************************************************************************** Chinese Computing Network (CCNET) Frequently Asked Questions ************************************************************************** Editor: lin@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (Tony Lim) Version: CCNET_FAQ.1.0.5 [updated by Yuan Jiang from 1.0.4] Date: August 3, 1992 ALL BEST WISHES TO YOU AND THE NETWORK IN 1992! ----------- This article contains the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) often seen in ccnet. It is intended to be posted to CCNET and newsgroups soc.culture.china, soc.culture.hongkong and soc.culture.taiwan at the beginning of each month (Sorry I didn't keep my promise in the last couple of months since I was very busy finishing my PhD thesis. I think I will have more time from now on). Please forward any questions which you think should be included in the FAQs list, preferably with the answer. Thank you very much for your coorporation. May Chinese computing prosper! Thanks to Yuan Jiang for encouraging such compiling. I would also ackowledge many people who made contributions in the past. Some info contained in the following text actually come from files which I downloaded in the past. {N.B.} I have no any connetions to the commercial commanies mentioned in this file. And I am not responsible for any benefits or damages brought by this file. All info here are just for your reference. ---------- This article includes answers to: 0. What is CCNET? How can I subscribe it? 1. What do I need to read/write a Chinese file with pc/mac/unix/vax/...? 2. Where can I find more Chinese softwares in public domain? 3. Where can I find more commercial Chinese softwares? 4. Where can I find information about usage frequency of Chinese characters? 5. What is GB, Big5, Unicode, etc? 6. How to convert GB/Big5 to dot matrix? 7. Are there any other China/Chinese related interest groups? How can I subscribe them? =========================================================================== 0) What is CCNET? How can I subscribe it? The Chinese Computing Network (CCNET) is a computer network forum on technologies relating to the use of Chinese on computers. It covers a broad range of topics from the technologies for Chinese word processing to desktop publishing, both software and hardware. The articles in this forum may include: a) News of new software, hardwares and technologies; b) Product reviews; c) New ideas, inspirations; d) Comments; e) Questions and Answers. To subscribe to CCNET, send command SUB CCNET-L your name to LISTSERV@UGA.BITNET or LISTSERV@UGA.UGA.EDU [compiled from the welcome message when subscribing to CCNET] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) What do I need to read/write a Chinese file with pc/mac/unix/vax/...? One can read/write/print a Chinese file only if he/she has access to one of the following: a) PC b) Apple Macintosh c) Unix workstation or an X Terminal. Examples of such hardware are Sun, HP WorkStation, Appollo, DecStation (running Ultirx), IBM-RT (running AIX), SGI IRIS, Tektronix stations, etc. d) VT-240 terminal on VAX/VMS machine e) Atari system f) PostScript (laser) printer For detailed information/help, please E-mail to: LISTSERV@UGA.BITNET The mail body should contain one or more lines of the following commands (text after "--" are comments, therefore should not be in email) GET PC HELP -- PC Users Help File (by Ruopeng Zhu, Jian Ding) GET MAC HELP -- Mac Users Help File (by Jack Sun) GET CXTERM HELP -- X-Window CXTERM Help File (by Yongguang Zhang) GET XHZVIEW HELP -- X-Window XHZVIEW Help File (by Stephen Simpson) GET GB2PS HELP -- GB to PostScript Format Convertion (by Ruopeng Zhu) GET HELP INDEX -- Index of the whole help package in addition to the above help files [compiled from introduction materials to Hua Xia Wen Zhai, whose official English title is CND Chinese Magazine. All the help files listed above were written by HXWZ volunteers. Readers can get a list of help files by sending command 'index ccman-l' to listserv@uga.bitnet. Thanks to Minghui Yao for his corrections.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) Where can I find more Chinese softwares in public domain? Here are some useful anonymous ftp sites for Chinese related software: ahkcus.org [192.55.187.25] This is the KING site of Chinese computing. [Directories indicated in parentheses] Articles in BIG5 from HKU (big5/), IFCSS Newsletters in GB (gb/ifcss-nl/), CND Chinese Magazine in GB & postscript (gb/cnd-cm/) CND Chinese Magazine(uuencoded) (cnd-cm/) CND archives(English) (cnd-g/, cnd-us/, cnd-ca/, cnd-ep/, cnd-packages) HKU Chinese News utilities, GB<->BIG5 conversion utilities for unix, vms, Mac and PC (src/unix, src/vms/,src/Mac, src/pc/), BYX1.1 Chinese Editor (src/pc/) NJSTAR2.0 Chinese Editor (src/pc/NJSTAR) CWP1.2 Chinese Editor (src/pc/CWP) zwdos.zip (version 2.0 only!) blackbox.hacc.washington.edu [128.95.200.1] pub/poorman/ poor man's Chinese and Japanese TeX. chiris.stevens-tech.edu [192.12.216.114] ChTeX (As of Nov 1990 chiris.stevens-tech.edu directories are locked. I don't know when or if they will be open again. If you ftp there, the username is supposed to be "ftp" as opposed to "anonymous".) crl.nmsu.edu [128.123.1.14] pub/chinese/ pub/chinese/fonts/ pub/misc/ Chinese X11 fonts, ChTeX, kterm 4.1.2, cxterm, celvis dvi2ps that works with ChTeX Byx 1.1 (Chinese editor for PC DOS) cs.purdue.edu [128.10.2.1] pub/ygz/ cxterm, celvis, cemacs, cclib16* fonts, zwdos21.zip ftphost.cac.washington.edu [128.95.112.1] pub/ chinese.tar.Z - assorted programs [some programs are the outdated stuff from old site "june.cs.washington.edu"- The site has been deleted now] hanauma.stanford.edu [36.51.0.16] pub/zhongwen/ beijing24.bdf, Pinyin pronunciation tables, Pinyin->GB code table [This file was originally compiled by Stephen G Simpson. Thanks to Lite Lin, Xiaofei Wang, Ricky Yeung and Stephen G Simpson for pointing out some outdated sites and files] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) Where can I find more commercial Chinese softwares? {N.B} Many information here are compiled from past postings or private emails, some of them are already outdated. Please check for latest info. Here are some commercial publications: *** China Books & Periodicals 2929 24th Street San Francisco, CA, 94110; phone (415) 282-2994 Name of software / hardware requirements / cost 1. TianMa II+ / IBM & compatibles, graphics card / $695 2. ReadyPage / IBM & compatibles, hard disk, graphics card / $595 3. BrushWriter 4 / Mac 512K, 2 floopies or hard drive || IBM & compatibles, graphics card / $599 (Mac), $750 (IBM) (PS/2 version available) 4. MisHu 2.0 / Mac 512K, 2 floopies or hard drive / $89 ($59 with student id) 5. PX Magic Typist / IBM & compatibles / $99 6. PX Chinese Magic Typist For TianMa II / IBM & compatibles / $199 7. Dr Kompac's Computerized Chinese-English English-Chinese Dictionary, version 2.0 / IBM & compatibles, hard disk, graphics card / $89 Also shown in the catalog with little description: 1. FeiMa / PS/2 || Mac / no price given 2. Rapid Voice Authoring System / IBM / $300 They also mention 2 programs for learning Chinese: 1. ChinEase / IBM & compatibles, graphics card / $49.95 2. Chinese-English Hypercard Flashcards / Mac Plus and above / $99.95 [from Harlan Seyfer , 24 Jan 90. {N.B} This file is certainly outdated, but at least it can give you some hints. Will any kind soul mail me any up-to-date info? Thanks] --------- Get "Duke Chinese Typist" (for $25) from *** 2111 Campus Drive Duke University Durham, NC 27706 --------- Get Chinese Windows 3.0A from *** Information Integration, Inc. East Coast: (301)840-8977 (ask Sheena) West Coast: (415)840-1320 (ask Eric) On the ad: *All MS Windows 3.0 features, adding Chinese input and output capability *Three fonts (Ming, Yuan[round] and Hei[black] Ti), scalable *Screen input, CangJie, Fast, Inercode, ZhuYin *Free wordprocessing, drawing and form applications *for business *for child education Also available: traditional<->simplified ZhiKu (fonts?), PinYin input, handwriting input, Chinese OCR. --------- *** Abest 83-09 Northern Blvd Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (718)507-8485, fax:507-7795 It carries the whole line of ET products --------- Get "Byx 2.1" from *** P.O.Box 8012 Berkeley, CA 94707 (415)526-2576 (west coast) or (617)424-1592 (east coast) More Contact Information: MAILING: YONGXING/SANS SOFTWARE P.O. BOX 1462 BROOKLINE, MA 02146 PHONE/FAX: (617)-424-1592 Developers: Yan Yongxin: (301)-220-3079 (Eastern time) Zhao Sanping: (617)-424-1592 (Eastern time) More Information about BYX 2.1, see the file in the following site: Site: ahkcus.org [ 192.55.187.25 ] Directory: src/pc/BYX File: XLBRinfo-BYX21.zip Site: crl.nmsu.edu [ 128.123.1.14 ] Directory: pub/chinese File: XLBRinfo-BYX21.zip [from Rupert Zhu, University of Waterloo, August 2, 1991] -------- You can get E-Ten for $88.00 and another $5.00 for UPS Next Day Shipping. from *** Pacific Rim Connection 3030 Atwater Drive Burlingame, CA 94010 (415)-697-0911, Fax:697-9439 Remember most of the softwares Pacific Rim has are sold by other sources. However, Pacific Rim has the largest collection of oriental language related softwares. Most of the softwares are for IBM PC. Many of them have Mac versions. Please note that I have no connection with Pacific Rim Connection, Inc. Available from Pacific Rim Others Chinese Word BrushWriter 4.5, TianMa II+, FeiMa, ET, 5-Stroke Processing Easyword, Mishu Chinese Accessory for (WuBiXing), Byx and Desktop Mac, MacChinese, Ready Page, Pinxxiee, (XiaLiBaRen), Publishing Jiejing (Shortcut), Chinastar II-5565 DukeWrite?(from Duke), Ch-series, CPTS, Bisheng DataBase Spread Sheet AhMei (Chart) and Graphics accounting (Office Plus) Draw and Art(AhTu) Paint Education, Book of Chang: I-Ching, ChinEASE, Chinese Bilingual Scholar, Rapid Voice Card, Tutoring Chinese Pronunciation, Chinese Survival Manual & Language Lab, Chinese Flashcard Stack Game Xi'an 3.0, Contender GO (new 3-D) Go [from Pacific Rim Connections' catalog, posted by some netlanders] --------------------------- 4) Where can I find information about usage frequency of Chinese characters? Here are some: - A Dictionary of Chinese Character Information, Farton-Science Press Ltd Shanghai, 1346 pp. (han4zi xin1xi zi4dian3) in Chinese. It contains some 10.000 characters. The frequency is given for the more important characters. For the rarely used characters it is anyway not of much use to give a certain frequency. The book should be available from: International Sales and Marketing Department SCIENCE PRESS Beijing People's Republic of China for US$ 28.-. The data should also be available on tape, but the prize seems to be very high. - Bei Guiqin and Zhang Xuetao: Hanzi Pindu Tongji (Chinese Character Frequency Statistics) published by the Dianzi Gongye Chuban She (Electronic Industry Publishing Company), 1988, 310 pp. (ISBN 7-5053-0147-11). This book is based on the famous character statistics of the middle 70ies. Although the 6000 most frequently used charcters are aranged acording to their frequency, the book contains an alphabetical pinyin index. - Bo Yonghe: Hanzi Shuxing Zidian (Chinese Character Atribute Dictionary), 1989, 1906 pp. Contains a radical index to the main body. There are also data on character frequency. [from A06G@DHBRRZ41.BITNET (Urs)] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) What is GB, BIG5, Unicode and other coding systems? GB is the official standard in mainland China, and an unofficial standard in places where simplified Chinese characters are used, such as Singapore and among mainland Chinese resident abroad. Don't use it unless your system is geared exclusively toward simplified characters. GB does not distinguish between traditional characters that correspond to the same simplified character (such as mian4 ("face") and mian4 ("noodle, wheat")). BIG5 is the official standard in Taiwan and an unofficial standard in other places where traditional characters are used, e.g. Hong Kong. It has codes for almost twice as many characters as GB. JIS is the official standard in Japan for Japanese. Although it includes Japanese kanji, I believe it excludes even some commonly used Chinese characters. Unicode is a proposed international standard that many people are hoping will succeed. It incorporates codes for simplified Chinese characters, traditional Chinese characters, Japanese, Korean, and virtually all alphabets used anywhere in the world. But the code order is not necessarily related to GB, BIG5, or JIS. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) How to convert GB/Big5 to dot matrix? There are many ways of doing it, one of them through unix is b2g -b GB_File | readnews > ASCII_File GB --> Big5 --> ASCII b2g is available via anonymous ftp in the src/unix subdirectory at ahkcus.org [192.55.187.25]. readnews is available via anonymous ftp in the src/pc/hku subdirectory at ahkcus.org [192.55.187.25]. [ It is in pc directory but the source code can be compiled on unix. ] [From xiaofei@acsu.buffalo.edu] ------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Are there any other China/Chinese related interest groups? How can I subscribe it? [From: hartmut bohn ldv ] CHINA RELATED MAILING LISTS as of November 14th 1991 ===================================================== CCMAN-L ------- Purpose: An electronic magazine published weekly in the Chinese language. Viewing software is provided for a wide variety of terminals. Location: USA (University of Georgia) Moderated: Yes, published by CND Subscription: "SUB CCMAN-L " to server Addresses: 1. List: CCMAN-L@UGA.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@UGA.BITNET 3. Organised by: CND 4. Moderator: CND CCNET (Chinese Computing Network) --------------------------------- Purpose: The Chinese Computing Network is a computer network forum on technologies relating to the use of Chinese on computers. Location: USA (New York) Moderated: No Subscription: "SUB CCNET-L " to server Addresses: 1. List: CCNET-L@UGA.BITNET or: CCNET-L@UGA.UGA.EDU 2. Server: LISTSERV@UGA.BITNET or: LISTSERV@UGA.UGA.EDU 3. Organised by: INR@UGA.BITNET (Weihe Guan) 4. Moderator: None CHINA ----- Purpose: Discussions on topics related to Chinese Studies Location: USA (Princeton University) Moderated: Yes Subscription: 1. "SUB CHINA " to server 2. The moderator sends the list guidelines 3. send acknowledgement to moderator Addresses: 1. List: CHINA@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU 2. Server: LISTSERV@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU 3. Organised by: q4356@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU * 4. Moderator: q4356@PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU * Tom Nimick and David C. Wright CHINA-NT (China Net) -------------------- Purpose: For IFCSS (Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars) Location: USA (University of Georgia) Moderated: Currently no Subscription: "SUB CHINA-NT " to server Addresses: 1. List: CHINA-NT@UGA.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@UGA.BITNET 3. Organised by: IFCSS/CND 4. Moderator: INR@UGA.BITNET CHINANET -------- Purpose: Networking in China Location: USA (?) Moderated: No Subscription: "SUB CHINANET " to server Addresses: 1. List: CHINANET@TAMVM1.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@TAMVM1.BITNET 3. Organised by: X040BK@TAMVM1.BITNET (Butch Kemper) 4. Moderator: None CHPOEM ------ Purpose: Exchange of your favourite Chinese poems - classical or modern. Chinese, GB-format, uuencoded. Location: USA (?) Moderated: No Subscription: "SUB CHPOEM-L " to server Addresses: List: CHPOEM-L@UBVM.BITNET Server: LISTSERV@UBVM.BITNET Listowner: (?) CND Canada ---------- Purpose: Relay CND-Global for Canadian Readers, and local news for and about Chinese in Canada Location: Canada (University of Victoria) Moderated: Yes Subscription: "SUB CNC-L " to server Addresses: 1. List: CNC-L@UVVM.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@UVVM.BITNET 3. Organised by: CND 4. Moderator: CND-CANADA@BRONZE.UCS.INDIANA.EDU CND-EP ------ Purpose: China News Digest - European/Pacific Branch Location: USA (Indiana University) Moderated: Yes Subscription: "SUB CND-EP " to server Addresses: 1. List: CND-EP@IUBVM.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@IUBVM.BITNET 3. Organised by: CND 4. Moderator: CND-EP@BRONZE.UCS.INDIANA.EDU CND-Global (China News Digest - Global) ---------------------------------------- Purpose: Provides daily news digest about what is happening in China Location: USA (Arizona State University) Moderated: Yes Subscription: "SUB CHINA-NN " to server Addresses: 1. List: CHINA-NN@ASUACAD.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@ASUACAD.BITNET 3. Organised by: CND 4. Moderator: CND-EDITOR@BRONZE.UCS.INDIANA.EDU CND-US (China News Digest - US) ------------------------------- Purpose: News and information for and about Chinese students and scholars in the US Location: USA (Kent State University) Moderated: Yes Subscription: "SUB CHINA-ND " to server Addresses: 1. List: CHINA-ND@KENTVM.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@KENTVM.BITNET 3. Organised by: CND 4. Moderator: CND-US@BRONZE.UCS.INDIANA.EDU CSA-Data (Chinese Statistical Archive) -------------------------------------- [Will be dismantled in 1992] EMEDCH-L -------- Purpose: Discussions on Early Medieval China Location: USA (University of Southern California) Moderated: No Subscription: "SUB EMEDCH-L " to server Addresses: 1. List: EMEDCH-L@USCVM.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@USCVM.BITNET 3. Organised by: Ken Klein 4. Moderator: none TWUNIV-L -------- Purpose: Chinese Scholars and Students Discussion List. Discussion on scholarly topics. No politics! Location: Taiwan (Taiwan University) Moderated: No Subscription: "SUB TWUNIV-L " to server Addresses: 1. List: TWUNIV-L@TWNMOE10.BITNET 2. Server: LISTSERV@TWNMOE10.BITNET 3. Owner(s): NCUS002@TWNMOE10.BITNET 4. Moderator: None ZHONGWEN -------- Purpose: Information and discussions on "Chinese Computing" with special attention to Europe. Also maintains a ftp archive for Chinese related software. Location: Sweden (Royal Institute of Technology) Moderated: No Subscription: E-mail to server (in natural language :-) Addresses: 1. List: zhongwen@NADA.KTH.SE 2. Server: zhongwen-request@nada.kth.se 3. Organised by: mrfung@NADA.KTH.SE (Lars E. Frederiksson) paf@NADA.KTH.SE (Patrik Faltstrom) 4. Owner(s): mrfung@NADA.KTH.SE 5. FTP archive: ftp.kth.se <130.237.72.201> NIHONGO (Japanese Language Discussion List) ------------------------------------------- Purpose: Discussions on all aspects of the Japanese language Location: USA (MIT) Moderated: no Subscription: "SUB NIHONGO " to server Addresses: 1. List: NIHONGO@MITVMA.MIT.EDU 2. Server: LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU 3. Organised by: STRAZ-SUPPORT@CS.MEDIA-LAB.MEDIA.MIT.EDU * 4. Owner(s): STRAZ-SUPPORT@CS.MEDIA-LAB.MEDIA.MIT.EDU CHINA RELATED USENET GROUPS =========================== soc.culture.china talk.politics.china alt.chinese.text You can read or post to Usenet newsgroups such as soc.culture.china, talk.politics.china, or alt.chinese.text, even if your site does not yet carry these newsgroups. (1) Reading a Usenet Newsgroup Via Telnet [Based on Terence Kwan (nctkwan@watdragon.waterloo.edu)'s article of 20 Sept, 1990] For the people who cannot access the UNIX newsgroups but can telnet to other machines, here is a good news for you. You can telnet to bbs.oit.unc.edu to readnews, sendmail, and do up/download. Once you are connected to the system (supported by University of North Carolina), type: bbs for the userid. Then the system will tell you what you have to do next. Once you are in the main menu, type: 3 for access network news. Then you can join anyone of the unix newsgroups (e.g., talk.politics.china) by typing: g talk.politics.china (if you want to join soc.culture.china, type "g soc.culture.china" instead of "talk.politics.china". The same holds for alt.chinese.text, soc.culture.hongkong, soc.culture.taiwan, and other Usenet newsgroups). (2) Posting to talk.politics.china Via Email Send your article via email (with a subject) to: talk.politics.china@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu To post to any other group, say soc.culture.china, replace talk.politics.china@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu by soc.culture.china@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu In case the node 'bronze.ucs.indiana.edu' breakdowns, it can also be replaced by 'pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu'. -------------------------------- E N D ------------------------------------ From CCNET-L@uga.cc.uga.edu Thu Dec 19 12:32:15 1991 Received: from uga.cc.uga.edu by sirius.ctr.columbia.edu (5.61/5.10) with SMTP id AA23709; Thu, 19 Dec 91 12:32:01 -0500 Received: from UGA.CC.UGA.EDU by uga.cc.uga.edu (IBM VM SMTP R1.2.2MX) with BSMTP id 1872; Thu, 19 Dec 91 12:09:44 EST Received: from UGA.BITNET by UGA.CC.UGA.EDU (Mailer R2.07) with BSMTP id 5238; Thu, 19 Dec 91 12:09:42 EST Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1991 11:07:06 CST Reply-To: JAMES%OKCU.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu Sender: Chinese Computing Network From: JAMES%OKCU.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu Subject: Mail Order for Chinese Computaholic To: Multiple recipients of list CCNET-L Status: RO Dear bitnet user; I have read quite a few mail messages inquiring about Chinese software and hardware products. I know of a mail order company that sells nothing except Chinese software and hardware for PC, Mac and UNIX systems. Product categories include word processors, business packages, CAI's, graphics, Chinese MS-Windows 3.0, translators, Chinese fonts, Chinese systems, CTP's, and dictionaries to Chinese keyboards. Chinese translator software for persons working for universities or big international companies: You may be wondering if there is software that can translate English to Chinese, Chinese to English, or any other languages to Chinese. There is such software! There are, to my knowledge, at least five companies making such products. One of these companies, OTEK, makes this kind of software with the North American market in mind. All of the menus and screens: are in English, which is good for those who know a little bit of Chinese but need to do a lot of English to Chinese translation. You can easily translate books, menus, letters, and faxes using this software. For more information, please contact: Data Station P.O. Box 91654 City of Industry, CA 91715-1654 (213)344-8595 12/19/91 James Chen P.S. Write to them before december 30th, you will be able to get a free gift.