[~AJ~]
This is a tutorial on how to get japanese (and other asian symbols) to show up on your pc (on windows XP. May work on earlier or later versions also but I have not tested) and also how you can type in them.
If the following symbols only show up as boxes or anything other than japanese characters then you need to follow the steps bellow
私はアランです
STEP 1:
Go to start menu --> control panel ---> Regional and language options
STEP 2:
Go to the language tab at the top of the box (should be the second one along)
STEP 3:
Check the box that says "Install files for East Asian Languages"
(note: some people may be required to insert their windows disk.... others may not have to. I didn't have to)
STEP 4:
Click "Apply" then "OK" and then restart your computer and you are done. Japanese characters should now show up wherever they are used, for example, in your browser, msn, MS-word etc.
IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO ALSO TYPE IN JAPANESE THEN FOLLOW THE NEXT SET OF STEPS
STEP 1:
Go to Start menu --> Control panel --> Regional and Language options
STEP 2:
Go to the language tab (second one along at the top of the box)
STEP 3:
Click on "DETAILS"
STEP 4:
Click on "ADD"
STEP 5:
For "Input language" select Japanese
STEP 6:
For "Keyboard" it should be set by default to something that says "Microsoft IME" or something similar. KEEP IT THIS WAY. Do NOT select japanese for keyboard, or it will NOT work.
STEP 7:
Click "OK"
Some people may be required to insert their windows disk, some people wont have to. I didn't have to. Ignore any warnings that appear and click "OK/Apply" until all the boxes are gone.
STEP 8:
Restart your pc and enjoy.
Once restarted, to switch to japanese there should be a small language box in the bottom right corner on your task bar. (usually says EN). Click it and then click "Show the language bar"
A tool bar should then appear somewhere on your screen (usually at the top) Click it again and select Japanese. Providing you are on a page that has a text field that you can write into a whole host of new options should appear on that tool bar.
To switch between english and hiragana, click on "Input mode" and select either Direct Input (english) or Hiragana (self explanitory)
When typing in hiragana, spell words in romaji and the appropirate hiragana symbols will be typed out on screen. After finishing a word pressing the Enter button confirms that word. Pressing the space bar either changes the hiragana to the appropriate kanji, or into katakana if there is no kanji. If the first thing it changes it to is wrong, pressing the space bar a second time will bring up a box with multiple choices. Simply pick the one you want and press the Enter button.
The tool bar also has a lot of other features but I will let you discover them for yourself. (Handwriting is a particularly cool one)
If the following symbols only show up as boxes or anything other than japanese characters then you need to follow the steps bellow
私はアランです
STEP 1:
Go to start menu --> control panel ---> Regional and language options
STEP 2:
Go to the language tab at the top of the box (should be the second one along)
STEP 3:
Check the box that says "Install files for East Asian Languages"
(note: some people may be required to insert their windows disk.... others may not have to. I didn't have to)
STEP 4:
Click "Apply" then "OK" and then restart your computer and you are done. Japanese characters should now show up wherever they are used, for example, in your browser, msn, MS-word etc.
IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO ALSO TYPE IN JAPANESE THEN FOLLOW THE NEXT SET OF STEPS
STEP 1:
Go to Start menu --> Control panel --> Regional and Language options
STEP 2:
Go to the language tab (second one along at the top of the box)
STEP 3:
Click on "DETAILS"
STEP 4:
Click on "ADD"
STEP 5:
For "Input language" select Japanese
STEP 6:
For "Keyboard" it should be set by default to something that says "Microsoft IME" or something similar. KEEP IT THIS WAY. Do NOT select japanese for keyboard, or it will NOT work.
STEP 7:
Click "OK"
Some people may be required to insert their windows disk, some people wont have to. I didn't have to. Ignore any warnings that appear and click "OK/Apply" until all the boxes are gone.
STEP 8:
Restart your pc and enjoy.
Once restarted, to switch to japanese there should be a small language box in the bottom right corner on your task bar. (usually says EN). Click it and then click "Show the language bar"
A tool bar should then appear somewhere on your screen (usually at the top) Click it again and select Japanese. Providing you are on a page that has a text field that you can write into a whole host of new options should appear on that tool bar.
To switch between english and hiragana, click on "Input mode" and select either Direct Input (english) or Hiragana (self explanitory)
When typing in hiragana, spell words in romaji and the appropirate hiragana symbols will be typed out on screen. After finishing a word pressing the Enter button confirms that word. Pressing the space bar either changes the hiragana to the appropriate kanji, or into katakana if there is no kanji. If the first thing it changes it to is wrong, pressing the space bar a second time will bring up a box with multiple choices. Simply pick the one you want and press the Enter button.
The tool bar also has a lot of other features but I will let you discover them for yourself. (Handwriting is a particularly cool one)
