Pan-Asia Language Environment

UniText Limited Edition

Technical Support

UniText FAQ

Summary:

Can I open UniText document by other word-processing program?
I wrote some words using Beijing bitmap font and saved the document, but later on when I use UniText to open the file,it became unreadable.
Yes, I got "Use PanALE fbit Bitmap Font". Should I also check the box of "HZ code"?
I tried using UniText to read some files I previously wrote through an IBM PC and some files like HXWZ, they are unreadable. MacViewHZ can do good jobs. What is wrong?
When I open a MS-DOS file or some files downloaded from internet, I see a square in the beginning of each line. What is it?
How do I use UniText as an external viewer for HZ code Chinese site or IRC #hanzi channel?

Q: Can I open UniText document by other word-processing program?

A:
        yes or no.
        If you installed Worldscript II extension, you can use any word-processing program to open the UniText document because it is just a plain 'TEXT' file.
        If you do not install worldscript II extension, the line break info will be incorrect and font may not even show when opened using other word processing program. You can still open it, but you can't see the CJK display for those fbit fonts. They become unreadable characters unless you have the language script and worldscript installed in your system.

Q: I wrote some words using Beijing bitmap font and saved the document, but later on when I use UniText to open the file,it became unreadable.

A:
You must have disabled the "Use PanALE fbit Bitmap Font" in the preference and you do not have Worldscript II in your system.
When Worldscript II is NOT installed, you have an extra option in the preference dialog "Languages". If the "Use PanALE fbit Bitmap Font" check box is on and language support is specified, you should be able to re-select the code and set back to the right font.

Q: Yes, I got "Use PanALE fbit Bitmap Font". Should I also check the box of "HZ code"?

A:
No.
HZ code is for different purpose. When it is checked, you can change the text field in the same line as the check box to other number and allow an automatic line break at the specified character number/line in GB/Big5 -> HZ conversion. Otherwise, it locks the HZ conversion break point and does not line break in HZ generating (Not recommended). See Balloon help or User Manual for its function.

Q: I tried using UniText to read some files I previously wrote through an IBM PC and some files like HXWZ, they are unreadable. MacViewHZ can do good jobs. What is wrong?

A:
UniText will not set font for you for such files. When opened, you have to select all and choose simp. Chinese font yourself. This is so because I do not allow editor to guess the code set theme. Specially for HXWZ, if when you open it, it formats like starting with ÝáîäÝåîäéîçÝ÷éôèÝ each line, it is HZ code, you need to import this HZ to simp. or trad. Chinese. Choose one of import module from File menu to do the conversion. (MacViewHZ has this built-in because it is only a gb/HZ viewer. A styled CJK text editor like UniText can not assume too much.) If you did not see the HZ escape sequence, instead you see non-ascii characters, that is probably gb or big5.
Note: if you do not have Worldscript II Extension, make sure the check box "Use PanALE fbit Bitmap Font" in the preference dialog is checked and "Simplified Chinese" or "Traditional Chinese" check box in the language option is also checked.

Q: When I open a MS-DOS file or some files downloaded from internet, I see a square in the beginning of each line. What is it?

A:
It is line feed character.
The only problem one could encounter in reading HXWZ or file edited in IBM PC is the \n\r problem. For such a file, one should select "strip line feed" from special menu to convert \n\r to \r.

Q: How do I use UniText as an external viewer for HZ code Chinese site or IRC #hanzi channel?

A:
        If you do not have Chinese OS or the internet client program does not support HZ decoding, you can set up UniText as external viewer/editor.
        To set up UniText this way, launch UniText and open the preference dialog - special option. Make sure the Transparent HZ filter check box (in Encoding option) is checked. Click OK to close the preference dialog. If you see HZ codes in your internet client program, such as ircle v2.2, the IRC client, select the desired codes and copy them, switch to the launched UniText, paste in an open document window. The first time when you paste you have to select all text and set to simp. Chinese font. The HZ code will be automatically decoded and display.
        If you also want to write HZ into the client program, simply type in simp. Chinese (GB), select the portion you want and copy. Then switch to the client program, such as ircle, paste it. The GB->HZ conversion is automatically carried out during pasting.
        Have fun in IRC #hanzi channel. For other internet client, such as gopher, web, newswatcher, etc. you can use the same method. It is still not quite convenient, but that is currently the best method.