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Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

We're working on a tool, the Microsoft Locale Builder, for Windows Vista to help users create their own custom locales.  This will help those users that need a tool rather than a managed API to create a custom locale.

I'll post a link to the public beta when it becomes availalbe.  The beta will require Windows Vista since this is a Vista tool and custom locales work on Vista.  The .msi file in the Klingon example was created using this tool.

Click for fullsize screenshot

[Updated 31 July 2007] The locale builder beta 2 is now available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e4588c5e-8f21-45cc-b862-38df8d9bd528&displaylang=en

Published Monday, February 20, 2006 11:00 AM by shawnste

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# What about the Microsoft Custom Locale Builder?

Regular reader Ivan Petrov asked in the Suggestion Box:

Hi Michael ;-)
Would you tell us something...
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 10:31 AM by Sorting It All Out

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

Will the Locale that is created work only on the English version of Windows - or will it function on localised version of windows?
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:19 AM by David Ashwood

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

Custom locales will be accessible from localized versions of Windows Vista.  They're also available for Managed .Net Framework 2.0 applications.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:02 PM by shawnste

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

Ah ok - cool.

Maybe you can answer a question for me: I've always wondered why there are localised version of Windows.  Why not just have english with the MUI language?
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 3:53 PM by David Ashwood

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

In Vista we have a "language neutral" build and each language is just a MUI language on top of that.  There're a lot of benefits from this approach.

Historically its because we did localized versions before MUI and there needs to be incentive to make major changes like that.  I think its kind of how software development in general evolved with respect to localization.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:07 PM by shawnste

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

Cool.
Thanks for the info.
Does this mean that - with vista - if you buy an localised Italian build of Vista with a new machine - you'll be able to switch (after installing an appropriate language pack) to another language?
The reason I ask is that I often have to deal with the ex pat English community here in Italy.  They have bought a PC in Italy - and, while their Italian is good (they have been here for 10-30 years) they find it hard to use a PC in Italian.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 4:48 PM by David Ashwood

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

I know that we are aware of needs of expatriots and other users, however this raises packaging and marketing questions that I don't know the answer to.

I know that it will be possible to have machines with access to more than one localized language, but I don't know how users will get additional languages.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 5:37 PM by shawnste

# Practical Uses for Replacement Cultures/Locales

In the past, I have talked a lot about genitive month names.
And I have talked a few times about custom...
Monday, March 20, 2006 3:04 AM by Sorting It All Out

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

The locale builder beta 2 tool is now available at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e4588c5e-8f21-45cc-b862-38df8d9bd528&displaylang=en

Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:02 PM by shawnste

# RE: Building my own fonr

Shawn

I just want to build my own font in my own hand writting, but I can find how to do it.  I found a document on Technet with a download to myfont.exe, but the instructions say I need a Font Editor.  I cannot find one.

How would you do it?

Scott R Thurgood

Monday, April 28, 2008 2:03 PM by Scott R Thurgood

# re: Windows Vista Microsoft Locale Builder Tool

Building fonts is hard.  FontForge is an open source editor, but its hard to use and I can't imagine it to make a handwriting font :(.  They have links to other tools that might work better.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:59 PM by shawnste

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