True Type Font and can be run on variety of MS-Windows environments such as Windows for Workgroup 3.1/3.11, OmniBook/Windows 3.1 (ROM version), English OS/2 2.1, English OS/2 2.1 for Windows, NEXTSTEP 3.2/Soft PC + Windows, SCO Unix/Windows session, iRMX for Windows, and C. F. C. Computing is working on CHICAGO/V now. Unfortunately, WIN/V does not work with WABI from Sun. Since WIN/V does not include neither KanaKanji Henkan program (IME program) nor any Kanji True Type Font, you have to install those programs from "Japanese MS-Windows3.1 Setup Disk." But, most of Japanese word Processors, such as MS-WORD, ICHITARO for Windows, or AMI Pro for Windows, also provides both IME program and Kanji True Type fonts. So, for non-Japanese Windows user, you should buy at least one Japanese Windows word processor.. Where can you get it ? WIN/V can be purchased from SOFTEX (on-line software shop. "go swinva") in NIFTY-Serve. Also, shareware version should be available shortly on CIS. (but, IME support will be protected (disabled) for non-registered user. TrueType module for shareware version will be available from SOFTEX.) WIN/V also include "OMAKE program" which makes English Windows applications Kanji-aware, but, it is a non-supported program.

Dictionaries and Translators

Learning

POWER JAPANESE

Features digital sounds, animation, drills, dictionary, flashcards. BayWare Inc., 1-800-538-8867 or 415-312-0980, FAX 415-578-1884. Good for starters, hard to use if you're used to Windows interface, limited but new version seems to be far better.

UNDERSTANDING SPOKEN JAPANESE

Interactive video (?), requires IBM Info Windows Structure or M-Motion card + laser disc player. We dont know the price. Contact Ms. Sally Vito, Intellimation Inc., P.O.Box 1922, Santa barbara, CA 93116, USA tel. 805-968-2291. Review in Mangajin #8.

KANJI EXERCISES

Toolbox version of kanji flashcards, interactive approach includes reading exercises, animated character generation and quizzes, uses kunrei romanization. Us$ 65. Requires Runtime Toolbook (?). Contact Annonae Software, P.O.Box 7629, Berkeley, CA 94707, USA. Tel. 415-527-8006. Review in Mangajin #8.

WINJDIC - JAPANESE DICTIONARY FOR WINDOWS (WINJDIC), BY KICOMPWARE

The Japanese Dictionary project was started way back in 1990 by Mark Edwards. Professor Jim Breen took it over and has continued to support, compile, and edit it. He also wrote a DOS program JDIC to provide a quick interface to the program. Since then a version for the Mac, and X-Windows has been released (Jim did the X-Windows version, Dan Crevier did the Mac version). WinJDIC is a version for MS-Windows. The program is Copyrighted, but freeware. This means you can use it for and pay no fee after you download it, or pay to have some ship it to you. Distributors, may charge up to $10 (including postage and handling) to distribute it. If you do decide to distribute, it might be a good idea to contact us, to get the latest version. At any rate, everyone is encouraged to pass it on to a friend so they may benefit from an easier road to learning Japanese. Click here to see the latest version of the database.

Word Processing and Typesetting

JWP - STEPHEN CHUNG'S JAPANESE WORD PROCESSOR

Version 1.1 is freeware and can be obtained from anonymous FTP from FTP sites:

Includes access to edict. Very good, can be used with non-japanese Windows and printers, and it is free.

WORD FOR WINDOWS 5.0/J

Not too much info on that, except that it requires Windows/J and have some TrueType Kanji fonts. Some can be used for vertical titling, but I did not see any specific function in Word to make vertical oriented documents. Also, it seems that the spellchecker is for English...

Terminal Emulators, etc.

Other software

Click here to go to the index for the FAQ.

Rafael Santos (santos@mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp) Last Update: April 10, 1995