What you're saying is true however let me bring forth few points:
1. MUI only works one some Windows versions - true. However it runs basically on all Windows versions available today (Windows 98/Me is not your target) and Windows XP Home Edition as we all know is binary compatible with Windows XP so the limitation is only in version check.
2. You cannot get it free - true. But is this important? You cannog get Windows for free as well and still you're trying to clone it (rather succesfully).
3. Are you sure the API is not available? I believe it would be fairly easy to reasearch it even if it wasn't.
4. "So I think reactos must support least 2 langues at fly." Why limit yourself to 2 only? Why not 3 or 4?
5. "But why not deside which langues it will support when it compile." In my opinion this is answered very easily:
a. Because you do not want to create ReactOS for power-users who are keen to compile stuff. If you need to compile it you'll scare newbies who just want the simplicity of their old Windows for free.
b. Because it contradicts your initial requirement: "If you look at Amiga OS (Workbench 2.0 or higher) you can change the hole os langues when it was running."
All in all: I think the M$ approach is really good one: scalable and easy to use. If you don't want to clone the API for whatever reason, clone the principle...
Best regards
Radovan Skolnik
The MUI only work on some windows version and you can not geting it free.
or even the api. So I think reactos must support least 2 langues at fly.
But why not deside which langues it will support when it compile.
if you only want example english and french example you got it
or you want all langues. you got it instead. when reactos are beign compile
?
I have done a copy and paste from ms site
http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/DrIntl/faqs/MUIFaq.mspx#MUIques1
read it about it here.
What versions of Windows are supported by MUI?
MUI was introduced in the Windows 2000 timeframe and is available for:
a.. Windows 2000 Professional
b.. Windows 2000 Server Family - often implemented in a Terminal Services
environment
c.. Windows XP Professional
d.. Windows XP for Tablet PC
e.. Windows Server 2003 Family
f.. Windows XP Embedded
MUI is not supported on consumer versions of Windows such as Windows 9x,
Windows Me, and Windows XP Home Edition.
What are the system requirements of Windows MUI?
MUI is an add-on to the English version of Windows XP Professional and
Windows 2000 family of operating systems, and will not install on localized
versions of Windows XP/2000 or on Windows XP Home Edition. Every additional
language installed will require approximately 115 MB extra disk space for
Windows XP, 45MB for Windows 2000; East Asian language support requires an
additional 250 MB.
How can I acquire Windows MUI?
The Windows XP/2000 MUI is sold only through Volume Licensing programs such
as the Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP / Open), Select, and Enterprise
agreement (or with a new computer as an OEM version at customer request). It
is not available through retail channels.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Radovan Skolnik" <Radovan_Skolnik@tempest.sk>
To: <ros-dev@reactos.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 1:40 PM
Subject: RE: [ros-dev] Idea to save time in future - Language Support AndUse
inReactos
> Hello guuys (and girls if any out there)!
>
> Until now I have been watching the development of ReactOS with great
> interest but as a not-so-great C/C++ programmer (especially for kernel
> stuff) I felt no urge to add my (for you would be worthless) comments :-)
> However the discussion about localizing ReactOS struck me because I think
> there's one thing in/for M$ Windows/Office you probably don't know about
> that already handles this. It is called MUI (Multilingual User Interface
> Pack) - read about it here:
> http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/DrIntl/faqs/MUIFaq.mspx What it does is
> that it adds another combo box to Regional Settings in Control Panel and
> each user can choose language to its liking (from those installed of
> course). I can have a look at install media for few languages but as far
as
> I remember it is only bunch of .inf & .dll (probably resources) files. So
I
> believe there is indeed an API to achieve this. So if you're aiming for
> maximum compatibility with original Windows (whatever version) you should
> probably consider this approach. I'm home and sick now with flu but when I
> get well I'll research the MUI media in more detailed way and let you
> know...
>
> Best regards
>
> Radovan Skolnik
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Magnus Olsen magnus at itkonsult-olsen.com
>
> I want see driffnet langues in the dll and change langues on fly
> instead compile a dll file for each langues. I am mising that feturtuer in
> windows.
> If you look at Amiga OS (Workbench 2.0 or higher) you can change the hole
> os
> langues
> when it was running. in windows you are stuck with one langues.
>
> So I think it is good idea to compile all langues into all dll file.
> then select in the os wich langues you want use.
>
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