Setting default encoding for non-unicode programs/documents

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Level 1

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Setting default encoding for non-unicode programs/documents

Hi,

I'm trying to open a document that has non-Unicode Arabic text in it using OSX. I know way around this problem inn Windows XP for example: the user can set the default encoding for non-Unicode programs to be any language (under Regional and Language Options --- Advanced), but I can't figure out how to do the same in OSX.

Any suggestions?

Cheers,
/fuad

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Aug 29, 2009 6:44 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,046 points

Aug 30, 2009 3:57 AM in response to fuad

You can't do that in OS X. You need to set the encoding in the app. For example this can be done in TextEdit in either the Preferences or the Open dialogue for plain text. For some apps there is nothing you can do. What app are you using?

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Answer 2

fuad Author

Level 1

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Aug 30, 2009 1:15 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately, the file I'm trying to open is a chm file. I'm using chmox (chmox.sourceforge.net), which as far as I could tell doesn't support different encodings.

Cheers,
/fuad

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,046 points

Aug 30, 2009 1:39 PM in response to fuad

Unfortunately, the file I'm trying to open is a chm file. I'm using chmox (chmox.sourceforge.net), which as far as I could tell doesn't support different encodings.

Once you open the chm, can you copy/paste to something like TextEdit? Then you could switch the encoding I think.

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Answer 4

fuad Author

Level 1

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Aug 30, 2009 1:43 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Actually, I just discovered a different chm viewer that solves this problem iChm ( http://www.robinlu.com/blog/ichm). It detects the correct encoding automatically, there's no need to fiddle with anything.

Thanks for your help 🙂

/fuad

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,046 points

Aug 30, 2009 1:55 PM in response to fuad

Actually, I just discovered a different chm viewer that solves this problem iChm ( http://www.robinlu.com/blog/ichm). It detects the correct encoding automatically, there's no need to fiddle with anything.

Thanks for the useful info.

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