Environment Variables Used for Language Support

The OS/2 Language support for bidirectional languages uses environment variables as a means of configuring specific applications. Setting environment variables is similar to setting the language settings in the Program and ProgramFile Workplace Shell objects.

The following environment variables are supported:

• BIDIATTR - Defines the Bidirectional Attributes for the session.

  Possible values for this keyword:

  • INIT - Initializes a Bidi Attribute.
    
  • TEXTTYPE_VISUAL - Visual type of text.
    
  • TEXTTYPE_IMPLICIT - Implicit type of text.
    
  • WND_ORIENT_LTR - Left-to-right window orientation
    
  • WND_ORIENT_RTL - Right-to-left window orientation
    
  • TEXT_ORIENT_LTR - Left-to-right text orientation
    
  • TEXT_ORIENT_RTL - Right-to-left text orientation
    
  • TEXT_ORIENT_CONTEXT - Text orientation is determined dynamically upon the context (based on the actual characters that construct the text string).
    
  • SYM_SWAP_OFF - Symmetric swapping of directional characters is not handled automatically.
    
  • SYM_SWAP_ON - Symmetric swapping of directional characters is handled automatically.
    
  • NUMERALS_NOMINAL - Display only nominal (i.e. Arabic) numerals
    
  • NUMERALS_NATIONAL - Display only national (i.e. Hindi) numerals
    
  • NUMERALS_CONTEXT - Display numerals according to surrounding text
    
  • NUMERALS_PASSTHRU - Do not process numerals on display
    
  • TEXT_DISPLAY_SHAPED - Automatically shape text upon display

    The following are valid shaping modes, but it is not recommended to use them as system settings in CONFIG.SYS.
    

  • TEXT_SAVE_SHAPED - Assume that text is already shaped, and automatically shape new text as it is being entered by the user.
    
  • TEXT_SHAPE_INITIAL - Assume that text is already shaped and new text is entered in initial mode
    
  • TEXT_SHAPE_MIDDLE - Assume that text is already shaped and new text is entered in middle mode
    
  • TEXT_SHAPE_FINAL - Assume that text is already shaped and new text is entered in final mode
    
  • TEXT_SHAPE_ISOLATED - Assume that text is already shaped and new text is entered in isolated mode
    
  • TEXT_SHAPE_NOMINAL - Display and store text in its nominal (base) shapes.
  Example: SET BIDIATTR=WND_ORIENT_RTL, TEXTTYPE_IMPLICIT

BIDISTAT - determines the configuration of the system support for bidirectional languages. Allowed values are:

• DISABLE_INPUT_PROCESSING - disables all processing done by the system for input (all hotkeys are disabled).
  
• HKFLAG_ENG_LAYER - disables the "English Language" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_NAT_LAYER - disables the "National Language" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_PUSH - disables the "Start Push" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_END_PUSH - disables the "End Push" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_AUTO_PUSH - disables the "AutoPush" toggle hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_FIELD_REV - disables the "Field Reverse" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_SCREEN_REV - disables the "Window Reverse" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_STATUS_INDICATOR - disables the "Language Viewer" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_DISPLAY_SHAPED - disables the "Display Shaped/Automatic" hotkey.
  
• HKFLAG_INITIAL - disables the "Initial" hotkey
  
• HKFLAG_MIDDLE - disables the "Middle" hotkey
  
• HKFLAG_FINAL - disables the "Final" hotkey
  
• HKFLAG_ISOLATED - disables the "Isolated" hotkey
  
• HKFLAG_SAVE_SHAPED - disables the "Save shaped" hotkey
  
• FAUTOPUSH_RTL_ON - Sets AutoPush for right-to-left fields ON.
  
• FAUTOPUSH_LTR_ON - Sets AutoPush for left-to-right fields ON.
Example: SET BIDISTAT=HKFLAG_STATUS_INDICATOR

STDDLGLANG - configures the language and appearance of standard dialog (like "Save file" dialog) and message box buttons. Allowed values are:

• ENGLISH - Language is English and orientation is left-to-right.
  
• NATIONAL - Language is National (Hebrew/Arabic) and orientation is right-to-left.
Example: SET STDDLGLANG=NATIONAL

BIDIUI (For Hebrew ONLY). - configures the default text entry user interface for the session.

Allowed values are:

• VISUAL - Default text entry interface is Visual.
  
• IMPLICIT - Default text entry interface is Implicit.
  
• CONTEXT - Default text entry interface is defined by Context (i.e, defined by the type of text of the etnry field - Entry fields with Visual text type will have Visual user interface by default and entry fields with Implicit text type will have Implicit user interface by default).
Example: SET BIDIUI=VISUAL