Installing Language Support


Foreign Language Keyboards

Both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems come standard with foreign language keyboard interfaces, which are a vast improvement on the ALT key combinations that many continue to use. Here, for example, is the keyboard interface for Spanish. You will note that accented characters (like ñ) can be typed by striking just one key. Using the white keys, you can type an accent mark and then type the letter that goes underneath it to achieve an accented character like é.

keyboard

For a full layout of the more common Western-language keyboards, click on the link below for the language below:

French | French (Canadian) | German | Italian | Spanish

For all other languages, or if you need a reminder of the layout, a shortcut is provided on the desktop of EGARC computers which will show the keyboard as you type. To access the on-screen keyboard directly, click on the Start menu (in Windows) and move along the top of the menu: Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > On-Screen keyboard.

These keyboards are not part of the default installation, but in most cases all you will need is your Operating System CD to complete these installations. The real beauty of the system is that switching keyboards will automatically switch the grammar and spell checkers if they are installed (see below).

WINDOWS




 

MACINTOSH


Spelling and Grammar Support for Microsoft Office 2000 and XP

Like the keyboards which come free with the operating system, spell checkers and grammar checkers for Spanish and French are included free on the Ofiice 2000 and XP disks and need only to be installed. Proofing Tools for other languages are also available, but they must be bought separately. Information on these items can be found on the Microsoft site for both Office 2000 and Office XP.