[Localization] 8.2 Languages, Keyboards and Layouts

[Greg Smith]

Hi Edward,

That doc link looks good. I don't think I would have found it on my own.

What I think we need is a single page that explains what you need to do 
to change your language. I think it should cover this case:

- You get an XO with US keyboard and want to load a different language 
on it. You want to use the keyboard layout for your language even 
thought the keys will not have the right characters on them. What do you do?

Its probably as simple as choose the language from the Sugar Control 
Panel, then follow instructions at: 
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Customizing_NAND_images#Keyboard

Another case to explain would be:
- You got the XO maybe with the keyboard and language set already or 
maybe not. However, it doesn't have the latest translation you need 
(maybe an older one or your target language isn't in the image at all). 
You want to install the latest translation. What do you do?

I think all that info is available, Just not sure its easily accessible 
in one place. If you can help doc that or just point to the right places 
and add it to t he 8.2 release notes that would be great.

Thanks,

Greg S

Edward Cherlin wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 5:56 AM, Greg Smith <gregsmitholpc at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Sayamindu and team,
>>
>> Can I get a sanity check on the documentation regarding language support
>> in 8.2?
>>
>> The relevant section of the release notes is at:
>> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Release_Notes/8.2.0#Languages_and_keyboards
>>
>> Please confirm that all of those languages listed are in the base 8.2
>> image. Can you also add the localization code e.g. mn_MN and maybe the
>> text as it would appear in the language control panel if you think that
>> would be useful.
>>
>> You can use a wild card to cover and a note to cover sub-variants. e.g.
>> es_* means we support Spanish and you get the same translation for all
>> variants.
>>
>> Another helpful item (aka not critical but nice to have if someone has
>> time) here would be to link to the documentation on how to change
>> keyboard mappings. A brief explanation about what to do to change the
>> keyboard layout may go a long way towards answering support questions.
> 
> What particularly are you looking for?
> 
> Instructions for setting up keyboard switching in Terminal are on the
> Customizing NAND images page.
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Customizing_NAND_images#Keyboard
> On bilingual XOs, the times/divide key is replaced with a keyboard
> switching key.
> 
> On the page
> 
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Keyboard_layouts
> 
> I put the terminal commands for switching to each keyboard layout
> discussed, using setxkbmap.
> 
> For my own use, I create shell scripts for each keyboard and writing
> system that I use or test to get back to a keyboard with ASCII so I
> don't get stuck.
> 
>> BTW for my own edification, do we "automatically" change the keyboard
>> layout if we load 8.2 on an XO with a non-English keyboard?
> 
> That's controlled by the configuration file discussed on the NAND images page.
> 
>> Also, please see the release check list for this release at:
>> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/ECO/8.2.0/Checklist#Test
>>
>> We want a somewhat more rigorous test of a few key languages. Please
>> update that section of the checklist as needed and let me know what
>> final test you think we should do to "sign off" on a language in this
>> release.
>>
>> Kim,
>>
>> On the keyboard list. Can you confirm that all of those keyboards listed
>> can be manufactured and that we will test them?
>>
>> I would rather be conservative and correct here, so please remove any
>> that are not completely confirmed and available.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Greg S
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>>
> 
> 
>