Hi all,

I have converted a clipper app to xbase hybrid version using XbpCrt and
everything works fine so far. 

Then recently i need to switch my XP Regional Languages to 'Chinese (PRC)'
and i realised that the @...BOX "Box String" command does not display the
proper box characters anymore.

Swtiching back to Regional Languages 'English' allow the app to display
proper box characters.

SO, how to display the right box characters in 'Chinese' as the regional
languages ?

TIA

Frankie

Actually the original clipper app also does not display the right box
characters in 'Chinese' as Regional Languages.

Maybe there is not work around for it?

TIA

Frankie

Hello Frankie,

> Actually the original clipper app also does not display the right box
> characters in 'Chinese' as Regional Languages.
> 
> Maybe there is not work around for it?

You might try setting the font to the OEM codepage on the XbpCrt():setFont(). 
 See the documentation on this method.  I think you set the codepage on the 
font, then set the font on the xbpCRT. 

You will need to use a font that includes the OEM codebase such as AlaskaCRT. 
 Since Chinese is not listed as a supported :codePage, I am unsure what Xbase++ 
is doing.

Here are some insightful links that might help:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.win32.programmer.international/browse_thread/thread/36a29d92e47e3cee
http://www.sisulizer.com/support/codepages.shtml

Ultimately, you will need to use a font and codepage combination that has 
the box characters according to the OEM character coding.

Note: It does look like you can set the non-unicode application code page 
on the advanced tab of the regional settings.  Not sure if Xbase++ respects 
this or drives the code pages directly to the Win32 GDI.

Note: I only work in English and have not needed tested any of this.

Regards,

Rodd Graham, Consultant
Graham Automation Systems, LLC

Rodd,

>  Since Chinese is not listed as a supported :codePage, I am unsure what Xbase++ 
> is doing.

The box characters are defined in "box.ch"
In Clipper that meaned the characters were
defined as a string litteral.

In Xbase++ they are defined as nationmsg's
(basically the same strings) Frankie has to fiddle 
a bit around and try, what strings give what results.
It might be not possible to get a complete set in
some regional settings.

I'm not sure whether or not ansi-oem conversions 
are spitting in the soup, but that problem could 
also be solved by fiddling with the below mentioned 
defines.

Regards,
Frans Vermeulen

#define  B_SINGLE               "ABCDEFGH"
#define  B_DOUBLE              "IJKLMNOP"
#define  B_SINGLE_DOUBLE  "QRSTUVWX"
#define  B_DOUBLE_SINGLE  "abcdefgh"
#define  B_THIN                  "ijklmnop"
#define  B_FAT                   "qrstuvwx"

Hello Frans,

>> Since Chinese is not listed as a supported :codePage, I am unsure
>> what Xbase++ is doing.
>> 
> The box characters are defined in "box.ch"
> In Clipper that meaned the characters were
> defined as a string litteral.

Curiously, the comments in my "box.ch" state that codepage 437 must be used 
for the box characters to display correctly.

Regards,

Rodd Graham, Consultant
Graham Automation Systems, LLC

hi,

> Then recently i need to switch my XP Regional Languages to 'Chinese (PRC)'
> and i realised that the @...BOX "Box String" command does not display the
> proper box characters anymore.

#IFDEF __XPP__
   b_type0 := CHR( 201 ) + CHR( 205 ) + CHR( 187 ) + CHR( 186 ) + CHR( 188 ) 
+ CHR( 205 ) + CHR( 200 ) + CHR( 186 ) + " "
   b_type1 := CHR( 218 ) + CHR( 196 ) + CHR( 191 ) + CHR( 179 ) + CHR( 217 ) 
+ CHR( 196 ) + CHR( 192 ) + CHR( 179 ) + " "
   b_type2 := CHR( 218 ) + CHR( 196 ) + CHR( 191 ) + CHR( 179 ) + CHR( 217 ) 
+ CHR( 196 ) + CHR( 192 ) + CHR( 179 )
   b_type3 := CHR( 218 ) + CHR( 196 ) + CHR( 191 ) + CHR( 179 ) + CHR( 217 ) 
+ CHR( 196 ) + CHR( 192 ) + CHR( 179 ) + " "

#ELSE
   b_type0 = "ͻȺ "
   b_type1 = "Ŀ "
   b_type2 = "Ŀ"
   b_type3 = "Ŀ"
#ENDIF

try one of the b_type as BOX.

if you need only a part of the BOX try this :

FUNCTION NAT_LINE( nNo )                                     "Ŀ" - 
"ͻȺ "
LOCAL aLINE  := {}
LOCAL Retvar := ""
LOCAL i

   DEFAULT nNo TO 0

   IF nNo = 0
      AADD( aLINE, "" )
      nNo := 1

   ELSEIF nNo > 8
      FOR i = 1 TO 8
         AADD( aLINE, SUBSTR( b_type0, i, 1 ) )              "ͻȺ "
      NEXT
      nNo := nNo - 8

   ELSE
      FOR i = 1 TO 8
         AADD( aLINE, SUBSTR( b_type2, i, 1 ) )              "Ŀ"
      NEXT
   ENDIF

   Retvar := aLINE[ nNo ]

RETURN Retvar

greetings by OHR
Jimmy

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:05:21 +0800, Frankie wrote:

Hi All,

I have tried all the define setting and XbpCrt setfont things but it
doesn't work. Finally i set the Language for non-Unicode programs in the
advanced tab of Regional and Languages Options back to English and the box
comes back again.

As i check further about the box chr, it was form by the 8 ascii box
graphics. From the web info about Unicode, ascii & ansi, i think my Hybrid
app was affected by the Language for non-Unicode programs being set to
Chinese. As 1 chinese chr was form by 2 bytes, and there are thousand of
chinese words, the graphics box maybe wasnt defined or push to some other
place, i guess.

Well, i dont want to waste too much time on this issue. Just to educate my
client to not use other language for the non-unicode program except
English.

Thanks again for all of your helps.

Frankie