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The Microsoft AppLocale Utility

Related Links
• AppLocale ReadMe
• Download AppLocale
• How to change language for non-Unicode Programs Windows XP/Server 2003?


Need to run legacy (code-page based) applications on your Windows XP or Server 2003, but don't want to change the system locale? Here's a new utility that saves you a reboot: introducing the Microsoft AppLocale utility!

NOTICE: This application is distributed "as is", with no obligations or technical support from Microsoft Corporation.

The Microsoft AppLocale (or Application Locale) utility is a temporary solution to these limitations caused by non-Unicode applications running on the Unicode (UTF-16) based Windows XP. AppLocale detects the language of the legacy application and simulates a corresponding system locale for code-page to/from Unicode conversions.

Unicode based platforms, such as Windows XP and Server 2003, emulate the language environment required to run non-Unicode applications by internally converting application's non-Unicode text data to Unicode using a system wide variable commonly called the "system locale" (or "language for non-Unicode applications"). The language of the non-Unicode applications should be the same script or family as the one defined by the "system locale". Failing to meet this condition results in display of garbage characters in the UI of the application.

The AppLocale utility allows users to run a legacy application without changing to the code-page/system locale needed by that particular application. AppLocale emulates the code-page required by that legacy application without changing the machine's system locale. This emulation is only applied to the application that has been chosen during the AppLocale configuration wizard. AppLocale can be an attractive workaround in these situations:


• A user is running the English version of Windows XP with the system locale set to English-US (Windows codepage 1252). This user wants to run a popular Japanese application that is code-page based. In order to run this app flawlessly in Windows XP, the user needs to set the system locale to Japanese (Windows codepage 932) and reboot the machine. Two restrictions: the user might not be an administrator to force this setting change; and/or the user might not want to force a reboot.

• An educational center in Israel has all its machines running localized Hebrew versions of Windows XP with their system locale set to Hebrew (Windows codepage 1255). This allows even non-Unicode Hebrew applications to run properly. But this educational center also offers Russian courses that use a legacy Russian application (required codepage 1251). This Russian application cannot run unless the system locale of the target machines is changed to Russian and a reboot is forced. Keep in mind that with this new configuration, existing Hebrew legacy applications will stop functioning properly.


Important Notes:

• AppLocale is based on the new application compatibility technology introduced in Windows XP and can only be installed on these two operating systems

• If you frequently use non-Unicode applications in a given script (or set of languages), it is strongly recommended to set your system locale variable to the language of the target application and not to use AppLocale.

• Application developers should not consider AppLocale as an alternative to migrate their product to Unicode. Today, with Microsoft Layer for Unicode (MSLU), creating pure Unicode applications that can also be deployed on non-Unicode platforms - such as Windows 98 - has been made possible.


File Download & Installation Requirements:

To install AppLocale, your system must meet the following requirements:

• Windows XP or Windows 2003 Server in Englished or any localized language version

• Language support already installed. See Enabling International Support in Windows XP/Server 2003 Family for details

• Administrator rights to the system since some system component files are being installed


Note: Administrator rights are not required to use AppLocale after installation. A person with user privileges on the machine can use AppLocale.

To Install:

• Click on the "apploc.msi" to start the AppLocale Installation Wizard

• Follow the instructions on the wizard


The AppLocale setup program installs a shortcut to AppLocale wizard under Start menu/All Programs menu. Use this wizard to launch a desired application. If you don't know the path of the target application, you can simply drag & drop its icon to the "path" edit control.

For more and the latest information, please review the readme file.

Download: APPLOC.MSI (1359KB)