Apple Chinese Language Kit v.1.0
J. Michael Farmer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
I have been using Apple's Chinese Language Kit v.1.0 along with WordPerfect 3.0 and EndNotes Plus 1.3.1 for about a year to input Chinese text into primarily English language documents, as well as to prepare teaching aids for first and second year Chinese language classes. This review is based on my experiences with the Kit over the past few months.
Purpose:
Apple's Chinese Language Kit is a system extension to System 7.1, which allows Chinese characters to be input into Worldscript savvy applications. The Kit includes scripts for inputting either Traditional (fanti) or Simplified (jianti) Chinese characters, bitmap and TrueType fonts for each script, several input methods, and the necessary system extensions including WorldScript II [enables system to handle large character sets like Chinese or Japanese], the Language Kit extension [allows user to take advantage of applications localized for Chinese, ie. lets you use applications that were designed for a Chinese Mac operating system], and versions of TeachText for both Traditonal and Simplified Chinese.
System/Software Requirements:
The Chinese Language Kit requires at least 5 meg of RAM, System 7.1 or higher, and at least 10 megabytes of hard disk space for EACH Traditional and Simplified Chinese [this includes the installation of one TrueType font for each input system]. Without the TrueType fonts, the imput systems only take up about a meg of hard disk space.
The RAM/hard disk requirements for the Language Kit are a big liability. With both imput methods and their accompanying TrueType fonts installed, my System folder ballooned to over 30 megabytes! Obviously, the Language Kit is not for people with 40 meg hard drives. Also, my system now hogs up nearly 4 meg of RAM.
In addition to the software included in the Kit, WorldScript compatible applications are needed to take advantage of Chinese inputting capabilities. Currently, only WordPerfect (v. 2.14-3.0a) and Nisus (Complete Flag v. 3.x or the new NisusWriter 4) can handle text processing chores in Chinese. Microsoft Word is NOT WorldScript compatible, nor does it plan to become such. Neither are MacWrite or WriteNow. The only other WorldScript application that I have run across and use is EndNotes Plus, a bibliography database. I haven't looked into WorldScript compatible spreadsheets or other types of applications, since I primarily crunch text and make bibliographies....
Installation:
Installation is relatively simple, however each input system (Traditional or Simplified) must be installed separately. You have the option of installing only the basic script (WorldScript II and Language Kit extensions, pinyin character input, and bitmap font) or custom installing additional imput methods ([Traditional: dayi, cangjie, zhuyin, pinyin, or parrot] [Simplified: pinyin, wubi xing, wubi hua, and quwei]) and TrueType fonts ([Traditional: Apple LiSong Light] [Simplified: Song]). If you install off of the included CD-ROM, additional TrueType fonts are available ([Traditional: Apple LiGothic Medium] [Simplified: FangSong, Kai, and Hei]). Each TrueType font takes 6-7 meg of hard drive space. Additional TrueType fonts are available from the IFCSS or CND ftp sites (ifcss.org/pub/software/fonts/hz/mac) (cnd.org/pub/software/fonts/hz/mac). These fonts are actually quite nice looking. I'm made NTU Kai font my primary traditional Chinese font over the boxy-looking Apple LiSong Light. Since the two input methods are separate, I will address the use of them individually below.
Traditional Chinese Input:
I'm basically using the pinyin method, since 1) I'm usually adding Chinese to English docs, and 2) I'm a pretty fair typist anyway, and switching to pinyin doesn't really slow things down too much. After typing the pinyin and tone (optional), you must then select the character you with to input from the character box. With applications like WordPerfect and NisusWriter, you can input characters directly into the text. With EndNotes, the characters go into an input window until you hit the return or enter key to place them into the text. This method works fairly well, however there are a couple of problems.
The biggest problem is that the characters in the character box are arranged by tone order, which is fine. BUT there is no apparent order within the tonal division. Some frequently used characters are at the beginning of the list while others are buried two or three rows down. Also, there is no way to arrange them according to your preference. If you select a character, SOMETIMES it will move to the top of the list, with the previous top character moving to the location of the character replacing it. This is a big inconvenience.
My other problem with the Traditional input is its inability to enter character compounds. Each character must be input individually. This is a big waste of time. It would be nice if the CLK would allow not only the input of common phrases/compounds, but also allow the user to add phrases to the library.
On a similar note, the CLK does not allow the user to create missing characters. With the standard Big 5 set (13,050 characters) this is not a common problem. However, when the character that you need is not among the 13,050 set, it is a huge problem. I'm not sure what options we have here, short of using some symbolic notation to indicate a missing character in the text, linking it to a footnote/endnote, and writing the character in by hand in the note.
Simplified Chinese Input:
The Simplified input system addresses one of the problems of the Traditional input system, namely, the ability to input compounds/phrases. It also eliminates the need to hit the TAB key before inputting a character. I admit, I don't use the Simplified input much because I work with early and medieval Chinese history and literature. But in preparing materials for my Chinese language students, I found it quite easy to use, and did not run into the problem of characters not in the set. After my class ended, I promptly removed the Simplified input system from my computer. Perhaps someone who uses this input system more frequently would like to comment additionally on its pros and cons.
Compatible Software:
Word Processors: As I mentioned at the outset, only two major wordprocessing programs fully support WorldScript and the CLK: WordPerfect and Nisus.
WordPerfect, which I am most familiar with, does a nice job of handling the Chinese text, allowing input directly into the document. However, it often does not recognize the Chinese as a separate script system. For example, if you want to change all of your Chinese text from the bitmapped Taipei font to a TrueType Kai font, you must manually select each occurrence of Chinese text and make the change. If you try a SELECT ALL and then initiate the font change, your English text is also affected. Since WP does not allow the selection of noncontinuous text, this becomes a long and tedious chore. You can, of course, select the printer font at the outset and avoid this problem. However, I work on a PowerBook. TrueType Chinese fonts are VERY difficult to read at 11 point on a passive matrix screen. It is much easier on the eyes to view the bitmapped font until time to print.
NisusWriter, on the other hand, handles the Chinese text the way I want it to. I can enter text in whatever font I choose, do a SELECT ALL, change the font, and only the Chinese text is changed. (This required a minor bug fix to do, but it works as planned now.) Nisus also doesn't make me hit TAB each time I want to input a character. If I type the pinyin and tone, AND the character I want is the first in the selection box, I can procede to type the next pinyin, and the proceeding character will be automatically input. Like WP, Nisus allows direct input into the document. Where NW really shines is in its Find/Replace function. Nisus will support script-sensitive find and replace operations. Searches are easier, as are replaces. On the downside, Nisus requires the purchase of a Language Key ($100) which plugs into the ADB port of the Mac in order to use the CLK. The key is a copy protection device. I can understand a small company wanting to protect itself from piracy, but I wonder is another method couldn't have been developed. I worry about losing the small thing as I travel with my PowerBook.... The other drawback to Nisus (in general) is its weakness in converting files from WordPerfect and other Mac applications. NW uses the Claris XTND translators, which do not bring Chinese text (or code) over in the translation. Nisus recommends the MacLink translators to do this. (I'm waiting on receiving a set to test this, and will post the results when available). Although I've used WordPerfect for over a year now, I'm leaning very heavily towards the new NisusWriter 4. If it can allow the free exchange of text between itself and WP, then there is no question as to which program handles the Chinese text better.
EndNotes Plus 1.3.1 (I know, version 2.0 has been out for a while, but I'm too poor to upgrade now....) claims to be a WorldScript compatible application. However, when I try to export or print citations with Chinese text, I get weird stuff....characters change, dissappear, etc. I don't know if v.2.0 fixes this problem or not. If anyone knows, let me know.
Conclusion:
Having used a few Chinese input systems over the years (Xia Li Ba Ren, Cihui), I find the CLK to meet my needs fairly well. As I mentioned above, I want a better way of arranging characters within the selection box, as well as a way to create characters missing from the standard set. Supplementing Apple's fonts with those from NTU does wonders.
It should also be noted that the CLK will read/convert Chinese text created in other systems, provided the characters are using standard Big 5 or GB code. I've converted lecture notes created on the much more expensive Ch'i-i system from Taiwan rather easily in both WordPerfect and NisusWriter.
The CLK is inexpensive, easy to use, and meets the needs of most academic situations. The academic price is now $145. An upgrade to version 1.1.1, which will work under the new System 7.5, is due to be released in December 1994. (No upgrade special pricing had been announced at this time).
jmfarmer@students.wisc.edu
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Last Update: 9 April 95