NLS Knowledge Center

Here you will find information on National Language Support (NLS) in Windows that allows you to create globalized applications using core foundational pieces such as locales, basic text enablement, date/time/calendar formatting, keyboard layouts, sorting behavior, and more.

Getting Started

NLS Concepts

Developer Resources

NLS Data in Windows

Featured Articles

	Steps to Tell If a Collation Version Has Changed Learn how to retrieve information about the current version of a specified NLS capability for a locale specified by name.
	How to Make a Custom Locale Enable Global Apps with Locale Builder And Windows Vista.

NLS on TechNet

Windows Image Deployment and International Settings

Microsoft provides tools for changing international settings - language, locale, fonts and input settings - in a Windows image.

	Windows Vista - International Settings Configuration Tool
	Windows 7 - International Servicing Command-Line Options for the Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Locales and Languages: Frequently asked questions related to locales and languages.
Windows Keyboard Layouts: Graphical representation and other details on Windows keyboard layouts.
IMMs and IMEs: Considerations for supporting Input Method Managers and Editors in apps.
Complex Scripts: Terminology and considerations for complex script processing.

Additional Resources

Microsoft .NET Framework 4 (Beta 1): What is New in Globalization: Learn about the important changes to the Globalization services in .NET Framework 4 from earlier versions and how the globalization information retrieval mechanism is changing in the .NET Framework 4

Extend the reach of your global apps with Unicode 5.0: Learn about the features of Unicode 5.0 and how they are implemented in Windows Vista.

Extend the reach of your global apps with .Net 2.0: Learn about the globalization features of .Net 2.0 and how to utilize them to extend the global reach of your apps.

Develop apps for Windows 9X with MSLU: Learn about the design criteria behind MSLU (Microsoft Layer for Unicode) and how to put the layer to work for you.

Tutorials and Samples

World Clock with Silverlight/Virtual Earth
This sample app is a world clock build using Silverlight and Virtual Earth. It was created as a simple, but cool demo of Silverlight for global aware apps.

Presentations

Globalization in Silverlight
An overview of globalization considerations with Silverlight 2.0.