Worldscript

Back in July or August there was a sporadic discussion in the Digest about whether and how one should install two systems on the same hard drive, or if there was a more efficient way of having two scripts available to your Mac. In view of the fact that few WorldScript-savvy scripts are currently available for System 7.1 (and not everyone will want to buy them when they do appear), let me summarise what was said back then, and also pass on a new tip which might be useful to those who want to stick with 7.0. Though some people are against the notion of having two System Folders - one for the "usual" English System and the other for your "foreign" language), it can certainly be done, and it should be trouble-free. Just remember to hide your first System Folder in a Stuffit or other archive before installing the second, otherwise you'll find most of the original System Folder will get deleted or jumbled into new locations (this tip from Murph Sewall).

After installing the second System, you can uncompress the original and use System Picker or System Switcher (both public domain) to bless and switch between System Folders. The advantage of this is that you do get full sets of control panels in the appropriate languages, but it is a somewhat extravagant scheme because it uses quite a bit of disk space (after all, you'll have two complete System Folders lying around). Of course under System 7 there is meant to be a short cut if you don't need a second set of cdevs. You can use the Finder to install the foreign resources you'll need into your existing System. Double-click on the foreign System and drag the foreign fonts, script (a "world doc" icon) and keyboard layout ("keyboard doc" icon) into your old System. In addition, any foreign system extensions should be copied into your Extensions Folder.

The problem with this recipe is that some of us who use Semitic scripts (Arabic, Hebrew) couldn't get it to work. Akif Eyler in Turkey did, but myself and a lady using Hebrew couldn't. There is a manual way, namely using ResEdit to copy the required resources. You can find a list in Inside Mac Vol 6, but I've not attempted this. Instead of trying the Finder, there is a short(er) cut which certainly works for Arabic. Boot your Mac using the Install 1 disk. Look at that first (Arabic) dialog box. If you already have System 7 on your hard disk, the Easy Install dialog box actually asks if you want to add the Arabic resources and extension to your existing System Folder. I hadn't noticed this before because I always assumed that first dialog box was for a full installation (as it would be when using English install disks). So I used to just click on "customise" - which meant I either did a full or minimal installation.

If you do try this Easy Install, well, it works almost perfectly. You will get a keyboard/script menu and you can type in Arabic using Script Manager-savvy apps. It saves loads of disk space! My only gripe is that I can't get the Arabic version of TeachText to work properly under this setup, because it won't type correctly in Arabic (but it still supports Roman scripts). Should you ever wish to remove the foreign resources, boot >From the Install disk while pressing the option key. You will be asked what you want to de-install (I've never tried this, but I'm told it's a feature of Apple's Installer!).

So if you are thinking of installing a foreign script but the Finder won't do it for you, try the Installer and scrutinise what it says. But if you have the money, go for WorldScript and 7.1