How to get Japanese characters to display in Excel? at DVinfo.net

Robert Knecht Schmidt · October 14th, 2003, 12:26 PM

My producer friend hired a translator to watch his film and create Japanese subtitles. The translator provided an Excel spreadsheet with the English dialogue in one column and the Japanese translation in another column. But when he got the file back, the producer wasn't able to get the Japanese to display--just garbage characters and blocks. He says that he's installed the Japanese language pack(s) and Microsoft Japanese fonts and still no luck. Has anybody solved this problem before? What does he need to do to see the Japanese?

Robert Knecht Schmidt · October 14th, 2003, 01:46 PM

It now appears that the translator used a specialty font that the producer does not have on his computer. The translator is incommunicado and clueless about computers to boot. Is there any source of Japanese fonts, where we could try just installing a bunch of them and seeing if the Excel file likes any of them?

John Locke · October 14th, 2003, 05:31 PM

Robert,

You can send it to me, if you like. I'll open it on one of the Japanese system computers at my office, then resave it using a variety of fonts. (PC or Mac format?)

(Tip: If you're downloading fonts, the most common here are the "Gothic" family for PCs and "Osaka" for a Mac)

Robert Knecht Schmidt · February 26th, 2004, 11:43 AM

We eventually loaded the file on one of the other producer's computers--a Mac with some Adobe typefaces installed, I believe--and the Japanese was legible.

The film, by the way, premieres next week in Paris March 1st and begins its festival run at the SKIP CITY D-Cinema festival outside Tokyo on March 22nd, 2004.

Rob Lohman · February 27th, 2004, 02:41 AM

I think you also need to install an "asian" language pack for
Windows to be able to view such things. At least, that's something
I seem to remember.

October 14th, 2003, 12:26 PM	#1
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	How to get Japanese characters to display in Excel? My producer friend hired a translator to watch his film and create Japanese subtitles. The translator provided an Excel spreadsheet with the English dialogue in one column and the Japanese translation in another column. But when he got the file back, the producer wasn't able to get the Japanese to display--just garbage characters and blocks. He says that he's installed the Japanese language pack(s) and Microsoft Japanese fonts and still no luck. Has anybody solved this problem before? What does he need to do to see the Japanese? __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 14th, 2003, 01:46 PM	#2
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	UPDATE It now appears that the translator used a specialty font that the producer does not have on his computer. The translator is incommunicado and clueless about computers to boot. Is there any source of Japanese fonts, where we could try just installing a bunch of them and seeing if the Excel file likes any of them? __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 14th, 2003, 05:31 PM	#3
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Robert, You can send it to me, if you like. I'll open it on one of the Japanese system computers at my office, then resave it using a variety of fonts. (PC or Mac format?) (Tip: If you're downloading fonts, the most common here are the "Gothic" family for PCs and "Osaka" for a Mac) __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

February 26th, 2004, 11:43 AM	#4
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Solution We eventually loaded the file on one of the other producer's computers--a Mac with some Adobe typefaces installed, I believe--and the Japanese was legible. The film, by the way, premieres next week in Paris March 1st and begins its festival run at the SKIP CITY D-Cinema festival outside Tokyo on March 22nd, 2004. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 27th, 2004, 02:41 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I think you also need to install an "asian" language pack for Windows to be able to view such things. At least, that's something I seem to remember. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors