Re: DBCS Documentation

[Simon Coulter <shc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Saturday, February 7, 2004, at 03:05  AM, vinciamo@xxxxxx wrote:

> We want to use two languages (ex: italian and japanese) in our AS/400 
> application!
> Is This possible????
> Where I can find documentation to start??

IBM have a heap of information on this topic under the general term 
Globalisation. See the InfoCentre.

In essence:
You will need a DBCS version of OS/400 to be able to create files that 
define the DBCS data types. O=DBCS-Open, E=DBCS-Either, J=DBCS-Only, 
G=DBCS-Graphic.

You may also want to install Japanese as a secondary language.

You will need to externalise all displayable text such as messages sent 
from programs.

You will need to display panels in the appropriate language. You can:
	o duplicate all panels and translate one set into Japanese, or
	o use MSGCON in place of all DSPF literals, move literal text to 
message descriptions and translate, then compile the DSPF using the 
appropriate message file, or
	o use MSGID in place of all DSPF literals, move literal text to 
message descriptions and translate, then compile the DSPF. The message 
text will be retrieved at run-time from whichever message file is first 
in the library list, and
	o use the &MSG tag in UIM panels to accomplish a similar effect 
although translating UIM panels directly is a better approach.

You will probably need to translate all user documentation for your 
application.

Your application may also need to understand DBCS data for scanning and 
conversion. See the iconv() APIs.

You will also need to understand CCSIDs and how they affect the job, 
data, and displays. There are different CCSIDS used in Japan and you 
must be aware that in at least one of them there are no lowercase 
(English) characters. You'll also need to know that Japanese uses 
Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana symbols.

Finally, you'll need a device capable of displaying DBCS data: 
5555-B01, 5555-C01, 5555-E01, 5555-F01, 5555-G01, 5555-G02, or an 
emulator capable of emulating one of these devices such as PC5250 (the 
DBCS version of course).

がんばってください。(Gambatte kudasai.)

Regards,
Simon Coulter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   FlyByNight Software         AS/400 Technical Specialists

   http://www.flybynight.com.au/
   Phone: +61 3 9419 0175   Mobile: +61 0411 091 400        /"\
   Fax:   +61 3 9419 0175                                   \ /
                                                             X
                 ASCII Ribbon campaign against HTML E-Mail  / \
--------------------------------------------------------------------