Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

The New Zealand variate of the English dictionary is available on PC Word but apparently not on Mac Word. The fact that it exists means to me that it should be available.

It causes quite a few issues for me in a cross platform environment. Any Word document created on PC and set to English NZ will revert to English US when it gets to me. Very annoying. I can reset it to English Australia but the receiver then wants it set to the local variate?

Any ideas out there?

Bob J.

G'day Bob,

Bad luck for the present. The fact that there is even an Australian variant
is only the result of an "accident" (Australian budget needed spending) many
years ago, I'm told. Sorry, cobber, that Whakapapa isn't in it...

The Mac versions of Word do not have the range of dictionaries as on the PC.
Dictionaries aren't ordinary text files, so apparently it costs [lots of]
money to compile them for the Mac.

You should send your views to Microsoft's Mac Business Unit via the Help
menu, as Microsoft does not record what's said in this newsgroup (but
someone definitely does when you Send Feedback). As yours is the first
NZ-specific query I've read in 6 years at this newsgroup I doubt there are
that many others from NZ who have asked. (Nevertheless, do put in this
request -- it may add collectively to the demand for variants of English and
result in NZ being included.)

I often receive documents in which English (US) has been applied -- usually
because Word users are too terrified to change anything. I change it quickly
to English Australia by keying Command-a then hitting a button I created on
a toolbar that invokes a very simple macro. Fortunately you're using Word
2004 and therefore still have macro capability, so if it interests you, take
a look at the item "Apply a preferred language to selected text" on page 191
of some notes on the way I use Word for the Mac, titled "Bend Word to Your
Will", which are available as a free download from the Word MVPs' website
(http://word.mvps.org/Mac/Bend/BendWordToYourWill.html).

[Note: "Bend Word to your will" is designed to be used electronically and
most subjects are self-contained dictionary-style entries.  If you decide to
read more widely than the item I've referred to, it's important to read the
front end of the document -- especially pages 3 and 5 -- so you can select
some Word settings that will allow you to use the document effectively.]

Or you could, er, run Windows on an Intel Mac and revel in the glories of
Word 2007.  :-\

Cheers,

Clive Huggan 
Canberra, Australia
====================

On 23/7/08 8:09 AM, in article 59b54dd8.-1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"BobJordanB@officeformac.com"  wrote:

> Version: 2004
> Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
> Processor: Power PC
> 
> The New Zealand variate of the English dictionary is available on PC Word but
> apparently not on Mac Word. The fact that it exists means to me that it should
> be available.
> 
> It causes quite a few issues for me in a cross platform environment. Any Word
> document created on PC and set to English NZ will revert to English US when it
> gets to me. Very annoying. I can reset it to English Australia but the
> receiver then wants it set to the local variate?
> 
> Any ideas out there?
> 
> Bob J.

Thanks Clive for your informative reply - the 'G'day ' was a clue to your location. Thought I had better get my reply in before Saturday so that there is no danger of tears on the keyboard.

It seems to my simple mind that the dictionaries should move well across platforms with only recompilation required (in a computer rather than a lexicographical sense). The fact that it exists on PC must make the task easy?

Yes changing the language is not a problem per se it is in fact the need to change documents each time they go from one platform to another that is the pain.

But running a ppppp.. ummmh a wwwwi.. - any other form of computer goes against my fundamentals - having fun!

Thanks
Bob J.

On 23/7/08 11:41 AM, in article 59b54dd8.1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"BobJordanB@officeformac.com"  wrote:

> Thanks Clive for your informative reply - the 'G'day ' was a clue to your
> location. 

Ah, Kiwis are so darned perceptive!

> Thought I had better get my reply in before Saturday so that there
> is no danger of tears on the keyboard.

I, er, had that sense of urgency in mind!  ;-)
> 
> It seems to my simple mind that the dictionaries should move well across
> platforms with only recompilation required (in a computer rather than a
> lexicographical sense). The fact that it exists on PC must make the task easy?

*Apparently* not at all -- the subject has been raised many times, including
face to face in the odd meeting at Mac Business Unit.  You might like to do
a Google groups search of the microsoft.public.mac.office.word group --
author John McGhie -- on "dictionary", "language" etc for the reasons why
not. But John will probably join in soon and comment (he's Australian now,
but the umbilical cord from the Shaky Isles has not yet entirely withered).
> 
> Yes changing the language is not a problem per se it is in fact the need to
> change documents each time they go from one platform to another that is the
> pain.

Yes, understood.
> 
> But running a ppppp.. ummmh a wwwwi.. - any other form of computer goes
> against my fundamentals

Ho-ho!

Clive H
=======

> - having fun!
> 
> Thanks
> Bob J.

Hi Bob:

Whitikahu is not in there either, and that's where I grew up...

Sorry:  The "Main Dictionary" is not a text file, it's a database.  It has
to be compiled for each platform.  As Clive says: that costs money.

It also means they have to buy a licence for the content, pay copyright
fees, maintain it, etc.

Currently, they don't get enough sales in New Zealand to fund the activity,
but this is something they reconsider for each new version.  If Microsoft
New Zealand can make a business case for the creation of a New Zealand
dictionary for Mac Office, then it will be done!

But the cost will come out of their budget, and you know what Kiwis are like
for putting their hand in their pocket....

Running away now.... :-)

Cheers


On 23/07/08 11:11 AM, in article 59b54dd8.1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
"BobJordanB@officeformac.com"  wrote:

> Thanks Clive for your informative reply - the 'G'day ' was a clue to your
> location. Thought I had better get my reply in before Saturday so that there
> is no danger of tears on the keyboard.
> 
> It seems to my simple mind that the dictionaries should move well across
> platforms with only recompilation required (in a computer rather than a
> lexicographical sense). The fact that it exists on PC must make the task easy?
> 
> Yes changing the language is not a problem per se it is in fact the need to
> change documents each time they go from one platform to another that is the
> pain.
> 
> But running a ppppp.. ummmh a wwwwi.. - any other form of computer goes
> against my fundamentals - having fun!
> 
> Thanks
> Bob J.

-- 
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group.  Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia.   mailto:john@mcghie.name

> On 23/7/08 11:41 AM, in article 59b54dd8.1@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw,
> "BobJordanB@officeformac.com"  wrote:
> 
<snip>

>> Thought I had better get my reply in before Saturday so that there
>> is no danger of tears on the keyboard.
> 
> I, er, had that sense of urgency in mind!  ;-)
>> 
<snip>

Funny that, Bob -- my keyboard is quite dry.

Is yours working OK, Bob?

Bob?

Are you there, Bob?

;-))

Ah, 34-19...

Fraternal commiserations,

Clive
======
And for anyone who plays a lesser sport and is therefore mystified:
http://www.rugby.com.au/


> 
> Clive H
> =======
> 
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Bob J.
> 
>

Hello Clive -

On 7/27/08 4:04 AM, in article
C4B26918.3A2C1%REMOVETHISoffice@ANDTHISstrategists.com.au, "Clive Huggan"
 wrote:

> And for anyone who plays a lesser sport and is therefore mystified:
> http://www.rugby.com.au/

Ahhh - you mean American Football off it's medication?! :-)

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones 
[MVP] Office:Mac

;-))

CH
===

On 27/7/08 11:44 PM, in article C4B1F41A.3FBFA%onlygeneraltaz1@com.cast.net,
"CyberTaz"  wrote:

> Hello Clive -
> 
> On 7/27/08 4:04 AM, in article
> C4B26918.3A2C1%REMOVETHISoffice@ANDTHISstrategists.com.au, "Clive Huggan"
>  wrote:
> 
>> And for anyone who plays a lesser sport and is therefore mystified:
>> http://www.rugby.com.au/
> 
> Ahhh - you mean American Football off it's medication?! :-)
> 
> Regards |:>)
> Bob Jones 
> [MVP] Office:Mac
>

Thanks for the many responses.

But it still does not make sense.

      Sorry: The "Main Dictionary" is not a text file, it's a database. It has
      to be compiled for each platform.




From my dictionary to compile means to make up (a book) from various sources, to put together. Now I gather that has been done - the data base for English New Zealand already exists within the Microsoft Household for use on the PC. The database you speak of is there!

Another meaning of compile is to convert into machine code. Now I know that the procedure to do that also exists for the Mac because we have other dictionaries.

When I last compiled a program it took a minute or two and was done.

So what was the problem again?

      It also means they have to buy a licence for the content, pay copyright
      fees, maintain it, etc.




And where does that differ across platforms? Is the Mac version of Word cheaper because we have less dictionaries and hence less licences to pay?

      Currently, they don't get enough sales in New Zealand to fund the activity,




With the current swing towards Macs I guess that day is coming real soon! :-)

As an alternative can we install the English Australian dictionary with the English New Zealand name so that we don't get this cross platform incompatibility. I care less about the lack of Whitikahu's and presences of Maroochydore's than the hassle of being switched to English US every time I swing a file back through my PC colleagues.

Sorry to be a pain - but there are tears in my eyes too :-)

Bob J.

No:  American Football without the pain-killers :-)

Imagine:  All those hits.  No helmet.  No padding :-)

Cheers


On 27/07/08 11:44 PM, in article
C4B1F41A.3FBFA%onlygeneraltaz1@com.cast.net, "CyberTaz"
 wrote:

> Hello Clive -
> 
> On 7/27/08 4:04 AM, in article
> C4B26918.3A2C1%REMOVETHISoffice@ANDTHISstrategists.com.au, "Clive Huggan"
>  wrote:
> 
>> And for anyone who plays a lesser sport and is therefore mystified:
>> http://www.rugby.com.au/
> 
> Ahhh - you mean American Football off it's medication?! :-)
> 
> Regards |:>)
> Bob Jones 
> [MVP] Office:Mac
> 

-- 
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group.  Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia.   mailto:john@mcghie.name

Hi Bob:

On 29/07/08 7:50 AM, in article 59b54dd8.7@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, "Bob
Jordan " <> wrote:

> Thanks for the many responses.
> 
> But it still does not make sense.

OK, let's make this simpler...

A "software company" is a business activity that makes a profit by selling
its products for more than it costs to make them.

Each new version, Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit in Redmond polls all the
regional offices, including Microsoft New Zealand, and asks them to forecast
sales of the next version of Mac Office.  If Microsoft NZ believes they will
get enough of a sales increase from having their own dictionary, to fund the
cost of making it, it will be there.

Since all of the people reading in here are just fellow users, none of us
work for Microsoft, so funnily enough we have not spent a long time studying
the commercial arrangements between Microsoft and whoever owns the New
Zealand dictionary.  If you want to pursue this line, best ring Microsoft
New Zealand.

Cheers

-- 
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group.  Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia.   mailto:john@mcghie.name

He could sit down with a paper version of New Zealand Dictionary and key 
in the words in a word Text document . Then send to Microsoft. Since he 
gave them his file which is hand written it would cost MS just the time 
to convert it to dictionary format.  :-)

John McGhie wrote:
> Hi Bob:
> 
> On 29/07/08 7:50 AM, in article 59b54dd8.7@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, "Bob
> Jordan " <> wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for the many responses.
>> 
>> But it still does not make sense.
> 
> OK, let's make this simpler...
> 
> A "software company" is a business activity that makes a profit by selling
> its products for more than it costs to make them.
> 
> Each new version, Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit in Redmond polls all the
> regional offices, including Microsoft New Zealand, and asks them to forecast
> sales of the next version of Mac Office.  If Microsoft NZ believes they will
> get enough of a sales increase from having their own dictionary, to fund the
> cost of making it, it will be there.
> 
> Since all of the people reading in here are just fellow users, none of us
> work for Microsoft, so funnily enough we have not spent a long time studying
> the commercial arrangements between Microsoft and whoever owns the New
> Zealand dictionary.  If you want to pursue this line, best ring Microsoft
> New Zealand.
> 
> Cheers
> 

-- 
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