Icelandicizing
Your ComputerIcelandicizing
Your Computer--- DOS / Windows 3.x, NT Systems
1.... by Birgir Kristmannsson
2.... by James Wilde (detailed article)
--- Windows 95 & 98 Systems
--- IBM / OS2 Systems
--- Macintosh Systems
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DOS / Windows 3.x, Windows NT Systems
From: Birgir Kristmannsson - biggi@cs.unm.edu
Icelandic using DOS/Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows NT
You don't need to bother with Icelandic in DOS, but to change to Icelandic
in Windows 3.x / NT it is sufficient to open up the Control Panel, select
International and in the list boxes select appropriate items (i.e.
Icelandic). Supposedly, Icelandic is built into all Windows 3.x clients.
Additional note from Jim Hodgson: Be ready to insert the appropriate Windows diskette for the driver file if it is not already on your system. I forget the name of the .DLL). The file name is something like keybdis.dll, but the file name differs from Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11 and Windows NT.
The '´ key (our "' key) is used for the accented characters using two keystrokes, one for ´ and the other for the letter,
eg. ´+a = á, ´+i = í, ´+o = ó, ´+u = ú, etc.
Icelandic using just DOS
It is necessary to add/modify the following:
CONFIG.SYS
device=C:\dos\DISPLAY.SYS con=(ega,,1)
REM Select country code 354, codepage 861
country=354,861,C:\dos\country.sys
AUTOEXEC.BAT
REM Prepare codepage 861
mode con cp prepare=((861) C:\dos\ega2.cpi)
REM select codepage 861
mode con cp select=861
REM Load keyboard driver for is
keyb is,,C:\dos\keybrd2.sys
However, these drivers (i.e. ega2.cpi and keybrd2.sys), may not be included
with all versions of DOS.
In older DOS systems these drivers are called egax.cpi and keyboard.sys.
See also my Icelandic Characters web site.
------------------------------
For more detailed information on the subject of Icelandic characters being seen and printed by your computer and also how to configure Eudora, please read the article by James Wilde, UK
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Windows XP Operating System
From C. R. Magnusson <darmidal@interbaun.com>
Note: For those who simply want to type and print Icelandic characters on your PC, you can skip Part 2. However, read over Part 2 to see if it might apply to your particular circumstance, i.e. sorting in databases & spreadsheets that contain Icelandic characters. Also note: Some programs may need further specialized patches to enable them to properly find and sort the Icelandic characters. FileMaker Pro (database) is one such program. Contact Apple Iceland for help in this regard.
Part 1. Installing the Icelandic keyboard in Windows XP:Go: Start/Settings/Control Panel.
Double click on "Regional & Language Options" icon. Click on the "Languages" tab, click on the "Details" button, click on the "Add" button. A window entitled "Add Input Language" will come up. Click on the down arrow to the right of the "Input Language" scroll bar and choose "Icelandic". Click OK. Icelandic will appear in the "Installed Services" scroll down box. In the "Preferences" area at the bottom of this window, click on "Language Bar" button and check mark the box: "Show the language bar on the desktop" which will place input language choices in the task bar of the desktop window. Click on "OK", the window will close and then click on "Apply" in the "Regional & Language Options" window to complete the installation of the Icelandic keyboard layout. You will now show in the task bar, a small square with two letters in it (EN = English, IS = Icelandic) indicating the language keyboard currently selected. The square appears in your task bar tray at the lower right hand corner of your screen. To switch quickly between input languages, press both, left, "Alt + Shift" keys.NOTE: If you click on the square in the task bar, a small window will open and allow you to choose with your mouse cursor from a list of the language keyboards you have installed.
HINT: Select the Icelandic keyboard. Type a key plan to see where the Icelandic characters are located. When typing accented vowels, first type the accent key (now found where the lower case single quote key was to the right of the semi colon key) and then type the vowel. It works for both upper and lower case vowels including "y", i.e. ý, Ý.
All North American Microsoft fonts contain the Icelandic character set. Most of the major font manufacturers also include Icelandic characters in their font sets for PCs. Your printer will be able to print these characters as well.
Part 2. Icelandic System SettingsSome programs such as databases and spread sheets require that Icelandic characters not only be typed and printed but also to be found and sorted properly. Icelandic File name sorting (at the system level) and Icelandic character sorting (databases, spread sheets, etc.) are only possible when your computer has been set to "Icelandic" in the Regional and Language Options in your Control Panel.
Go: Start / Settings / Control Panel / Regional and Language Options/Regional Options: "Icelandic"
You can change the numbers, currency and time back to North American standards if you wish. In Windows XP, the date in the taskbar will display in Icelandic when the regional option is changed to Icelandic.
Restart your computer.
Note: Reset your default printer paper size setting.
North American users will need to reset their default printer settings now reading page size "A4" back to "Letter" (81/2 x 11"). Method:
Go: Start/Settings/Printers/(Right Click) Printer/Properties/Paper/ select "US Letter".Having done this adjustment to your computer, you should be able to leave these settings as they are and work in most programs without noticing the System setting. You can always change your system settings from Icelandic back to English at any time using the above method.
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Windows 95 & 98 Operating Systems
From: Robert Asgeirsson <rja@pennan.ca>Note: For those who simply want to type and print Icelandic characters on your PC, you can skip Part 2. However, read over Part 2 to see if it might apply to your particular circumstance, i.e. sorting in databases & spreadsheets that contain Icelandic characters. Also note: Some programs may need further specialized patches to enable them to properly find and sort the Icelandic characters. FileMaker Pro (database) is one such program. Contact Apple Iceland for help in this regard.
Part 1. Installing the Icelandic keyboard.Go: Start / Control Panel / Keyboard / Language - click the [Add...] button / Add Language window - scroll to select the "Icelandic" language and click the [Okay] button in the Add Language window. Under the Switch Languages item, select "Ctrl + Shift". This will enable you to quickly toggle back and forth between Icelandic and English keyboards by depressing the above key combination. Also, check mark the box to "Enable indication on task bar". You will now have a small blue square with two letters in it indicating the language keyboard currently chosen. That blue square appears in your task bar tray at the lower right hand corner of your screen. Note: If you click on this blue box, a small window will open and also allow you to choose from a list of the language keyboards you've installed.
Click the [Okay] button and you're done.
If Windows 95 or 98 came factory installed on your computer, the installation of the Icelandic keyboard should go smoothly. If you have upgraded from an earlier system you may be asked to insert your upgrade disk to complete the installation.
HINT: Select the Icelandic keyboard. Type a key plan to see where the Icelandic characters are located. When typing accented vowels, first type the accent key (now found where the lower case single quote key was to the right of the semi colon key) and then type the vowel. It works for both upper and lower case vowels including "y", i.e. ý, Ý.
All North American Microsoft fonts contain the Icelandic character set. Most of the major font manufacturers also include Icelandic characters in their font sets for PCs. Your printer will be able to print these characters as well.
Part 2. Icelandic System SettingsSome programs such as databases and spread sheets require that Icelandic characters not only be typed and printed but also to be found and sorted properly. Icelandic File name sorting (at the system level) and Icelandic character sorting (databases, spread sheets, etc.) are only possible when your computer has been set to "Icelandic" in the Regional Settings of your Control Panel.
Go: Start / Settings / Control Panel / Regional Settings: "Icelandic"
You can change the numbers, currency and time back to North American standards if you wish. On some earlier versions of Windows including the first version of Windows 98, dates are displayed in Icelandic. I believe Windows 98 2nd Edition allows for either English or Icelandic style dates.
Restart your computer.Note: Reset your default printer paper size setting.
North American users will need to reset their default printer settings now reading page size "A4" back to "Letter" (81/2 x 11"). Method:
Go: Start/Settings/Printers/(Right Click) Printer/Properties/Paper/ select "US Letter".Having done this adjustment to your computer, you should be able to leave these settings as they are and work in most programs without noticing the System setting. You can always change your system settings from Icelandic back to English at any time using the above method.
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IBM - OS2 Systems
Anyone knowing the proper configuration method for this system, please e-mail the webmaster so that this information can be posted here. It will be quoted verbatim, so please be sure it is correct. Webmaster: Robert Asgeirsson <rja@pennan.ca>
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Macintosh Operating Systems, Printers, etc
To Icelandicize your Macintosh, visit the new Apple Macintosh Iceland web site for a free language kit that installs all the appropriate files (fonts, printer drivers, etc.) into your system. Systems supported are 7.5 thru 10.xxIndex | INL News Index |