Guide to Installing Netscape3.0 as a Chinese Web Browser on Xwindows

[Disclaimer] That's only my own experience on installing the Netscape3.0 version. The risk of system damage or loss should be totally born by yourself. If you don't agree to this point, you can quit now. -Jerry Liao
[Notice] This guide is only for Unix/Xwin platforms. Here is another guide to installing Big5 fonts on Xwin. For users on Win/Win95 or Mac, there is a guide page maintained by Mr. Liu Shunguo.
Click on Here to get your Netscape3.0 Navigator

Contents

 [Q] I have got my Netscape3.0. How can I view chinese coded files by it?
[A] The Netscape Navigator Version3.0 do has functionality of viewing chinese GB /HZ /BIG5 codes. But in its release package, there is no any chinese fonts file included, neither any documents on this topic. You need install the xfonts for NS3.0 on Xwin yourself. This guide is for you to install your chinese xfonts, and to make corresponding modification on Netscape's Xwin environment setting.

Generally, you need 3 steps to install the chinese fonts on Netscape: The details will be disscused bellow.

[Q] What kind of chinese fonts do I need for Netscape?
[A] You have options in choosing chinese fonts. But please note: you need gb2312.1980-0 fonts for GB/HZ text, and use either Big5 or cns11643 fonts for Big5 text.

 [Q] I have already had cxterm installed on my Xwin. Can I use its cclib* for Netscape?
[A] It seems there is problem with the gb2312.1980-1 fonts (cclib* or beijing* fonts are all in this category). Netscape can't identify cclib* or beijing* fonts. Since there is no any documents available about the Netscape's fonts thread. I can only guess: Mosaic2.4-l10n uses chkan* (gb2312.1980-0) fonts as its default fonts. And Netscape 3.0 directly derived the gb2312.1980-0 fonts as its default one.

[Q] Where can I get the fonts you mentioned above?
[A] You can get them on many ftp sites. Try archie to find a nearer and faster ftp site to download them. [Q] I don't know how to install xfonts on my Xwin. Can you give me any hint?
[A] You must convert those .bdf files above into .pcf or .snf format (according to font format on your Xwin platform), then put them into your xfont path. Please refer to the Guide to Installing Chinese Fonts on Xwin.

[Q] What modification need I make for configuring my Netscape resource file?
[A] Normally you needn't now in release version. I have installed chkan, and cns?hku16 fonts on my Netscape3.0 successfully even without using Netscape.ad in the release package, nor modifying the ~/.Xdefaults files. 

What chinese fonts I have on my Linux are listed in  the file ~/xfonts/fonts.dir:
*******************************************************************************
7
chkan-16B.pcf.Z -cclib-song-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-c-160-gb2312.1980-0
chkan-16.pcf.Z -cclib-song-delicate-r-normal--16-150-78-78-c-160-gb2312.1980-0
chkan-24.pcf.Z -cclib-song-medium-r-normal--24-240-72-72-c-240-gb2312.1980-0
cns1hku16.pcf.Z -hku-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-c-160-cns11643.92p1-0
cns2hku16.pcf.Z -hku-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-c-160-cns11643.92p2-0
cns-2-24.pcf.Z -cbs-song-medium-r-normal-fantizi-24-240-75-75-c-240-cns11643.1992.2-0
cns-1-24.pcf.Z -cbs-song-medium-r-normal-fantizi-24-240-75-75-c-240-cns11643.1992.1-0
*******************************************************************************
But to get the cns-?-24 fonts. You still need some modification in your Netscape.ad file: 
*******************************************************************************
*documentFonts.charset*cns11643.1992.1-0:			x-cns11643-1
*documentFonts.charset*cns11643.1992.2-0:			x-cns11643-2
*******************************************************************************
or put it in your ~/.Xdefaults 
*******************************************************************************
Netscape*documentFonts.charset*cns11643.1992.1-0:		x-cns11643-1
Netscape*documentFonts.charset*cns11643.1992.2-0:		x-cns11643-2
*******************************************************************************
[Q] I use taipei* fonts instead of those cns11643 fonts. Then what can I do?
[A] Some tricks should be used to configure the taipei* fonts.

After you have made your taipei* fonts by mkfontdir, you should modify your fonts.alias file in this xfonts directory: 
~/xfonts/fonts.alias:
*******************************************************************************
-eten-fangsongti-medium-r-normal--16-160-----big5-0     taipei16
-eten-fangsongti-medium-r-normal--24-240-----big5-0     taipei24
-eten-mingti-medium-r-normal--24-240-----big5-0         taipeim24
-eten-kaishu-medium-r-normal--24-240-----big5-0         taipeik24
-eten-lishu-medium-r-normal--24-240-----big5-0          taipeil24
*******************************************************************************
[Q] After all, can I view chinese now?
[A] Of course, you can.

First, put the modified(if) Netscape.ad into your XAPPLRESDIR directory as Netscape(please refer to the README file in Netscape's release packet), or if you have modified your ~/.Xdefaults, please use:

%xrdb -load ~/.Xdefaults

to update your change. Then start your Netscape3.0 in Xwin. Now you can read the chinese text in web page with pleasure.


[Q] When I try to print out the chinese web page by printer, what I can get are only strange dots. How can I print it out?
[A] The configuration part of print fonts is in the tail of Netscape.ad. Netscape COM hasn't put PS directives for chinese fonts there. So please help me to shout out to them to make such change.

[Q] Your guide here has something wrong or stated not so clearly. Where can I get contact with you?
[A] Sorry I will not be on line for a while .

Good luck! and happy chinese reading!
Version3.0(last revised: Oct. 10, 1996)

[Acknowledgment] Thanx to Mr Liu Shunguo for providing this server to allow me to relocate the guide page. -Jerry Liao