Microsoft KB Archive/70255

Word 5.50: Installing Word for Countries and Code Pages

PSS ID Number: Q70255 Article last modified on 11-02-1994

5.50

MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

All copies of Microsoft Word version 5.50 sold in the United States can be installed with the Setup program to support code page 437 (United States) or code page 850 (multilingual). Code page 437 is the default code page supported by Word 5.50.

However, the WORD.EXE file created by Setup is only capable of supporting the code page that was active when Setup was run. If the DOS Keyb command is used to load a new keyboard program that uses a different code page, the characters that appear on the screen may not be correct for the current code page.

If the DOS Nlsfunc (national language support function) and Chcp (change code page) commands are being used to change between code pages 437 and 850, you must do one of the following:


 * 1) Use Setup to install a copy of Word 5.50 on your computer with code page 437 active, then use Setup to install another copy of Word 5.50 with code page 850 active. Then, start the appropriate WORD.EXE file based on the currently active code page.
 * 2) Make sure that the proper code page is activated with the DOS Chcp command before starting Word.

Enter the DOS Keyb command without any options to have DOS display the current keyboard code and code page.

= MORE INFORMATION =

DOS provides support for various national languages through the use of code pages. A code page is a table that defines the character set that can be used with the computer’s keyboard, screen, and printer. Characters are translated from the code page table that is currently installed.

Code page 437 supports the following countries/languages:

Country Keyboard Code ——- ————-

United States US France FR United Kingdom UK Finland SU Latin America LA Spain SP Sweden SV Netherlands NL Italy IT Germany GR Belgium BE Swiss-French SF Swiss-German SG

Code page 850 supports all of the countries/languages supported by code page 437, plus the following countries/languages:

Country Keyboard Code ——- ————-

Canadian-French CF Denmark DF Norway NO Portugal PO

Note: Support for these countries/languages is only available in Word 5.50 if code page 850 was active when Setup was run to install Word.

Reference(s):

“MS-DOS Users Guide.”

“Microsoft Quick Reference Guide to MS-DOS Commands.”

KBCategory: kbsetup KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.