A
Andrew McLaren
D. Solomon said:
Well this is correct, but, er ... it is not totally correct
One might ask, *why* are there two different kinds of language pack: MUI and
LIP? Well, it's because the are part of different projects. MUIs are
produced wholly by the Windows team in Microsoft, as part of the standard
Windows development and Build process. They are all equal partners as
language translations (in Vista, English is just another MUI, applied to a
raw Vista Build, same as French or Japanese). MUIs are the main way in which
Windows is created and distributed in different languages; mainly "major"
world languages like Chinese, French, English etc. They are totally
cross-installable: I can install a French MUI onto Japanese Windows, Italian
MUi onto Russian Windows and so on.
LIP is "Local Language Programme", and is a way to get translations of
Windows into range of "local" or less widespread langauges: such as
Afrikaans, Catalan, Farsi, or Welsh. I'd avoid any suggestion these are less
important languages; since Indonesian, for example, as 230 million speakers;
and I myself tried to get a Scottish Gaelic LIP instigated at one stage
(unsuccessfuly, I regret to say). LIPs are produced in co-operation between
Microsoft and community and academic groups involved with the language
concerned. They are a translation, in varying degrees, of the resource
strings in Windows, so that once applied to a parent language version, they
translate most of the menus, dialogues etc into the local language.
Typically about 80% of the UI is localised in a LIP.
The only "major" world language in the LIP programme is Spanish - that was
an add-on pack for Windows XP Tablet PC edition, which for some reason
didn't seem to have ship in a Spanish version. The other languages are, well
...."languages which are not-MUI-languages". Basically, the set of LIP
languages and the set of MUI languages do not overlap.
Generally, LIP packs need to be installed on top of the appropriate "parent"
language. So Basque egets installed on top of Spanish-language Windows;
Slovak gets installed on top of Czech language Windows; Ukranian on top of
Russian Windows, etc. You can't install a Basque LIP onto an Englisg of
Japanese Windows, for example.
Of the existing LIP languages, most are for XP, few Vista versions have been
created yet. Presumably an update will be produced one day, but since these
depend on co-operation from regional governments, community groups etc, it
can take a while. So far, I think Catalan, Hindi and Serbian are the only
LIPs for Vista, as opposed to XP.
I am a huge fan of the LIP, and it deserves to much better known and
encouraged. But (1) is is so far off the track in providing any kind of
solution for the OP, that it didn't seem useful to mention; and (2) it's
pretty safe to say we will *never* see an English language LIP.
At one stage I also discussed a "UK English" LIP for Windows with the
Microsoft people, to get away from all the barbarous Americanisms now in
Vista. There was some interest from commercial firms in the UK and
Commonwealth, as well. But the momentum and finances required to get a LIP
off the ground are considerable, it really needs national government
support.
In short ... LIP is great; but it is not "MUI-by-stealth". It is a different
project, with different processes and goals. And it is of no assistance to
the OP.