Re: IIGS question: language specific character support.

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

"Deacon Blue" <scavenger@apexmail.com> wrote:

>Question:  Character support  Apple IIGS
>
>As I understand the Apple IIGS is fitted with a 'BIOS-like' control
>programme that may be entered during boot.

Yes.  On the IIGS, this is called the BRAM control panel
for Battery RAM.

>Will any IIGS machine be able to support  language specific
>keyboards/characters (for instance nordic type characthers) from this menu!,

Not this control panel.  You have to boot System 6.0.1
and access one of the graphical control panels supplied
with the OS.  It supports two character modes, standard
and extended.  You want extended.  With extended
support enabled, the IIGS will be able to access the
entire character set of its fonts.  You type the extra
characters by holding down the option key while you
type.  For example, on most fonts I can type all of the
French accented characters using my US ADB
keyboard this way.

If I had a French keyboard, I could use System 6.0.1's
keyboard control panel to select this keyboard so that
I would no longer have to use option key combinations
to get the needed characters.  The French keyboard is
nice if I were in a French speaking region, but since I
only need to do this rarely, the US keyboard plus the
option key combinations is better.

>much like you would on a Mac or Win-system.

Like Macintosh.

>What type of compatible keyboards should I select?

Whichever one is available.  Just grab a keyboard from
your Mac, plug it into the IIGS, boot System 6.0.1,
select the right keyboard from the keyboard control
panel, then type away.

As I mentioned, a special keyboard is not absolutely
needed.  You can use option key combinations to type
in a different language.  Installing System 6.0.1's video
keyboard desk accessory helps you to identify which
option key combination produces which character
though.

>Any advice appreciated on this!

Good luck!